SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by
the Registrant x
Filed
by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check
the
appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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o
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Solicitation
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or rule
14a-12
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Capital
Gold Corporation
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
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4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
76
Beaver Street, 26th Floor
New
York, NY 10005
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 21, 2007
To
the
Stockholders of Capital Gold Corporation:
You
are
cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Capital Gold
Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, to be held at The
Wigwam
Golf Resort and Spa, 300 East Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, Arizona
85340,
on
Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. local time, for the following
purposes:
1.
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To
elect eight members to the Board of Directors of the Company to serve
until their respective successors are elected and qualified (Proposal
1);
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2.
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To
ratify the selection by our audit committee of Wolinetz, Lafazan
&
Company, P.C., independent registered public accountants, to audit
the
financial statements of the Company for the year ending July 31,
2007
(Proposal 2);
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3.
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To
amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the
authorized number of shares of common stock from 200,000,000 shares
to
250,000,000 shares (Proposal 3);
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4.
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To
amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to authorize 1,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock (Proposal 4);
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5. |
To approve the Capital Gold Corporation 2006 Equity
Incentive Plan (Proposal 5); |
6.
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To
ratify and approve the issuance of certain outstanding options that
require stockholder approval pursuant to the rules of the Toronto
Stock
Exchange (Proposal 6); and
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7.
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To
transact such other matters as may properly come before the meeting
or any
adjournment thereof.
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Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on December 29, 2006 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
A
proxy
statement and proxy are enclosed. If you are unable to attend the meeting in
person you are urged to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy promptly in
the
self addressed stamped envelope provided. If you attend the meeting in person,
you may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares.
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By Order of the Board of Directors |
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Robert Roningen,
Secretary |
New
York,
New York
January
19,
2007
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
We
urge you to promptly vote your shares
by
completing, signing, dating and returning
your
proxy card in the enclosed
envelope.
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PROXY
STATEMENT
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
76
Beaver Street
26th
Floor
New
York, NY 10005
INTRODUCTION
This
proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies
for
use at the Annual Meeting of stockholders of Capital Gold Corporation (“Capital
Gold,” the “Company,” “We” or “Us”) to be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2007,
and at any adjournments. The accompanying proxy is solicited by our Board of
Directors and is revocable by the stockholder by notifying our Corporate
Secretary at any time before it is voted, or by voting in person at the Annual
Meeting. This proxy statement and accompanying proxy are
being distributed to stockholders beginning on or about January 19, 2007.
Our principal executive offices are located at 76 Beaver Street, 26th Floor,
New
York, NY 10005, telephone (212) 344-2785.
OUTSTANDING
SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
RECORD
DATE; OUTSTANDING SHARES
Only
stockholders of record at the close of business on December 29, 2006, the record
date, are entitled to receive notice of, and vote at the Annual Meeting. As
of
the record date, the number and class of stock outstanding and entitled to
vote
at the meeting was 134,085,854 shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per
share. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters. No
other class of securities will be entitled to vote at the meeting. There are
no
cumulative voting rights.
The
eight
nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast by the holders of common
stock represented and voting at the meeting will be elected as our directors
and
constitute our entire Board of directors. The affirmative vote of at least
a
majority of the shares represented and voting at the Annual Meeting at which
a
quorum is present is necessary for approval of Proposals 2, 5 and 6. The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to
vote at the Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary for
approval of Proposals 3 and 4.
REVOCABILITY
OF PROXIES
If
you
attend the meeting, you may vote in person, regardless of whether you have
submitted a proxy. Any person giving a proxy in the form accompanying this
proxy
statement has the power to revoke it at any time before it is voted. It may
be
revoked by filing, with our the corporate secretary of Capital Gold at its
principal offices, 76 Beaver Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, a written
notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or it may
be
revoked by attending the meeting and voting in person.
VOTING
AND SOLICITATION
Every
stockholder of record is entitled, for each share held, to one vote on each
proposal or item that comes before the meeting. There are no cumulative voting
rights. By submitting your proxy, you authorize Gifford A. Dieterle and Jeffrey
W. Pritchard and each of them to represent you and vote your shares at the
meeting in accordance with your instructions. Messrs. Dieterle and Pritchard
and
each of them may also vote your shares to adjourn the meeting from time to
time
and will be authorized to vote your shares at any adjournment or postponement
of
the meeting.
Capital
Gold has borne the cost of preparing, assembling and mailing this proxy
solicitation material. We may reimburse brokerage firms and other persons
representing beneficial owners of shares for their expenses in forwarding
soliciting materials to beneficial owners. Proxies may be solicited by certain
of our directors, officers and employees, without additional compensation,
personally, by telephone or by facsimile.
ADJOURNED
MEETING
The
chair
of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time to reconvene at the
same or some other time, date and place. Notice need not be given of any such
adjournment meeting if the time, date and place thereof are announced at the
meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the time, date and place of the
adjournment meeting are not announced at the meeting which the adjournment
is
taken, then our Secretary shall give written notice of the time, date and place
of the adjournment meeting not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of
the
adjournment meeting. Notice of the adjournment meeting also shall be given
if
the meeting is adjourned in a single adjournment to a date more than 30 days
after the original date fixed for the meeting or if a new record date for the
adjourned meeting is fixed.
TABULATION
OF VOTES
The
votes
will be tabulated and certified by our transfer agent.
VOTING
BY STREET NAME HOLDERS
If
you
are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” by a broker, the
broker, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote those shares
in
accordance with your instructions. If you do not give instructions to the
broker, the broker will nevertheless be entitled to vote the shares with respect
to “discretionary” items but will not be permitted to vote the shares with
respect to “non-discretionary” items (in which case, the shares will be treated
as “broker non-votes”).
QUORUM;
ABSTENTIONS; BROKER NON-VOTES
The
required quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting is a
majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting,
in person or by proxy. Shares that are voted "FOR," "AGAINST" or "WITHHELD
FROM"
a matter are treated as being present at the meeting for purposes of
establishing a quorum and are also treated as shares represented and voting
the
votes cast at the Annual Meeting with respect to such matter.
Proxies
marked “abstain” will be counted as shares present for the purpose of
determining the presence of a quorum. For purposes of determining the outcome
of
a proposal, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal
(other than the election of directors).
Broker
“non-votes” occur when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not
vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary
voting power for that particular item and has not received voting instructions
from the beneficial owner. Broker “non-votes” will be counted as shares present
for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. However, broker
“non-votes” will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of votes
cast with respect to the particular proposal on which the broker has expressly
not voted. Where a proposal, such as approval of the amendments to our
Certificate of Incorporation, requires the vote of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote rather than a majority of the votes present and voting at
a
meeting, the general effect of a broker “non-vote” is a vote against the
proposal.
PROPOSALS
TO STOCKHOLDERS
PROPOSAL
1
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Each
nominee to the Board of Directors will serve until the next annual meeting
of
stockholders, or until his earlier resignation, removal from office, death
or
incapacity.
Unless
otherwise specified, the enclosed proxy will be voted in favor of the election
of Gifford A. Dieterle, Jack V. Everett, Roger A. Newell, Jeffrey W. Pritchard,
Robert Roningen, Ian A. Shaw, John Postle and Mark T. Nesbitt. Information
is
furnished below with respect to all nominees.
Set
forth
below is the biographical information of the nominees and Director:
GIFFORD
A. DIETERLE, age 74, is our President, Treasurer and Chairman of the Board
of
Directors. Mr. Dieterle was appointed President in September 1997 and has been
an officer and Chairman since 1981. He has a M.S. in Geology obtained from
New
York University. From 1977 until July 1993, he was Chairman, Treasurer, and
Executive Vice-President of Franklin Consolidated Mining Company. From 1965
to
1987, he was lecturer in geology at the City University of N.Y. (Hunter
Division). Mr. Dieterle has been Secretary-Treasurer of South American Minerals
Inc. since 1997 and a director of that company since 1996.
JACK
V.
EVERETT, age 85, has been our Vice President - Exploration and Director since
1995. He has been a consulting mining geologist since 1971, with expertise
in
all phases of exploration for base and precious metals. Following his 1947
graduation from Michigan State University, he was District Geologist for
Pickands Mather & Company on the Cuyuna Iron Range, Minnesota. From 1951 to
1970, he was Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for W.S. Moore Company,
Duluth, Minnesota an iron mining company with gold and base metal sulfide
holdings in the U.S. and Canada.
ROGER
A.
NEWELL, age 63, has been our Vice President - Development and Director since
2000. From 1974 through 1977, he was a geologist with Kennecott Copper
Corporation. From 1977 through 1989, he served as Exploration Manager/Senior
Geologist for the Newmont Mining Corporation and, from 1989 through 1995, was
the Exploration Manager for Gold Fields Mining Company. He was Vice President
Development, for Western Exploration Company from 1997 through 2000. Since
1995,
he has been a senior consultant in the Minerals Advisory Group LLC, Tucson,
Arizona, a company that provides technical and engineering advice to clients
regarding mineral projects. He has been self-employed as a geologist since
2001.
He has a M.Sc. from the Colorado School of Mines and a Ph.D. in mining and
mineral exploration from Stanford University.
JEFFREY
W. PRITCHARD, age 48, has been our Vice President - Investor Relations and
Director since 1996, and has worked for us since 1996. He has been in the
marketing/public relations field since receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the
State University of New York in 1979. Jeff has served as the Director of
Marketing for the New Jersey Devils (1987-1990) and as the Director of Sales
for
the New York Islanders (1985-1987). He also was an Executive Vice President
with
Long Island based Performance Network, a marketing and publishing concern from
1990 through 1995.
ROBERT
RONINGEN, age 71, has been our Senior Vice President and Secretary since 2000,
and a Director since 1992.
He has
been engaged in the practice of law as a sole practitioner and is
a self-employed consultant geophysicist in Duluth, Minnesota.
From
1988 to August 1993, he was an officer and director of Franklin Consolidated
Mining Company, Inc. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1957
with
a B.A. in geology and in 1962 with a degree in Law.
IAN
A.
SHAW, age 66, has been a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s Audit
Committee since March 2006. He has been Managing Director of Shaw &
Associates since 1993. Shaw & Associates is a corporate services consulting
firm specializing in corporate finance, regulatory reporting and compliance
with
clients that are typically public companies in the resource industry. Since
April 2006, Mr. Shaw has been the Chief Financial Officer of Centenario Copper
Corporation, a corporation with copper properties in Chile. From 2001 to 2003,
he was Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Defiance Mining
Corporation (formerly Geomaque Explorations Inc.), a company operating gold
mines in Mexico and Honduras. Mr. Shaw has over 30 years of experience in the
mining industry during which time he was an officer of the following companies:
Blackhawk Mining Inc., Curragh Inc. and Sherritt Gordon Mines Inc. He currently
is a director or officer of the following public companies: Metallica Resources
Inc., Pelangio Mines Inc. and Unor Inc. Mr. Shaw is a Chartered Accountant
and
received a B. Comm. from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in
1964.
JOHN
POSTLE, age 65, has been a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s
Audit Committee since March 2006. He is Consulting Mining Engineer associated
with Roscoe Postle Associates Inc., an entity in which he was a founding partner
in 1985 and a former principal. Mr. Postle provides mining consulting services
to a number of international financial institutions, corporations, utilities
and
law firms. He worked for Cominco Ltd (1965-1970), Falconbridge Ltd (1970-1975)
and D.S. Robertson and Associates (1976-1985) at a number of open pit and
underground operations in both operating and planning capacities. Mr. Postle
is
a Past Chairman of the Mineral Economics Committee of the Canadian Institute
of
Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM”), and was appointed a Distinguished
Lecturer of the CIM in 1991. In 1997, he was awarded the CIM Robert Elver
Mineral Economics Award. He is currently Chairman of a CIM Standing Committee
on
Ore Reserve Definitions. Mr. Postle has a B.A.Sc. Degree in Mining Engineering
from the University of British Columbia in 1965 and a M.Sc. Degree in Earth
Sciences from Stanford University in 1968.
MARK
T.
NESBITT, age 61, has been a member of our Board of Directors and the Board’s
Audit Committee since March 2006. Since 1988, he has been a natural resources
attorney in Denver, Colorado specializing in domestic and international mining
transactions, agreements, negotiations, title due diligence, corporate and
general business counsel. Mr. Nesbitt has been an Adjunct Professor at the
University of Denver School of Law's since 2001, is an active member of the
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, having served as a Trustee from 1987
to
1993, and from 2003 to the present, co-chairman of the Foundation's Mining
Law
and Investment in Latin America, and Chairman of the same institute in 2003,
and
Chairman of the Foundation's first Land and Permitting Special Institute in
1994. He also has served continuously over the years on the Foundation's Special
Institutes Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, and numerous other
committees. Mr. Nesbitt is a member of the International, American, Colorado
and
Denver Bar Associations, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, International
Mining Professionals Society (Treasurer since 2000), and the Colorado Mining
Association. He is also a former Director of the Colorado Mining Association
and
past President of the Rocky Mountain Association of Mineral Landmen. He received
a B.S. degree in Geology from Washington State University in 1968 and a J.D.
from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1975.
MEETINGS
AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
The
Board
of Directors is responsible for the management and direction of our company
and
for establishing broad corporate policies.
A
primary responsibility of the Board is to provide effective governance
over our
affairs for the benefit of our stockholders. In all actions taken by the Board,
the Directors are expected to exercise their business judgment in what they
reasonably believe to be the best interests of our company. In discharging
that
obligation, Directors may rely on the honesty and integrity of our senior
executives and our outside advisors and auditors.
The
Board
of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board meet periodically throughout
the year to receive and discuss operating and financial reports presented by
our
executive officers as reports by experts and other advisors. The Board
held three
meetings
during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006 in person and telephonically, and
acted by unanimous written consent on 16 occasions. All directors other than
Robert Roningen attended all of these meetings.
Mr.
Roningen attended oneof
these
meetings. Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting absent unusual
circumstances, although we have no formal policy on the matter.
In
fiscal
2006, the non-employee members of the Board of Directors did not meet
in
executive session, i.e. with no employee Directors or management personnel
present.
Our
Board
of Directors has no standing nominating or compensation committees because
these
functions are handled by the Board of Directors. Nominees to the Board of
Directors are selected by the Board of Directors based on current business
and
industry knowledge as well as general business knowledge.
Audit
Committee and Audit Committee Expert.
The
Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors consists of Ian A. Shaw, Committee Chairman,
John Postle and Mark T. Nesbitt. The Board of Directors has determined that
all
three members are
independent directors as (i) defined in Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and (ii) under Section
121B(2)(a) of the AMEX Company Guide (although our securities are not listed
on
the American Stock Exchange or any other national exchange).
Mr.
Shaw
serves
as the financial expert as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission rules
on the committee. We believe Messrs. Shaw, Postle and Nesbitt to be independent
of management and free of any relationship that would interfere with their
exercise of independent judgment as members of this committee. The principal
functions of the Audit Committee are to (i) assist the Board in fulfilling
its
oversight responsibility relating to the annual independent audit of our
consolidated financial statements, the engagement of the independent registered
public accounting firm and the evaluation of the independent registered public
accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance (ii) prepare the
reports or statements as may be required by the securities laws, (iii) assist
the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity
of our financial statements and financial reporting process and our system
of
internal accounting and financial controls, (iv) discuss the financial
statements and reports with management, including any significant adjustments,
management judgments and estimates, new accounting policies and disagreements
with management, and (vi) review disclosures by independent accountants
concerning relationships with us and the performance of our independent
accountants.
The
Audit
Committee Charter is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.
Audit
Committee Report.
The
primary responsibility of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) is to assist the
Board of Directors in discharging its oversight responsibilities with respect
to
financial matters and compliance with laws and regulations. The primary methods
used by the Committee to fulfill its responsibility with respect to financial
matters are:
·
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To
appoint, evaluate, and, as the Committee may deem appropriate, terminate
and replace Capital Gold’s independent registered public
accountants;
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·
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To
monitor the independence of Capital Gold’s independent registered public
accountants;
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·
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To
determine the compensation of Capital Gold’s independent registered public
accountants;
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·
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To
pre-approve any audit services, and any non-audit services permitted
under
applicable law, to be performed by Capital Gold’s independent registered
public accountants;
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·
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To
review Capital Gold’s risk exposures, the adequacy of related controls and
policies with respect to risk assessment and risk
management;
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·
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To
monitor the integrity of Capital Gold’s financial reporting processes and
systems of control regarding finance, accounting, legal compliance
and
information systems;
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·
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To
facilitate and maintain an open avenue of communication among the
Board of
Directors, management and Capital Gold’s independent registered public
accountants.
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The
Audit
Committee is composed of three Directors, and the Board has determined that
each
of those Directors is independent as that term is (i) defined in Rule
10A-3(b)(1)(ii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) under Section 121B(2)(a) of the AMEX Company Guide (although our
securities are not listed on the American Stock Exchange or any other national
exchange).
The
Committee met one time
telephonically in fiscal 2006. All committee members were present at the
meeting.
In
discharging its responsibilities relating to internal controls, accounting
and
financial reporting policies and auditing practices, the Committee discussed
with Capital Gold’s independent registered public accountants, Wolinetz, Lafazan
& Company, P.C., the overall scope and process for its audit. The Committee
has met with Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C., with and without management
present, to discuss the results of its examinations and the overall quality
of
Capital Gold’s financial reporting.
The
Committee has discussed with Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C. its judgments
about the quality, in addition to the acceptability, of the Capital Gold’s
accounting principles as applied in Capital Gold’s financial reporting, as
required by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90 “Communications with Audit
Committees.”
The
Committee also has received a letter from Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C.
that is required by the Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1,
Independence
Discussions with Audit Committees, and
has
discussed with Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C. their independence.
The
Committee has met and held discussions with management. The Committee has
reviewed and discussed with management Capital Gold’s audited consolidated
financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2006 and
2005.
Based
on
the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to
the
Board of Directors that the audited financial statements referred to above
be
included in Capital Gold’s Annual Report for the year ended July 31,
2006.
This
report is respectfully submitted by the members of the Audit Committee of the
Board of Directors.
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Ian A. Shaw,
Chairman |
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John Postle |
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Mark T. Nesbitt
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Code
of Ethics and Business Conduct
Our
Board
of Directors adopted a code of ethics and business conduct for officers,
directors and employees that went into effect on October 22, 2003. This code
has
been presented and reviewed by each officer, director and employee. You may
obtain a copy of this code by visiting our web site at www.capitalgoldcorp.com
or by
written request to our Office Manager at 76
Beaver
Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005.
Our
Board of Directors is required to approve any waivers of the code of ethics
and
business conduct for Directors or executive officers and we are required to
disclose any such waiver in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business
days.
Communication
with the Board of Directors
Interested
parties wishing to contact the Board of Directors of the Company may do so
by
writing to the following address: Board of Directors, 76
Beaver
Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, Attn: Jeffrey W. Pritchard, Director
and
Vice
President - Investor Relations.
All
letters received will be categorized and processed by Mr. Pritchard and then
forwarded to the Company’s Board or Directors.
Director
Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders
Directors
are encouraged, but not required, to attend the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
PROPOSAL
2
RATIFICATION
OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The
Board
of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, has appointed
the
firm of
Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C.
(“WL”)
as our independent registered public accountants for the fiscal year ending
July
31, 2007 subject to ratification by the stockholders.
WL
audited our financial statements for the years ended July 31, 2006 and 2005.
All
audit
and professional services provided by WL, will be approved in advance by the
Audit Committee to assure such services do not impair the auditor's independence
from us. The total aggregate fees billed by WL were $135,000 and $62,000 for
the
fiscal years ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The following table
shows the detailed fees billed to us by WL for professional services rendered
during these fiscal years.
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|
Amount
($)
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Description
of Fees
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
$
|
128,000
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$
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55,000
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Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
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Tax
Fees
|
|
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7,000
|
|
|
7,000
|
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All
Other Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
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Total
|
|
$
|
135,000
|
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$
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62,000
|
|
Audit
Fees
Represents
fees for professional services provided for the audit of our annual financial
statements, services that are performed to comply with generally accepted
auditing standards, and review of our financial statements included in our
quarterly reports and services in connection with statutory and regulatory
filings.
Audit-Related
Fees
Represents
the fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to
the
performance of the audit or review of our financial statements.
The
Audit
Committee will pre-approve all auditing services and the terms thereof (which
may include providing comfort letters in connection with securities
underwriting) and non-audit services (other than non-audit services prohibited
under Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act or the applicable rules of the SEC
or
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) to be provided to us by the
independent auditor; provided, however, the pre-approval requirement is waived
with respect to the provisions of non-audit services for us if the "de minimus"
provisions of Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act are satisfied. This
authority to pre-approve non-audit services may be delegated to one or more
members of the Audit Committee, who shall present all decisions to pre-approve
an activity to the full Audit Committee at its first meeting following such
decision. The Audit Committee may review and approve the scope and staffing
of
the independent auditors' annual audit plan.
Tax
Fees
This
represents professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax
planning.
All
Other
Fees
WL
was
paid no other fees for professional services during the fiscal years ended
July
31, 2006 and 2005.
The
Board
of Directors considers WL to be well qualified to serve as our independent
public accountants.
Representatives
of WL will be available telephonically at the annual meeting, will have the
opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and are expected to
be
available to respond to appropriate questions.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares represented and voting
at
the Annual Meeting is necessary for approval of Proposal 2.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL 2 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" APPROVAL
THEREOF.
PROPOSAL
3
APPROVAL
OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
INCREASING
THE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK FROM
200,000,000
SHARES TO 250,000,000 SHARES
Our
Board
of Directors, subject to approval of our stockholders, authorized an amendment
to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of our authorized
shares of common stock from 200,000,000 to 250,000,000. If this proposal is
approved by our stockholders, we will file an amendment to our Certificate
of
Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State. A copy of that amendment
is
attached hereto as Annex B. The Board believes such action to be in our best
interests for the reasons set forth below.
As
of
December 29, 2006, we had approximately 134,085,854 shares of common stock
outstanding and approximately 43,880,727 shares reserved for future issuance
under outstanding options, warrants and our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, leaving
only approximately 22,033,419 shares of common stock available for future
issuances.
Our
Board
of Directors believes that the proposed increase in authorized common shares
will benefit the Company by providing flexibility to issue common stock for
a
variety of business and financial objectives in the future without the necessity
of delaying such activities for further stockholder approval, except as may
be
required in particular cases by our charter documents, applicable law or the
rules of any stock exchange or national securities association trading system
on
which our securities may be listed or quoted.
Should
stockholders approve the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan, we
anticipate that we will reserve up to approximately 9,000,000 of
these
shares for issuance under that Plan. Aside from the foregoing, we have no
arrangements, understandings, agreements or commitments at this time with
respect to the issuance of the new shares that would be authorized if this
proposal is approved.
This
amendment and the creation of additional shares of authorized common stock
will
not alter the current number of issued shares or change the relative rights
and
limitations of the shares of common stock. The terms of the additional shares
of
common stock will be identical to those of the currently outstanding shares
of
common stock. However, because holders of common stock have no preemptive rights
to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of the Company, any issuance
of
additional shares of common stock will reduce the current stockholders'
percentage ownership interest in the total outstanding shares of common stock.
In
addition, our Board of Directors could issue large blocks of common stock to
fend off unwanted tender offers or hostile takeovers without further stockholder
approval.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
as
of the record date eligible to vote is necessary for approval of Proposal 3.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL 3 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL
THEREOF.
PROPOSAL
4
APPROVAL
OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
TO AUTHORIZE 1,000,000 SHARES OF PREFERRED STOCK
Our
Board
of Directors, subject to approval of our stockholders, authorized an amendment
to our Certificate of Incorporation to authorize 1,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, $.0001 par value. If this proposal is approved by our stockholders,
we
will file an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware
Secretary of State. A copy of that amendment is attached hereto as Annex B.
The
Board believes such action to be in our best interests for the reasons set
forth
below.
The
preferred stock to be authorized is commonly referred to as “blank check”
preferred stock (“Blank Check Preferred”) because the preferred stock would have
such voting rights, designations, preferences, and relative, participating,
option and conversion or other special rights, and such qualifications,
limitations or restrictions, as the Board of Directors may designate for each
series issued from time to time. As such, the Blank Check Preferred would be
available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, except as
may
be required by applicable law or pursuant to the requirements of the Toronto
Stock Exchange (“TSX”) or any exchange upon which our securities are then
trading.
The
Board
of Directors believes that the creation of the Blank Check Preferred is
advisable and in the best interests of us and our stockholders because it would
permit the Board of Directors to issue such stock without stockholder approval
and, thereby, provide us with maximum flexibility in structuring acquisitions,
joint ventures, strategic alliances, capital-raising transactions and for other
corporate purposes. The Blank Check Preferred would enable us to respond
promptly to and take advantage of market conditions and other favorable
opportunities without incurring the delay and expense associated with calling
a
special stockholders’ meeting to approve a contemplated stock
issuance.
We
do not
view this Amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation as part of any
“anti-takeover” strategy and we are not advancing it as the result of any known
effort by any party to accumulate additional shares of our common stock or
to
obtain voting control of us. However, the issuance of shares of Blank Check
Preferred could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect.
For
example, in the event of a hostile takeover attempt, it may be possible for
management and the Board to endeavor to impede the attempt by issuing shares
of
Blank Check Preferred, thereby diluting or impairing the voting power of the
other outstanding shares of common stock or Blank Check Preferred and increasing
the potential costs to acquire control of us. We may issue Blank Check Preferred
without first offering them to holders of our common stock, as the holders
of
common stock have no preemptive rights.
The
actual effect of the issuance of any shares of Blank Check Preferred upon the
rights of holders of the common stock cannot be stated until the Board
determines the specific rights of the holders of such Blank Check Preferred.
However, the effects might include, among other things,
|
·
|
restricting
dividends on the common stock,
|
|
·
|
diluting
the voting power of the common stock,
|
|
·
|
reducing
the market price of the common stock, or
|
|
·
|
impairing
the liquidation rights of the common stock, without further action
by the
stockholders.
|
We
currently have no arrangements, understandings, agreements or commitments with
respect to the issuance of the Blank Check Preferred, and we may never issue
any
Blank Check Preferred.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
as
of the record date eligible to vote is necessary for approval of Proposal 4.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL 4 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL
THEREOF.
PROPOSAL
5
APPROVAL
OF THE 2006 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
We
are
submitting the Capital Gold Corporation 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity
Incentive Plan") to the stockholders for approval at the Annual Meeting.
The
Equity Incentive Plan is intended to attract and retain individuals of
experience and ability, to provide incentive to our employees, consultants,
and
non-employee directors, to encourage employee and director proprietary interests
in us, and to encourage employees to remain in our employ. The Equity Incentive
Plan is conditioned upon approval by our stockholders. The purposes of obtaining
stockholder approval include qualifying the Equity Incentive Plan under the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") for the granting of incentive stock options;
meeting the requirements for tax-deductibility of certain compensation items
under Section 162(m) of the Code; and meeting the requirements of the TSX
applicable to the Equity Incentive Plan.
The
following general description of certain features of the Equity Incentive Plan
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Equity Incentive Plan, which
is
attached as Annex C. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Equity Incentive Plan.
The
Equity Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock
options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock awards (each, an
“Award”). A maximum of 10,000,000 shares1 of
common
stock will be reserved for potential issuance pursuant to Awards under the
Equity Incentive Plan, representing approximately 7.5% of the number of
outstanding shares of our common stock as of the Record Date. Unless sooner
terminated, the Equity Incentive Plan will continue in effect for a period
of 10
years from its effective date.
1 We
have
only reserved 1,000,000 shares for issuance under the Plan at this time.
We will
increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan as more
shares become available from, among other things, expired warrants or approval
of an increase in our authorized shares of common stock at the Annual Meeting
as
set forth in Proposal 3 above.
The
Equity Incentive Plan is administered by our Board of Directors or a committee
thereof. The Equity Incentive Plan provides for Awards to be made to such of
our
employees, directors and consultants and our affiliates as the Board may select.
As of the date hereof, 450,000 options have been granted under the Equity
Incentive Plan to two of our officers and our Canadian counsel, representing
approximately 0.3% of the number of outstanding shares of our common stock
as of
the Record Date. These options cannot be exercised unless and until they are
approved by the TSX and our stockholders.
Stock
options awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan may vest and be exercisable
at
such times (not later than 10 years after the date of grant) and at such
exercise prices (not less than Fair Market Value at the date of grant) as the
Board may determine. The
Equity
Incentive Plan
also
provides that, should the expiry date of any vested option fall on, or within
nine business days immediately following a black-out period self-imposed by
the
Company on the holder, the term of such option will automatically be extended
to
a date which expires 10 business days following the end of such black-out
period. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board, stock options shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Board may provide
for options to become immediately exercisable upon a "change in control," which
is defined in the Equity Incentive Plan to occur in the event one or more
persons acting individually or as a group:
|
(i)
|
acquires
sufficient additional stock to constitute more than 50% of (A) the
total
Fair Market Value of all common stock issued and outstanding or (B)
the
total voting power of all shares of capital stock authorized to vote
for
the election of directors;
|
|
(ii)
|
acquires,
in a 12-month period, 35% or more of the voting power of all shares
of
capital stock authorized to vote for the election of directors, or
alternatively a majority of the members of the board is replaced
during
any 12-month period by directors whose appointment was not endorsed
by a
majority of the members of the board; or
|
|
(iii)
|
acquires,
during a 12-month period, more than 40% of the total gross Fair Market
Value of all of ours assets.
|
The
exercise price of an option must be paid in cash. No options may be granted
under the Equity Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective
date. Unless the Board determines otherwise:
|
(i)
|
the
options shall provide that, in the event a Participant’s continuous
service to us terminates, the options will terminate either immediately
or
within a specified period after continuous service terminates, depending
upon the cause of such termination; and
|
|
(ii)
|
the
options will be transferable only by will or the laws of descent
and
distribution.
|
The
following limits apply to grants of Awards under this Equity Incentive Plan:
(i)
the maximum number of shares of common stock which may be reserved for issuance
to all directors, officers and ten percent stockholders, in the aggregate,
under
the Equity Incentive Plan, together with any other security-based compensation
arrangement, shall not, at any time, exceed 10% of the outstanding shares of
common stock on a non-diluted basis; and (ii) the maximum number of shares
of
common stock which may be issued to all directors, officers and ten percent
stockholders, in the aggregate, under the Equity Incentive Plan, together with
any other security-based compensation arrangement, within any one year period,
shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of common stock
on
a non-diluted basis.
Unless
otherwise provided in an option agreement, in the event an optionholder’s
continuous service terminates (other than upon the optionholder’s death,
disability, retirement or as a result of a Change of Control), all options
held
by the optionholder shall immediately terminate; provided,
however,
that an
option agreement may provide that if an optionholder’s continuous service is
terminated for reasons other than for cause, all vested options held by such
person shall continue to be exercisable until the earlier of the expiration
date
of such option or 180 days after the date of such termination. All such
vested options not exercised within the period described in the preceding
sentence shall terminate.
Stock
appreciation rights (“SARS”) awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan may be
granted:
|
(i)
|
in
connection and simultaneously with the grant of another Award;
|
|
(ii)
|
with
respect to a previously granted Award; or
|
|
(iii)
|
independent
of another Award. SARS to receive in shares of common stock the excess
of
the Fair Market Value of common stock on the date the rights are
surrendered over the Fair Market Value of common stock on the date
of
grant may be granted to any Employee, Director or Consultant selected
by
the Board.
|
The
Board
may, in its discretion and on such terms as it deems appropriate, require as
a
condition of the grant of a SAR that the Participant surrender for cancellation
some or all of the Awards previously granted to such person under the Equity
Incentive Plan or otherwise. A SAR, the grant of which is conditioned upon
such
surrender, may have an exercise price lower (or higher) than the exercise price
of the surrendered Award, may contain such other terms as the Board deems
appropriate, and shall be exercisable in accordance with its terms, without
regard to the number of shares, price, exercise period or any other term or
condition of such surrendered Award upon sale of the common stock.
Restricted
stock awarded under the Equity Incentive Plan may be granted on such terms
and
conditions as the Board may determine. The terms and conditions of restricted
stock Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and
conditions of separate restricted stock Award Agreements need not be identical.
Each restricted stock Award Agreement:
|
(i)
|
may
be awarded in consideration for past services actually rendered,
or for
future services to be rendered, to us or an Affiliate for its benefit;
|
|
(ii)
|
may
be subject to a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board, or
be
fully vested at the time of grant;
|
|
(iii)
|
shall
provide that, unless otherwise provided in the restricted stock Award
Agreement, in the event a Participant’s continuous service to us
terminates for cause prior to a vesting date set forth in the restricted
stock Award Agreement, any unvested restricted stock Award shall
be
forfeited; and
|
|
(iv)
|
unless
otherwise provided for therein, shall not be
transferable.
|
The
following is a brief summary of certain of the U.S. federal income tax
consequences of certain transactions under the Equity Incentive Plan based
on
federal income tax laws in effect as of the date of this proxy. This summary
applies to the Equity Incentive Plan as normally operated and is not intended
to
provide or supplement tax advice to eligible employees. The summary contains
general statements based on current U.S. federal income tax statutes,
regulations and currently available interpretations thereof. This summary is
not
intended to be exhaustive and does not describe state, local or foreign tax
consequences or the effect, if any, of gift, estate and inheritance taxes.
Under
current federal laws, in general, recipients of grants of nonqualified stock
options and restricted stock awards under the Equity Incentive Plan are taxed
upon their actual or constructive receipt of common stock with respect to such
awards or grants (i.e., upon exercise of nonqualified stock options and upon
vesting of the restricted stock). Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code and
certain reporting requirements, we would receive an income tax deduction with
respect to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant. Under
Sections 421 and 422 of the Code, recipients of incentive stock options are
generally not taxed on their receipt of common stock upon the exercise of
incentive stock options, if they hold the common stock for specified minimum
holding periods; therefore, we would not receive an income tax deduction unless
a participant failed to satisfy the minimum holding periods. Assuming the
required holding periods are met, an incentive stock option recipient would
recognize a capital gain.
The
Equity Incentive Plan is also structured to comply with the requirements imposed
by Section 162(m) of the Code and related regulations in order to preserve,
to
the extent practicable, our tax deduction for awards made under our Equity
Incentive Plan to covered employees. Section 162(m) of the Code generally denies
an employer a deduction for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 paid to covered
employees of a publicly held corporation (generally the named executive
officers), unless the compensation is exempt from the $1,000,000 limitation
because it is performance-based compensation.
Participants
may elect, under Section 83(b) of the Code, within 30 days of a grant of
restricted stock, to recognize taxable ordinary income on the date of grant,
rather than on the date of vesting. If a participant makes an election under
Section 83(b), the holding period will commence on the date of grant, the
participant's tax basis will equal the fair market value of the shares on the
grant date (determined without regard to restrictions), and we will be entitled
to a deduction equal to the amount that is taxable as ordinary income to the
participant.
The
Equity Incentive Plan provides the Board with the
general power to amend the Equity Incentive Plan, or any portion thereof at
any
time in any respect without the approval of our stockholders, provided
however, that the stockholders must approve any amendment which increases the
fixed maximum percentage of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the
Equity Incentive Plan, reduces the exercise price of an Award held by
a
director, officer or ten percent stockholder
or
extends the term of an Award held by a
director, officer or ten percent stockholder.
Accordingly,
for example, the Board may amend the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan without
seeking stockholder approval as follows:
|
(a) |
amendments
of a “housekeeping” or ministerial nature including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any amendment for the purpose of
curing any
ambiguity, error or omission in the Equity Incentive Plan or
to correct or
supplement any provision of the Equity Incentive Plan that is
inconsistent
with any other provision of the Equity Incentive Plan;
|
|
(b) |
amendments
necessary to comply with the provisions of applicable law (including,
without limitation, the rules, regulations and policies of the
TSX or any
other stock exchange upon which the common stock is listed);
|
|
(c) |
amendments
respecting administration of the Equity Incentive Plan;
|
|
(d) |
any
amendment to the vesting provisions of the Equity Incentive Plan
or any
Award;
|
|
(e) |
any
amendment to the early termination provisions of the Equity Incentive
Plan
or any Award, whether or not such Award is held by a
director, officer or ten percent stockholder,
provided such amendment does not entail an extension beyond the
original
expiry date;
|
|
(f) |
the
addition of any form of financial assistance by the Company for
the
acquisition by all or certain categories of participants under
the
Equity
Incentive Plan, and
the subsequent amendment of any such provision which is more
favorable to
participants;
|
|
(g) |
the
addition or modification of a cashless exercise feature, payable
in cash
or shares, which provides for a full deduction of the number
of underlying
shares from the Equity Incentive Plan reserve;
|
|
(h) |
amendments
necessary to suspend or terminate the Equity Incentive Plan;
and
|
|
(i) |
any
other amendment, whether fundamental or otherwise, not requiring
shareholder approval under applicable law (including, without
limitation,
the rules, regulations and policies of the TSX or any other stock
exchange
upon which the common stock is listed).
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, stockholder approval may still be necessary to satisfy the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or
any
applicable stock exchange listing requirements. The Board may, in its sole
discretion, although not required under the terms of the Equity Incentive
Plan,
submit any amendment to the Equity Incentive Plan for stockholder approval,
including, but not limited to, amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan intended
to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations
thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from
the
limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive
officers. The Board may amend the Equity Incentive Plan in any respect it
deems
necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits
provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring
the
Equity Incentive Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into
compliance therewith. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of
the
Equity Incentive Plan cannot be impaired by any amendment of the Equity
Incentive Plan unless the Participant consents in writing. The Board is
empowered to amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however,
that
the rights under any Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless
the applicable Participant consents in writing and further provided that
the
Board cannot amend the exercise price of an option, the Fair Market Value
of an
Award or extend the term of an option or Award without obtaining the approval
of
the stockholders if required by the rules of the TSX or any stock exchange
upon
which the common stock is listed.
New
Benefits to Named Executive Officers and Others
As
of the
date of this proxy statement, the following awards have been granted under
the
Equity Incentive Plan: 250,000 Options to John Brownlie, our Vice President
of
Operations; 100,000 Options to Christopher Chipman, our Chief Financial Officer;
and 100,000 Options to a legal consultant. All of these options are exercisable
for a period of two years at a price of $0.36 per share. We do not contemplate
granting any other Awards at this time. The Board will have sole discretion
regarding Awards to be made under the Equity Incentive Plan. Therefore, we
cannot determine at this time the benefits or amounts that will be received
by
any individual or group pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan in the future,
or
the benefits or amounts that would have been received by any individuals or
groups for the last completed fiscal year if the Equity Incentive Plan had
been
in effect.
The
last
reported sales price per share of our common stock as reported by the OTC
Bulletin Board on January 12,
2007,
was $0.38.
On
January 12,
2007,
the closing price of our common stock on the TSX was $0.415
CDN
(approximately $0.355
USD).
Required
Vote and Recommendation
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares represented and voting
at
the Annual Meeting is necessary for approval of Proposal 5.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL 5 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL
THEREOF.
PROPOSAL
6
RATIFICATION
AND APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN
OUTSTANDING
OPTIONS THAT REQUIRE STOCKHOLDER
APPROVAL
PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF THE TSX
In
March
2006 our shares became listed for trading on the TSX. Between March 2006 and
the
date of this proxy, we have issued the following options to the following
persons:
Name
|
|
No.
of
Options
|
|
Per
Share
Exercise Price
|
|
Issue
Date
|
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
John
Brownlie*
|
|
|
200,000
|
** |
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
5/1/06
|
|
|
5/1/08**
|
|
John
Brownlie*
|
|
|
250,000
|
*** |
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
12/13/06
|
|
|
12/13/08
|
|
Christopher
Chipman*
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
$
|
0.34
|
|
|
3/1/06
|
|
|
3/1/08
|
|
Christopher
Chipman*
|
|
|
100,000
|
*** |
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
12/13/06
|
|
|
12/13/08
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle*
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
7/31/06
|
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
Jack
V. Everett*
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
7/31/06
|
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
Lonnie
Kirsh
|
|
|
100,000
|
*** |
$
|
0.36
|
|
|
12/13/06
|
|
|
12/13/08
|
|
Mark
T. Nesbitt*
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
11/30/06
|
|
|
11/30/08
|
|
Roger
Newell*
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
7/31/06
|
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
John
Postle*
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
11/30/06
|
|
|
11/30/08
|
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard*
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
7/31/06
|
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
RK
Equity Advisors, LLC
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
5/1/06
|
|
|
5/1/08
|
|
Josephine
Scott
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
7/31/06
|
|
|
7/31/08
|
|
Ian
A. Shaw*
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
$
|
0.33
|
|
|
11/30/06
|
|
|
11/30/08
|
|
*
|
One
of our Executive Officers and/or
Directors.
|
** |
150,000
of these options are not exercisable until “Economic Completion” as
defined in the Standard Bank Credit Agreement and, thereafter, are
exercisable for a period of two years.
|
*** |
Issued
pursuant to the 2006 Equity Incentive
Plan.
|
All
of
these options were issued subject to approval by our stockholders and the TSX.
Until such time as our stockholders and the TSX approve the options, the options
are not exercisable.
Required
Vote and Recommendation
The
affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares represented and voting
at
the Annual Meeting is necessary for approval of Proposal 6.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS DEEMS PROPOSAL 6 TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMPANY
AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL
THEREOF.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The
following sets forth biographical information about our executive officers
and
key personnel:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle
|
|
74
|
|
President,
Treasurer & Chairman
of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher
M. Chipman
|
|
34
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen
|
|
71
|
|
Senior
Vice President and Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
V. Everett
|
|
85
|
|
Vice
President - Exploration
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
A. Newell
|
|
63
|
|
Vice
President - Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard
|
|
48
|
|
Vice
President - Investor Relations
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Brownlie
|
|
57
|
|
Vice
President - Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.
Scott Hazlitt
|
|
54
|
|
Vice
President - Mine Development
|
For
biographical information about Gifford A. Dieterle, Jack V. Everett, Roger
A.
Newell, Jeffrey W. Pritchard and Robert Roningen, please see the discussion
under the heading “Proposal 1 Election of Directors” above.
CHRISTOPHER
M. CHIPMAN, Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Chipman has been our Chief Financial
Officer since March 1, 2006. Since November 2000, Mr. Chipman has been a
managing member of Chipman & Chipman, LLC, a consulting firm that assists
public companies with the preparation of periodic reports required to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with Section 404
of
the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The firm also provides outsourced financial
resources to clients assisting in financial reporting, forecasting and
accounting services. Mr. Chipman is a CPA and, from 1996 to 1998, he was a
senior accountant with the accounting firm of Grant Thornton LLP. Mr. Chipman
was the Controller of Frontline Solutions, Inc., a software company (March
2000
to November 2000); a Senior Financial Analyst for GlaxoSmithKline (1998-2000);
and an Audit Examiner for Wachovia Corporation (1994-1996). He received a B.A.
in Economics from Ursinus College in 1994. He is a member of the American and
Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Chipman devotes
approximately 50% of his time to our business.
JOHN
BROWNLIE, Vice
President - Operations, has worked for us since May 2006 and is in charge of
supervising the construction, start-up and operation of the mine. Mr. Brownlie
provided team management for mining projects requiring technical,
administrative, political and cultural experience over his 28 year mining
career. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Brownlie was a consultant providing mining and
mineral related services to various companies including SRK, Oxus Mining plc
and
Cemco Inc. From 1995 to 2000, he was the General Manager for the
Zarafshan-Newmont Joint Venture in Uzbekistan, a one-million tonne per month
heap leach plant which produced over 400,000 ounces of gold per year. From
1988
to 1995, Mr. Brownlie served as the Chief Engineer and General Manager for
Monarch Resources in Venezuela, at both the El Callao Revemin Mill and La
Camorra gold projects. Before that, was a resident of South Africa and
associated with numerous mineral projects across Africa. He is also a mechanical
engineer and fluent in Spanish.
J.
SCOTT
HAZLITT, Vice President - Mine Development, has been in the mining business
since 1974. He has worked primarily in mine feasibility, development, and mine
operations. Mr. Hazlitt was a field geologist for ARCO Syncrude Division at
their CB oil Shale project in 1974 and 1975. He was a contract geologist for
Pioneer Uravan and others from 1975 to 1977. He was a mine geologist for Cotter
Corporation in 1978 and 1979, and was a mine geologist for ASARCO from 1979
to
1984. He served as Vice President of Exploration for Mallon Minerals from 1984
to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Hazlitt was a project geologist and Mine
Superintendent for the Lincoln development project. From 1992 to 1995, he was
self-employed as a consulting mining geologist in California and Nevada. He
was
Mine Operations Chief Geologist for Getchell Gold from 1995 to 1999. His work
experience has included precious metals, base metals, uranium, and oil shale.
Mr. Hazlitt has served as mine manager at our Hopemore Mine in Leadville,
Colorado starting in November 1999. Since 2001, he has focused on development
of
our El Chanate concessions. His highest educational degree is Master of Science
from Colorado State University. He is a registered geologist in the state of
California.
Key
Employee
DAVID
LODER has been the General Manager of our El Chanate Project since March 2005.
Mr. Loder is a registered professional mining engineer with over 30 years
experience in the mining industry, spending the last 15 years managing open-pit
gold heap leach operations. He has been a General Manager responsible for the
overall planning and start-up for open-pit gold mining operations in Sonora,
Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. From 2003 to 2004, he was general manager
of the Bellavista mine owned by Glencairn Gold in Costa Rica. From 1995 to
2001,
Mr. Loder was general manager of the Santa Gertrudis mine owned by Campbell
Resources in Sonora, Mexico. Mr. Loder is a Registered Professional Engineer
in
the United States and Canada.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table shows all the cash compensation paid or to be paid by us or
any
of our subsidiaries, as well as certain other compensation paid or accrued,
during the fiscal years indicated, to our Chief Executive Officer, Gifford
A.
Dieterle, and (ii) the only executive officers other than the CEO who was
serving as an executive officer at the end of the last completed fiscal year
and
whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the “Named
Executives”).
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
|
|
|
Long-Term
Compensation
|
|
|
|
Annual
Compensation
|
|
Awards
|
|
Payouts
|
|
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
(d)
|
|
(e)
|
|
(f)
|
|
(g)
|
|
(h)
|
|
(i)
|
|
Name
and Principal
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
Other
Annual
Compensation
($)
|
|
Restricted
Stock
Award
($)
|
|
Options
SARs
|
|
LTIP
Payouts
($)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
(i)
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
169,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
1,500,000*
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Chief
Executive
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
123,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
104,000
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.
Scott Hazlitt
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
101,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
97,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
Mine
Development
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
96,000
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
* 250,000
shares issuable upon exercise of options, which options cannot be exercised
unless and until the options have been approved by our stockholders.
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the Named Executives
concerning the grants of options and Stock Appreciation Rights ("SAR") during
the past fiscal year:
OPTION/SAR
GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Individual
Grants
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
(d)
|
|
(e)
|
|
Name
|
|
Options/SARs
Granted
|
|
Percent
of Total Options/SARs Granted to Employee in Fiscal Year
|
|
Exercise
or Base Price ($/SH)
|
|
Expiration
Date
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterlie
|
|
|
1,250,000
|
|
|
22.4
|
%
|
$
|
.
05
|
|
|
1/3/2007
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterlie*
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
4.5
|
%
|
$
|
.
32
|
|
|
7/31/2008
|
|
J.
Scott Hazlitt
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
$
|
.05
|
|
|
1/3/2007
|
|
* Shares
issuable upon exercise of options, which options cannot be exercised unless
and
until the options have been approved by our stockholders. Such approval is
being
sought at this meeting.
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the Named Executives
concerning exercise of options during the last fiscal year and unexercised
options and SARs held as of the end of the fiscal year:
Aggregated
Option/SAR Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option/SAR
(a)
|
|
(b)
|
|
(c)
|
|
(d)
|
|
(e)
|
|
Name
|
|
Shares
Acquired on Exercise (#)
|
|
Value
Realized
|
|
Number
of Unexercised Options/SARs at FY-End(#) Exercisable/
Unexercisable
|
|
Value
of Unexercised In-the-Money Option/SARs at FY-End(#) Exercisable/
Unexercisable
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle*
|
|
|
200,000
|
|
|
44,000
|
|
|
1,550,000
|
|
$
|
308,500
|
|
J.
Scott Hazlitt
|
|
|
300,000
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
$
|
7,000
|
|
*
Includes 250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options, which options cannot
be exercised unless and until the options have been approved by our
stockholders. Such
approval is being sought at this meeting.
Employment
and Change of Control Agreements
Effective
July 31, 2006, we entered into employment agreements with the following
executive officers: Gifford A. Dieterle, our President and Treasurer, Roger
A.
Newell, our Vice President of Development, Jack V. Everett, our Vice President
of Exploration, and Jeffrey W. Pritchard, our Vice President of Investor
Relations. On December 5, 2005, effective January 1, 2007, we entered into
an
employment agreement with J. Scott Hazlitt, our Vice President of Mine
Development.
The
agreements run for a period of three years and automatically renew for
successive one-year periods unless we or the executive provides the other party
with written notice of our or his intent not to renew at least 30 days prior
to
the expiration of the then current employment period.
Mr.
Dieterle is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $180,000, Mr. Hazlitt
is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $105,000 and each of the other
executives is entitled to a base annual salary of at least $120,000. Each
executive is entitled to a bonus or salary increase in the sole discretion
of
our board of directors. In addition, Messrs. Dieterle, Newell, Everett and
Pritchard each received two year options to purchase an aggregate of 250,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.32 per share (the closing
price on July 31, 2006).
We
have
the right to terminate any executive’s employment for cause or on 30 days’ prior
written notice without cause or in the event of the executive’s disability (as
defined in the agreements). The agreements automatically terminate upon an
executive’s death. “Cause” is defined in the agreements as (1) a failure or
refusal to perform the services required under the agreement; (2) a material
breach by executive of any of the terms of the agreement; or (3) executive’s
conviction of a crime that either results in imprisonment or involves
embezzlement, dishonesty, or activities injurious to us or our reputation.
In
the event that we terminate an executive’s employment without cause or due to
the disability of the executive, the executive will be entitled to a lump sum
severance payment equal to one month’s salary, in the case of termination for
disability, and up to 12 month’s salary (depending upon years of service), in
the case of termination without cause.
Each
executive has the right to terminate his employment agreement on 60 days’ prior
written notice or, in the event of a material breach by us of any of the terms
of the agreement, upon 30 days’ prior written notice. In the event of a claim of
material breach by us of the agreement, the executive must specify the breach
and our failure to either (i) cure or diligently commence to cure the breach
within the 30 day notice period, or (ii) dispute in good faith the existence
of
the material breach. In the event that an agreement terminates due to our
breach, the executive is entitled to severance payments in equal monthly
installments beginning
in the month following the executive’s termination equal to three month’ salary
plus one additional month’s salary for each year of service to us. Severance
payments cannot exceed 12
month’s salary.
In
conjunction with the employment agreements, our board of directors deeming
it
essential to the best interests of our stockholders to foster the continuous
engagement of key management personnel and recognizing that, as is the case
with
many publicly held corporations, a change of control might occur and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it might raise among
management, might result in the departure or distraction of management personnel
to the detriment of our company and our stockholders, determined to reinforce
and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of our
management to their engagement without distraction in the face of potentially
disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control
of
our company, we entered into identical agreements regarding change in control
with the executives. Each
of
the agreements regarding change in control continues through December 31, 2009
(December 31, 2010 for Mr. Hazlitt) and extends automatically to the third
anniversary thereof unless we give notice to the executive prior to the date
of
such extension that the agreement term will not be extended.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a change in control occurs during the term
of
the agreements, the term of the agreements will continue through the second
anniversary of the date on which the change in control occurred. Each of the
agreements entitles the executive to change of control benefits, as defined
in
the agreements and summarized below, upon his termination of employment with
us
during a potential change in control, as defined in the agreements, or after
a
change in control, as defined in the agreements, when his termination is caused
(1) by us for any reason other than permanent disability or cause, as defined
in
the agreement (2) by the executive for good reason as defined in the agreements
or, (3) by the executive for any reason during the 30 day period commencing
on
the first date which is six months after the date of the change in control.
Each
executive would receive a lump sum cash payment of three times his base salary
and outplacement benefits. Each agreement also provides that the executive
is
entitled to a payment to make him whole for any federal excise tax imposed
on
change of control or severance payments received by him.
In
May
2006, we entered into an employment agreement with John Brownlie, pursuant
to
which Mr. Brownlie serves as Vice President Operations. Mr. Brownlie receives
a
base annual salary of $150,000 and is entitled to annual bonuses. Upon his
employment, he received options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 shares
of
our common stock at an exercise price of $.32 per share. 50,000 options vested
immediately and the balance vest upon our achieving “Economic Completion” as
that term will be defined in the loan agreement with Standard Bank plc (when
we
have commenced mining operations and have been operating at anticipated capacity
for 60 to 90 days). The term of the options is two years from the date of
vesting. The agreement runs for an initial two year period and automatically
renews thereafter for additional one year periods unless terminated by either
party within 30 days of a renewal date. We can terminate the agreement for
cause
or upon 30 days notice without cause. Mr. Brownlie can terminate the agreement
upon 60 days notice without cause or, if there is a breach of the agreement
by
us that is not timely cured, upon 30 days notice. In the event that we terminate
him without cause or he terminates due to our breach, he will be entitled to
certain severance payments.
Pursuant
to a September 1, 2006 amended consulting agreement, Christopher Chipman
is
engaged as our Chief Financial Officer. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Chipman
devotes approximately 50% of his time to our business. He receives a monthly
fee
of $10,000. The agreement runs for an initial one year period, and is renewable
thereafter for an additional year. Mr. Chipman can terminate the Agreement
on 60
days notice. In conjunction with the amended consulting agreement, we entered
into a change of control agreement similar to the agreements entered into
with
other executive officers; except that Mr. Chipman’s agreement renews annually
and his benefits are based upon one times his base annual fee.
In
connection with the original engagement agreement with Mr. Chipman, in March
2006, Mr. Chipman received a two year option to purchase an aggregate of
50,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $.34 per share. The option
vests at the rate of 10,000 shares per month. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the
options are not exercisable unless and until the issuance of the options
is
approved by our stockholders.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
During
the fiscal years ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, we paid Roger Newell $63,000
and
$68,000, respectively, for professional geologist and management services
rendered to us, plus expenses. Mr. Newell also earned wages of $30,000 during
the last three months of the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006. During the
fiscal
years ended July 31, 2006 and 2005, we paid Jack Everett consulting fees
of
$78,500 and $56,900, respectively. In addition, Mr. Everett earned wages
of
$10,000 during the last month of fiscal 2006. During the fiscal year ended
July
31, 2006 and 2005, we paid Robert Roningen legal and consulting fees of $8,000
and $6,625, respectively.
In
January 2006, we extended the following stock options through January 3,
2007,
all of which are exercisable at $0.05 per share: Messrs. Dieterle -1,050,000
shares; Roningen - 500,000 shares; Pritchard - 327,727 shares; Newell - 500,000
shares; and Hazlitt - 25,000 shares. All of these options were exercised
prior
to their expiration date.
Upon
their engagement with us, we issued 50,000 common stock purchase options
to Mr.
Chipman and 200,000 common stock purchase options to Mr. Brownlie (see
“Employment and Change of Control Agreements” in “Executive Compensation”
above). On July 31, 2006, we issued 250,000 common stock purchase options
each
to Messrs. Dieterle, Pritchard, Everett and Newell exercisable at $0.32 per
share expiring on July 31, 2008. On November 30, 2006, we granted 100,000
common
stock purchase options to each of John Postle, Ian A. Shaw and Mark T. Nesbitt,
our independent directors exercisable at $0.33 per share expiring November
30,
2008. On December 13, 2006, we issued an additional 250,000
common stock purchase options to John Brownlie, our Vice President of
Operations, and 100,000 common stock purchase options to Christopher Chipman,
our Chief Financial Officer, exercisable at $0.36 per share expiring on December
13, 2008. None
of
the foregoing options can be exercised unless and until they have been approved
by our stockholders. Such approval is being sought at this meeting (see
“Proposal 6” above).
We
utilize Caborca Industrial S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation 100% owned
by
Messrs. Dieterle and Pritchard, two of our officers and directors for mining
support services. These services include but are not limited to the payment
of
mining salaries and related costs. Caborca Industrial bills us for these
services at cost. Mining expenses charged by it amounted to approximately
$122,000 and $24,000 for the year ended July 31, 2006 and 2005 and approximately
$113,000 and $25,000 for the quarter ended October 31, 2006 and
2005.
COMPLIANCE
WITH SECTION 16(a) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
To
our
knowledge, during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006, based solely on a
review
of such materials as are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
no
officer, director or beneficial holder of more than ten percent of our issued
and outstanding shares of common stock failed to timely file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission any form or report required to be so filed pursuant
to
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act, except that, Robert Roningen,
filed a Form 4 late for one transaction, Scott Hazlitt filed a Form 4 late
for
one transaction, Messrs. Shaw, Nesbitt and Postle filed their Forms 3 late,
RAB
Special Situations (Master) Fund Ltd filed its Form 3 late and filed a Form
4
with regard to five transactions late.
PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDERS
The
following table sets forth as of December 29,
2006,
the
number and percentage of outstanding shares of common stock beneficially
owned
by:
|
· |
Each
person, individually or as a group, known to us to be deemed the
beneficial owners of five percent or more of our issued and outstanding
common stock;
|
|
· |
each
of our Directors and the Named Executives;
and
|
|
· |
all
of our officers and Directors as a group.
|
As
of the
foregoing date, there were no other persons, individually or as a group,
known
to us to be deemed the beneficial owners of five percent or more of the issued
and outstanding common stock.
This
table is based upon information supplied by Schedules 13D and 13G, if any,
filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and information obtained from
our
directors and named executives. For purposes of this table, a person or group
of
persons is deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of any shares of common stock
which such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of December
29,
2006.
For
purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares of common stock
held
by each person or group of persons named in the table, any security which
such
person or persons has or have the right to acquire within such date is deemed
to
be outstanding but is not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing
the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as indicated in the
footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws,
we
believe, based on information supplied by such persons, that the persons
named
in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
common stock which they beneficially own. Unless otherwise noted, the address
of
each of the principal stockholders is care of us at 76 Beaver Street,
26th
floor,
New York, NY10005.
Name
and Address
|
|
Amount
& Nature
|
|
|
|
of
Beneficial
|
|
of
Beneficial
|
|
Approximate
|
|
Owner
|
|
Ownership
|
|
Percentage(1)(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gifford
A. Dieterle*
|
|
|
2,650,000(2)(4
|
)
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jack
Everett*
|
|
|
1,010,000(3)(4
|
)
|
|
**
|
|
534
Observatory Drive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colorado
Springs, CO 80904
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen*
|
|
|
2,143,750(2)(5
|
)
|
|
1.6
|
%
|
2955
Strand Road
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duluth,
MN 55804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard*
|
|
|
956,354(2)(4
|
)
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher
Chipman*
|
|
|
-0-(4
|
)
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
4014
Redwing Lane
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audubon,
PA 19407
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roger
A Newell*
|
|
|
1,477,273(2)(4
|
)
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
1781
South Larkspur Drive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Golden,
CO 80401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Brownlie*
|
|
|
-0-(4
|
)
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
6040
Puma Ridge
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Littleton,
CO 80124
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott
Hazlitt*
|
|
|
1,025,000
|
|
|
**
|
|
9428
W. Highway 50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salida.
CO 81201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ian
A. Shaw*
|
|
|
-0-(4
|
)
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
20
Toronto Street, 12 Floor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toronto,
Ontario M5C-2B8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
Postle*
|
|
|
-0-(4
|
)
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
2169
Constance Drive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oakville
Ontario
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canada
L6j 5l2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark
T. Nesbitt*
|
|
|
41,666(4)(6
|
)
|
|
**
|
|
1580
Lincoln St., Ste. 700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denver
CO 80203-1501
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAB
Special Situations
|
|
|
15,558,700
(7
|
)
|
|
11.6
|
%
|
(Master)
Fund Limited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Adam Street
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
London,
WC2N 6LE, UK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPGP
|
|
|
20,270,000(8
|
)
|
|
14.1
|
%
|
17,
Avenue Matignon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75008
Paris, France
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Standard
Bank PLC
|
|
|
15,750,000(9
|
)
|
|
10.7
|
%
|
320
Park Avenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
York, NY 10022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Officers and
|
|
|
9,304,043(2)(3)(4)(5)(6
|
) |
|
6.8
|
% |
Directors
as a
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Group
(11)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
Officer
and/or Director of Capital Gold.
** Less
than
1%.
(1) |
Based
upon 134,085,854, shares issued and outstanding as of December
29, 2006.
|
(2) |
For
Messrs. Dieterle, Roningen, Pritchard and Newell, includes, respectively,
1,300,000 shares, 250,000 shares, 622,727 shares and 750,000 shares
issuable upon exercise of options and/or warrants. Subsequent to
December
29, 2006, Messrs. Dieterle, Pritchard and Newell, exercised certain
of
these options for, respectively, for 1,050,000 shares, 372,727
shares and
500,000 shares.
|
(3) |
Includes
shares owned by Mr. Everett’s wife.
|
(4) |
Excludes
for Messrs. Dieterle, Everett, Pritchard, Chipman, Brownlie, Shaw,
Postle,
Nesbitt and Newell, respectively, 250,000 shares, 250,000 shares,
250,000
shares, 150,000 shares, 450,000 shares, 100,000 shares, 100,000
shares,
100,000 shares and 250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options,
which
options cannot be exercised unless and until the options have been
approved by our stockholders. Such approval is being sought at
this
meeting.
|
(5) |
Includes
shares owned by Mr. Roningen’s wife. All of the foregoing shares are
pledged as collateral for payment of a bank
note.
|
(6) |
Includes
shares owned by Mr. Nesbitt’s wife.
|
(7) |
The
shares are held of record by Credit Suisse First Boston LLC. We
have been
advised that William P. Richards is the Fund Manager for RAB Special
Situations (Master) Fund Limited, with dispositive and voting power
over
the shares held by RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund Limited.
|
(8) |
Includes
shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase an aggregate
of
9,600,000 shares. We have been advised that Xavier Roulet, is a
natural
person with voting and investment control over shares of our common
stock
beneficially owned by SPGP.
|
(9) |
Includes
shares issuable upon exercise of warrants to purchase an aggregate
of
13,600,000 shares. We have been advised that Standard Bank
PLC’s
directors and senior management are natural persons with voting
and
investment control over shares of our common stock beneficially
owned by
Standard Bank PLC.
|
DEADLINE
FOR RECEIPT OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Proposals
of stockholders to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement and
proxy
card for the Company’s 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by
the Company’s Secretary, at Capital Gold Corporation, 76 Beaver Street, 26th
Floor, New York, NY 10005 no later than September 4, 2007. We anticipate
that
our 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on or about January
15,
2008.
Pursuant
to our Amended and Restated By-laws, all stockholder proposals may be brought
before an annual meeting of stockholders only upon timely notice thereof
in
writing having been given to the Secretary of the company. To be timely,
a
stockholder’s notice, for all stockholder proposals shall be delivered to the
Secretary at our principal executive offices not less than ninety (90) nor
more
than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the date of the meeting; provided,
however, that in the event that the annual meeting date is publicly disclosed
less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the date of the meeting,
the
stockholders’ notice, in order to be timely, must be so received not later than
the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which
such
notice of the date of the annual meeting was publicly disclosed. All such
stockholders must be stockholders of record on both the date such stockholders
provide notice of their proposals and on the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. In addition, all stockholder
proposals must contain all of the information required under our Amended
and
Restated By-laws, a copy of which is available upon written request, at no
charge, from the Secretary at our New York office. The Company reserves the
right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with
respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable
requirements.
GENERAL
Unless
contrary instructions are indicated on the proxy, all shares of common stock
represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation (and
not
revoked before they are voted) will be voted FOR all director nominees and
FOR
Proposals No. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
The
Board
of Directors knows of no business other than that set forth above to be
transacted at the meeting, but if other matters requiring a vote of the
stockholders arise, the persons designated as proxies will vote the shares
of
common stock represented by the proxies in accordance with their judgment
on
such matters. If a stockholder specifies a different choice on the proxy,
his or
her shares of common stock will be voted in accordance with the specification
so
made.
Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB
A
copy of
our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2006,
including financial statements, is enclosed with this proxy. Exhibits and
any
amendments to our Form 10-KSB, as filed with the SEC, may be obtained without
charge upon written request to: Corporate Secretary, Capital Gold Corporation,
76 Beaver Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005. You can also get copies
of our
filings made with the SEC, including the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, by
visiting the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
IT
IS
IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. WE URGE YOU TO FILL IN, SIGN
AND
RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY IN THE PREPAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED, NO
MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL YOUR HOLDINGS MAY BE.
|
|
|
|
|
By
Order of the Board of Directors,
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen,
Secretary
|
|
|
New
York, New York
January
19, 2007
|
|
Annex
A
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
AUDIT
COMMITTEE CHARTER
I.
General Statement of Purpose
The
purposes of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit
Committee") of Capital Gold Corporation (the "Company")
are
to:
|
·
|
oversee
the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and
the
audits of the Company's financial
statements;
|
|
·
|
take,
or recommend that the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board")
take, appropriate action to oversee the qualifications, independence
and
performance of the Company's independent auditors;
and
|
|
·
|
prepare
the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC")
to be included in the Company's annual proxy
statement.
|
II.
Composition
The
Audit
Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members of the Board, each of
whom must meet all applicable legal, securities regulatory and stock exchange
requirements relating to composition and the qualifications of its members
as
may be in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, requirements
relating to the independence and financial literacy of its members and not
have
participated in the preparation of the financial statements of the Company
or a
current subsidiary of the Company at any time during the past three years.
In
this
regard, each member of the Audit Committee must meet the criteria for
independence set forth in Rule 10A-3(b)(1) promulgated under
Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange
Act"),
subject to the exemptions provided in Rule 10A-3(c) under the Exchange Act;
(2) . In addition, each member of the Audit Committee must be able to read
and
understand fundamental financial statements, including a company's balance
sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. At least one member of the
Audit Committee shall have past employment experience in finance or accounting,
requisite professional certification in accounting, or any other comparable
experience or background which results in the individual's financial
sophistication, including being or having been a chief executive officer, chief
financial officer or other senior officer with financial oversight
responsibilities. One or more members of the Audit Committee may qualify as
an
"audit committee financial expert" under the rules promulgated by the
SEC.
The
members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed annually by the Board
immediately following each Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company
and
may be replaced or removed by the Board with or without cause. Resignation
or
removal of a Director from the Board, for whatever reason, shall automatically
and without any further action constitute resignation or removal, as applicable,
from the Audit Committee. Any vacancy on the Audit Committee, occurring for
whatever reason, may be filled only by the Board. The Board shall designate
one
member of the Audit Committee to be Chairman of the Committee. If the Chairman
of the Committee is not present at any meeting of the Committee, the Chairman
of
the meeting shall be chosen by the Committee from among the members present.
The
Chairman presiding at any meeting of the Committee shall have a casting vote
in
case of a deadlock. The Committee shall also appoint a Secretary who need not
be
a director.
III.
Compensation
IV.
Meetings
The
Audit
Committee shall meet as often as it determines is appropriate to carry out
its
responsibilities under this charter, but not less frequently than quarterly.
A
majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall constitute a quorum for
purposes of holding a meeting and the Audit Committee may act by a vote of
a
majority of the members present at such meeting. In lieu of a meeting, the
Audit
Committee may act by unanimous written consent. The Chairman of the Audit
Committee, in consultation with the other committee members, may determine
the
frequency and length of the committee meetings and may set meeting agendas
consistent with this Charter.
V.
Responsibilities and Authority
Review
of Charter
|
· |
The
Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter
annually and recommend to the Board any amendments or modifications
to the
Charter that the Audit Committee deems
appropriate.
|
Annual
Performance Evaluation of the Audit Committee
|
·
|
At
least annually, the Audit Committee shall evaluate its own performance
and
report the results of such evaluation to the
Board.
|
Matters
Relating to Selection, Performance and Independence of Independent
Auditor
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment,
retention and termination, and for determining the compensation,
of the
Company's independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing
or
issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest
services for the Company. The Audit Committee may consult with management
in fulfilling these duties, but may not delegate these responsibilities
to
management.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall be directly responsible for oversight of the
work of
the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between
management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting)
engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or
performing other audit, review or attest services for the
Company.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall instruct the independent auditor that the
independent auditor shall report directly to the Audit
Committee.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and the terms
thereof (which may include providing comfort letters in connection
with
securities underwritings) and non-audit services (other than non-audit
services prohibited under Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act or the
applicable rules of the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board) to be provided to the Company by the independent auditor and
the
fees related thereto; provided, however, the pre-approval requirement
is
waived with respect to the provision of non-audit services for the
Company
if such services are deemed to be "de minimus" under applicable laws.
This
authority to pre-approve non-audit services may be delegated to one
or
more members of the Audit Committee, who shall present all decisions
to
pre-approve an activity to the full Audit Committee at its first
meeting
following such decision.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may review and approve the scope and staffing of
the
independent auditors' annual audit
plan(s).
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall request that the independent auditor provide
the
Audit Committee with the written disclosures and the letter required
by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, as modified or supplemented,
require that the independent auditor submit to the Audit Committee
on a
periodic basis a formal written statement delineating all relationships
between the independent auditor and the Company, discuss with the
independent auditor any disclosed relationships or services that
may
impact the objectivity and independence of the independent auditor,
and
based on such disclosures, statement and discussion take or recommend
that
the Board take appropriate action in response to the independent
auditor's
report to satisfy itself of the independent auditors'
independence.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may consider whether the provision of the services
covered
in Items 9(e)(2) and 9(e)(3) of Regulation 14A of the Exchange
Act (or any successor provision) is compatible with maintaining the
independent auditor's independence.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall evaluate the independent auditors' qualifications,
performance and independence, and shall present its conclusions with
respect to the independent auditors to the full Board. As part of
such
evaluation, at least annually, the Audit Committee
shall:
|
|
|
obtain
and review a report or reports from the independent auditor describing
(1) the auditor's internal quality-control procedures, (2) any
material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control
review
or peer review of the auditors or by any inquiry or investigation
by
government or professional authorities, within the preceding five
years,
regarding one or more independent audits carried out by the auditors,
and
any steps taken to address any such issues, and (3) in order to
assess the auditors' independence, all relationships between the
independent auditor and the
Company;
|
|
|
review
and evaluate the performance of the independent auditor and the lead
partner (and the Audit Committee may review and evaluate the performance
of other members of the independent auditors' audit staff);
and
|
|
|
assure
the regular rotation of the audit partners (including, without limitation,
the lead and concurring partners) as required under the Exchange
Act and
Regulation S-X.
|
|
·
|
In
this regard, the Audit Committee shall also (1) seek the opinion of
management and the internal auditors of the independent auditors'
performance and (2) consider whether, in order to assure continuing
auditor independence, there should be regular rotation of the audit
firm.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall review and approve the Company’s policies with
respect to the potential hiring of current or former employees or
partners
of the current or former independent
auditor.
|
Audited
Financial Statements and Annual Audit
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall review the overall audit plan (both internal
and
external) with the independent auditor and the members of management
who
are responsible for preparing the Company's financial statements,
including the Company's Chief Financial Officer and/or principal
accounting officer or principal financial officer (the Chief Financial
Officer and such other officer or officers are referred to herein
collectively as the "Senior
Accounting Executive").
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee must review:
|
|
i. |
Any
analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditors setting
forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in
connection with the preparation of financial statements, including
analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial
statements. The Audit Committee may consider the ramifications of
the use
of such alternative disclosures and treatments on the financial
statements, and the treatment preferred by the independent auditor.
The
Audit Committee may also consider other material written communications
between the registered public accounting firm and management, such
as any
management letter or schedule of unadjusted
differences;
|
|
ii.
|
Major
issues as to the adequacy of the Company's internal controls and
any
special audit steps adopted in light of material control
deficiencies;
|
|
iii.
|
Major
issues regarding accounting principles and procedures and financial
statement presentations, including any significant changes in the
Company's selection or application of accounting principles;
and
|
|
iv.
|
The
effects of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance
sheet transactions and structures, on the financial statements of
the
Company.
|
|
· |
The
Audit Committee shall review and discuss with the independent auditor
(outside of the presence of management) how the independent auditor
plans
to handle its responsibilities under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, and request assurance from the auditor that
Section 10A of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
has not been implicated.
|
|
· |
The
Audit Committee shall review and discuss with the independent auditor
any
audit problems or difficulties and management's response thereto.
This
review shall include (1) any difficulties encountered by the auditor
in the course of performing its audit work, including any restrictions
on
the scope of its activities or its access to information and (2) any
significant disagreements with
management.
|
|
· |
This
review may also include:
|
|
i. |
Any
accounting adjustments that were noted or proposed by the auditors
but
were "passed" (as immaterial or otherwise);
and
|
|
ii. |
Any
management or internal control letter issued, or proposed to be issues,
by
the auditors.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall discuss with the independent auditors those
matters
brought to the attention of the Audit Committee by the auditors pursuant
to Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended ("SAS 61").
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall also review and discuss with the independent
auditors the report required to be delivered by such auditors pursuant
to
Section 10A(k) of the Exchange
Act.
|
|
·
|
If
brought to the attention of the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee
shall
discuss with the CEO and CFO of the Company (1) all significant
deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely
to
adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize
and
report financial information required to be disclosed by the Company
in
the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, within
the
time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and (2) any
fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant
role
in the Company's internal control over financial
reporting.
|
|
·
|
Based
on the Audit Committee's review and discussions (1) with management
of the audited financial statements, (2) with the independent auditor
of the matters required to be discussed by SAS 61, and (3) with the
independent auditor concerning the independent auditor's independence,
the
Audit Committee shall make a recommendation to the Board as to whether
the
Company's audited financial statements should be included in the
Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the last fiscal
year.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall prepare the Audit Committee report required
by Item
306 of Regulation S-B of the Exchange Act (or any successor
provision) to be included in the Company's annual proxy
statement.
|
Unaudited
Quarterly Financial Statements
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall review and may discuss with management and
the
independent auditor as appropriate, prior to the filing of the Company's
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB, (1) the Company's quarterly
financial statements and the Company's related disclosures under
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results
of Operations," (2) such issues as may be brought to the Audit
Committee's attention by the independent auditor pursuant to Statement
on
Auditing Standards No. 100, and (3) any significant financial
reporting issues that have arisen in connection with the preparation
of
such financial statements.
|
Earnings
Press Releases
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall review and discuss the Company's earnings and
related financial information expected to be announced in any press
releases, as well as financial information and earnings guidance
provided
to analysts and rating agencies, including in general, the types
of
information to be disclosed and the types of presentation to be made
(paying particular attention to the use of "pro forma" or "adjusted"
non-GAAP information).
|
Risk
Assessment and Management
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall discuss the process by which the Company's
exposure
to risk is assessed and managed by
management.
|
|
·
|
In
connection with the Audit Committee's discussion of the Company's
risk
assessment and management guidelines, the Audit Committee may discuss
or
consider the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps
that
the Company's management has taken to monitor and control such
exposures.
|
Procedures
for Addressing Complaints and Concerns
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall establish procedures for (1) the receipt,
retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding
accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and
(2) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the
Company of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may review and reassess the adequacy of these procedures
periodically and adopt any changes to such procedures that the Audit
Committee deems necessary or
appropriate.
|
Regular
Reports to the Board
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee shall regularly report to and review with the Board
any
issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the
Company's financial statements, the Company's compliance with legal
or
regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the
independent auditors, and any other matters that the Audit Committee
deems
appropriate or is requested to review for the benefit of the
Board.
|
VI.
Additional Authority
The
Audit
Committee is authorized, on behalf of the Board, to do any of the following
as
it deems necessary or appropriate:
A.
Engagement of Advisors
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may engage independent counsel and such other advisors
it
deems necessary or advisable to carry out its responsibilities and
powers
at the expense of the Company, and, if such counsel or other advisors
are
engaged, shall determine the compensation or fees payable to such
counsel
or other advisors.
|
B.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may discuss with management and the independent auditor,
and review with the Board, the legal and regulatory requirements
applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries and the Company's
compliance with such requirements. After these discussions, the Audit
Committee may, if it determines it to be appropriate, make recommendations
to the Board with respect to the Company's policies and procedures
regarding compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.
|
|
·
|
The
Audit Committee may discuss with management legal matters (including
pending or threatened litigation) that may have a material effect
on the
Company's financial statements or its compliance policies and
procedures.
|
C.
Conflicts of Interest
|
· |
The
Audit Committee shall conduct an appropriate review of all related
party
transactions for potential conflict of interest situations on an
ongoing
basis, and the approval of the Audit Committee shall be required
for all
such transactions.
|
D.
General
|
· |
The
Audit Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees
consisting of one of more of its members as the Audit Committee deems
appropriate to carry out its responsibilities and exercise its
powers.
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The
Audit Committee may perform such other oversight functions outside
of its
stated purpose as may be requested by the Board from time to
time.
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In
performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee shall be entitled
to rely upon advice and information that it receives in its discussions
and communications with management, the independent auditor and such
experts, advisors and professionals as may be consulted with by the
Audit
Committee.
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The
Audit Committee is authorized to request that any officer or employee
of
the Company, the Company's outside legal counsel, the Company's
independent auditor or any other professional retained by the Company
to
render advice to the Company attend a meeting of the Audit Committee
or
meet with any members of or advisors to the Audit
Committee.
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The
Audit Committee is authorized to incur such ordinary administrative
expenses as are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its
duties.
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Notwithstanding
the responsibilities and powers of the Audit Committee set forth in this
Charter, the Audit Committee does not have the responsibility of planning or
conducting audits of the Company's financial statements or determining whether
the Company's financial statements are complete, accurate and in accordance
with
GAAP. Such responsibilities are the duty of management and, to the extent of
the
independent auditor's audit responsibilities, the independent auditor.
Annex
B
CERTIFICATE
OF AMENDMENT
TO
THE
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
The
above
corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does hereby certify:
FIRST:
At
a meeting of the Board of Directors of CAPITAL GOLD CORPORATION (the "Company")
duly called and noticed, resolutions were duly adopted setting forth proposed
amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, declaring said
amendments to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of the
Company for consideration thereof. The resolutions provide for amendment to
Article FOURTH of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, which sets forth
the Company's capitalization, which Article, as amended, reads as follows:
“FOURTH. (A)
Authorized
Capital Stock.
The
total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall
have
authority to issue is TWO HUNDRED FIFTY ONE MILLION (251,000,000) shares,
consisting of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION (250,000,000) shares of Common Stock,
par value $.0001 per share (hereinafter, the “Common Stock”), and ONE MILLION
(1,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.0001 per share (hereinafter,
the “Preferred Stock”). All Stock When issued shall be fully paid and
non-assessable.
(B) Common
Stock Generally.
No
holder
of Shares of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled, as such, to
any
pre-emptive or preferential rights to subscribe to any unissued stock or any
other securities which the Corporation may now or thereafter be authorized
to
issue. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, however, at its
discretion, by resolution determine that any unissued Shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation shall be offered for subscription solely to the holders of
Common Stock of the Corporation or solely to the holders of any class or classes
of such stock, in such proportions based on stock ownership as said Board at
its
discretion may determine.
Each
share of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote at Stockholders meetings,
either in person or by proxy. Cumulative voting in elections of directors and
all other matters brought before stockholders meetings, whether they be annual
or special, shall not be permitted.
The
Board
of Directors is hereby expressly granted authority to determine the classes
and
series of any Common Stock issued by the Corporation, each such series or class
being distinctly designated, and to fix, by resolutions duly adopted prior
to
the issuance of any shares of a particular series or class of Common Stock,
the
relative rights and preferences pertaining thereto.
(C) Preferred
Stock Generally.
Preferred
Stock may be issued from time to time for such consideration as determined
by
the Board of Directors and in one or more series, each of such series to have
such terms as stated or expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing
for
the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
as
hereinafter provided. Any shares of Preferred Stock which may be redeemed,
purchased or acquired by the Corporation may be reissued except as otherwise
provided by law. Different series of Preferred Stock shal1 not be construed
to
constitute different classes of shares for the purposes of voting by classes
unless expressly provided. All shares of any one series of the Preferred Stock
shall be alike in every particular event except that there may be different
dates from which dividends thereon, if any, shall be cumulative, if made
cumulative. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other rights of each series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time
outstanding.
Authority
is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to
issue
the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation
of any such series, by resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of
the
shares thereof; to determine and fix such voting powers, full or limited, or
no
voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereof, if any, of such series, including without limitation
thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and
liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions,
all to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide
that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to the Preferred
Stock of any other series to the extent permitted by law. Except as otherwise
provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended hereby, no vote of
the
holders of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the
designation or issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock
authorized by and complying with the conditions of the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended hereby, the right to have such vote being expressly
waived by all present and future holders of the capital stock of the
Corporation; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may provide in
such
resolution or resolutions adopted with respect to any series of Preferred Stock
that the consent of the holders of a majority (or such greater proportion as
shall be therein fixed) of the outstanding shares of such series voting thereon
shall he required for the issuance of any or all other shares of Preferred
Stock.”
SECOND:
That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, an annual
meeting of the stockholders of said Corporation was duly called and held upon
notice in accordance with Section 222 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
at
which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted
in favor of the amendments.
THIRD:
That said amendments were duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Section 242 of Delaware General Corporation Law.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this certificate to be signed this
__
day of _______ 2007.
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By: |
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Gifford
A. Dieterle, President
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Annex
C
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
2006
Equity Incentive Plan
Background.
This
2006
Equity Incentive Plan was adopted on December 13, 2006 and approved by the
Company’s stockholders on ________, 2007.
Eligible
Award Recipients.
The
persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants
of the Company and its Affiliates.
Available
Awards.
The
purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which eligible recipients may
be
given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock
through the granting of the following: (i) Incentive Stock Options,
(ii) Nonqualified Stock Options, (iii) rights to acquire restricted stock,
and (iv) stock appreciation rights.
General
Purpose.
The
Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of the group of
persons eligible to receive Awards, to secure and retain the services of new
members of this group and to provide incentives for such persons to exert
maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.
“Affiliate”
means
any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with
the
Company.
“Award”
means
any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a right to acquire
restricted Common Stock, and a stock appreciation right.
“Award
Agreement”
means a
written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Award (other than
an
Option) evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award grant.
“Board”
means
the board of directors of the Company.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Committee”
means a
pre-existing or newly formed committee of members of the Board appointed by
the
Board in accordance with subsection 3(c).
“Common
Stock” means
the
shares of the Company’s common stock par value $0.0001 and other rights with
respect to such shares.
“Company”
means
Capital Gold Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
“Consultant”
means
any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by the Company or an
Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services for an initial, renewable
or
extended period of twelve months or more and who is compensated for such
services or (ii) who is a member of the board of directors of an
Affiliate.
“Continuous
Service”
means
that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an
Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. Unless
otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or Option Agreement, as applicable,
the
Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely
because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service
to
the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change
in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that
there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s service to the
Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Director or Consultant. For example,
a
change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate
shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board, in its
sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered
interrupted in the case of any leave of absence, including sick leave, military
leave or any other personal leave.
“Covered
Employee”
means
the Company’s chief executive officer and the four (4) other highest
compensated officers of the Company for whom total compensation is required
to
be reported to stockholders under the Exchange Act, as determined for purposes
of Section 162(m) of the Code.
“Director”
means a
member of the Board of the Company.
“Disability”
means
the Participant’s inability, due to illness, accident, injury, physical or
mental incapacity or other disability, to carry out effectively the duties
and
obligations to the Company and its Affiliates performed by such person
immediately prior to such disability for a period of at
least
six (6) months, as determined in the good faith judgment of the Board.
“Dollars”
or
“$”
means
United States dollars.
“Employee”
means
any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Service as a Director or
payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate alone shall not be
sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an
Affiliate.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair
Market Value”
means,
as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as
follows:
If
the
Common Stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is not listed on any
other established stock exchange in the United States, or traded on the Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock shall be the closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange of the
Common Stock on the trading day immediately prior to the day of determination
converted to Dollars using the noon rate of exchange of the Federal Reserve
Bank
of New York on the day immediately prior to such determination; and (B) if
the
Common Stock is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and also is listed on
any
other established stock exchange in the United States, or traded on the Nasdaq
National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing
bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market on the
last
market trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported by such
exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in Common Stock on the
day prior to the determination date.
In
the
absence of such markets, if the Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin
Board, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be the average of the
closing bid price per share of the Common Stock for the three trading days
ending on the last trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported
by
the OTC Bulletin Board.
If
the
Common Stock is not quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board but is reported on the
“Pink Sheets” published by the Pink Sheets LLC (or a similar organization or
agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock shall be the average of the reported closing bid price
per
share of the Common Stock for the three trading days ending on the last trading
day prior to the day of determination, as reported by the Pink Sheets (or such
other organization or agency).
In
the
absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be
determined in good faith by the Board.
“Incentive
Stock Option”
means an
option designated as an incentive stock option in an Option Agreement and that
is granted in accordance with the requirements of, and that conforms to the
applicable provisions of, Section 422 of the Code.
“Independent
Director” means
(i) a Director who satisfies the definition of Independent Director or
similar definition under the applicable stock exchange or Nasdaq rules and
regulations upon which the Common Stock is traded from time to time and
(ii) a Director who either (A) is not a current employee of the Company or
an “affiliated corporation” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations
promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of
the
Company or an “affiliated corporation” receiving compensation for prior services
(other than benefits under a tax qualified pension plan), was not an officer
of
the Company or an “affiliated corporation” at any time and is not currently
receiving direct or indirect remuneration from the Company or an “affiliated
corporation” for services in any capacity other than as a Director or (B) is
otherwise considered an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the
Code.
“Nonqualified
Stock Option”
means an
option that is not designated in an Option Agreement as an Incentive Stock
Option or was not granted in accordance with the requirements of, and does
not
conform to the applicable provisions of, Section 422 of the
Code.
“Officer”
means a
person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Option”
means an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the
Plan.
“Option
Agreement”
means a
written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms
and conditions of an individual Option grant.
“Optionholder”
means a
person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable,
such
other person who holds an outstanding Option.
“Participant”
means a
person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable,
such
other person who holds an outstanding Award.
“Plan”
means
this Capital Gold Corporation 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.
“Rule
16b-3”
means
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3,
as
in effect from time to time.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Ten
Percent Stockholder”
means a
person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code)
stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent corporation or any
subsidiary corporation, both as defined in Section 424 of the Code.
Administration
by Board.
The
Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates
administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c). The Board may,
at
any time and for any reason in its sole discretion, rescind some or all of
such
delegation.
Powers
of Board.
The
Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the
express provisions of the Plan:
To
determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall
be granted Awards; when and how each Award shall be granted; what type or
combination of types of Award shall be granted; the provisions of each Award
granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person
shall be permitted to receive Common Stock pursuant to an Award; and the number
of shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Award shall be granted to
each such person.
To
construe and interpret the Plan, Awards granted under it, Option Agreements
and
Award Agreements, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations
for
their administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct
any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option Agreement or
Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or
expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
To
amend
the Plan, an Award, an Award Agreement or an Option Agreement as provided in
Section 12, provided
that
the
Board shall not amend the exercise price of an option, the Fair Market Value
of
an Award or extend the term of an Option or Award without obtaining the approval
of the stockholders if required by the rules of any stock exchange upon which
the Common Stock is listed.
Generally,
to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary
or
expedient to promote the best interests of the Company which are not in conflict
with the provisions of the Plan.
Delegation
to Committee.
General.
The
Board may delegate administration of the Plan and its powers and duties
thereunder to a Committee or Committees, and the term “Committee”
shall
apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. Upon
such delegation, the Committee shall have the powers theretofore possessed
by
the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references
in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be deemed to include the Committee
or
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with
the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. In
its
absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise
any and all rights and duties of the Committee under this Plan, except
respecting matters under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of
the
Code, or any rules or regulations issued thereunder, which are required to
be
determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.
Committee
Composition.
A
Committee shall consist solely of two or more Independent Directors. Within
the
scope of its authority, the Board or the Committee may (1) delegate to a
committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Independent Directors
the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are either (a) not then
Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time
of
recognition of income resulting from such Award or (b) not persons with
respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code,
and/or (2) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who
are
not Independent Directors or to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer the
authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Effect
of Board’s Decision; No Liability.
All
determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good
faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding
and conclusive on all persons. No member of the Board or the Committee or any
person to whom duties hereunder have been delegated shall be liable for any
action, interpretation or determination made in good faith, and such persons
shall be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement consistent with
applicable law and in the manner provided in the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, as the same may be amended from time to time, or
as
otherwise provided in any agreement between any such member and the
Company.
STOCK
SUBJECT
TO THE PLAN.
Stock
Reserve.
Subject
to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common
Stock, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to
Awards shall
not
exceed in the aggregate 10,000,000 shares
of
Common Stock.
Reversion
of Stock to the Stock Reserve.
If any
Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part,
without having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not acquired
under such Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under
the Plan.
Source
of Stock.
The
Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued stock or reacquired stock,
bought on the market or otherwise.
Eligibility
for Specific Awards.
Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than
Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and
Consultants.
Ten
Percent Stockholders.
A Ten
Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the
exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of
the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant and the Option is
not
exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
Limitations
on Awards. The
following limits apply to grants of Awards under this Plan: (i) the maximum
number of shares of Common Stock which may be reserved for issuance to all
directors, officers and Ten Percent Stockholders, in the aggregate, under this
Plan, together with any other security-based compensation arrangement, shall
not, at any time, exceed 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on a
non-diluted basis; and (ii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock
which
may
be issued to all directors, officers and Ten Percent Stockholders, in the
aggregate, under this Plan, together with any other security-based compensation
arrangement, within any one year period, shall not exceed ten percent (10%)
of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock on a non-diluted basis.
Consultants.
A
Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of an Award if, at the time
of
grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form
S-8”)
is not
available to register a resale of the Company’s securities issued to such
Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is
providing to the Company, or because the Consultant is not a natural person,
or
as otherwise provided by the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the
Board determines both (i) that such grant (A) shall be registered in another
manner under the Securities Act (e.g.,
on a
Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not require registration under
the
Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act,
if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws of
all
other relevant jurisdictions.
Form
S-8
generally is available to consultants and advisors only if (i) they are natural
persons; (ii) they provide bona fide services to the issuer, its parents, its
majority-owned subsidiaries or majority-owned subsidiaries of the issuer's
parent; and (iii) the services are not in connection with the offer or sale
of
securities in a capital-raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly
promote or maintain a market for the issuer's securities.
Each
Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
Each
Option and Option Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be
separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options
at
the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate
or
certificates will be issued for the shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise
of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be
identical.
Provisions
Applicable to All Options.
Consideration.
The
purchase price of the shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option
shall be paid in cash in Dollars at the time the Option is exercised.
Vesting
Generally.
An
Option may (A) vest, and therefore become exercisable, in periodic installments
that may, but need not, be equal, or (B) be fully vested at the time of grant.
The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or
times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other
criteria) as the Board or Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting
provisions, if any, of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this
subsection 6(a)(ii) are subject to any Option Agreement provisions governing
the
minimum number of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.
Termination
of Continuous Service.
Unless
otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s
Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death,
Disability, retirement or as a result of a Change of Control), all Options
held
by the Optionholder shall immediately terminate; provided,
however,
that an
Option Agreement may provide that if an Optionholder’s Continuous Service is
terminated for reasons other than for cause, all vested Options held by such
person shall continue to be exercisable until the earlier of the expiration
date
of such Option or 180 days after the date of such termination. All such
vested Options not exercised within the period described in the preceding
sentence shall terminate.
Disability
or Death of Optionholder.
Unless
otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, in the event of an Optionholder’s
Disability or death, all unvested Options shall immediately terminate, and
all
vested Options held by such person shall continue to be exercisable for
12 months after the date of such Disability or death. All such vested
Options not exercised within such 12-month period shall terminate.
Retirement.
Unless
otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, in the event of the Optionholder’s
retirement, all unvested Options shall automatically vest on the date of such
retirement and all Options shall be exercisable for the earlier of 24 months
after such retirement date or the expiration date of such Options. All such
Options not exercised within the period described in the preceding sentence
shall terminate.
Provisions
Applicable to Incentive Stock Options.
Term.
Subject
to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no
Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date it was granted. Further, no grant of an Incentive Stock
Option shall be made under this Plan more than ten (10) years after the date
the
Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company. Should
the expiry
date of any vested Incentive Stock Option fall on, or within nine business
days
immediately following a black-out period self-imposed by the Company on the
Optionholder, the term of such Incentive Stock Option will automatically be
extended to a date which expires 10 business days following the end of such
black-out period.
Exercise
Price of an Incentive Stock Option.
Subject
to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the
exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the
Option on the date the Option is granted.
Transferability
of an Incentive Stock Option.
An
Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws
of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of
the
Optionholder only by the Optionholder.
Incentive
Stock Option $100,000 Limitation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or an Option Agreement, the
aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive
Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Optionholder in any
calendar year, under the Plan or any other option plan of the Company or its
Affiliates, shall not exceed $100,000. For this purpose, the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock shall be determined as of the time an Option is granted.
The
Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order
in
which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock
Options.
Provisions
Applicable to Nonqualified Stock Options.
Term.
Should
the expiry date of any vested Nonqualified Stock Option fall on, or within
nine
business days immediately following a black-out period self-imposed by the
Company on the Optionholder, the term of such Nonqualified Stock Option will
automatically be extended to a date which expires 10 business days following
the
end of such black-out period.
Exercise
Price of a Nonqualified Stock Option.
The
exercise price of each Nonqualified Stock Option shall be not less than one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject
to
the Option on the date the Option is granted.
Transferability
of a Nonqualified Stock Option.
A
Nonqualified Stock Option shall be transferable, if at all, to the extent
provided in the Option Agreement. If the Option Agreement does not provide
for
transferability, then the Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the
Optionholder.
PROVISIONS
OF AWARDS
OTHER THAN OPTIONS.
Restricted
Stock Awards.
Each
restricted stock Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such
restrictions, terms and conditions, if any, as the Board shall deem appropriate
and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. The terms and
conditions of restricted stock Award Agreements may change from time to time,
and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock Award Agreements
need
not be identical, but each restricted stock Award Agreement shall include
(through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or
otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
Consideration.
A
restricted stock Award may be awarded in consideration for past services
actually rendered, or for future services to be rendered, to the Company or
an
Affiliate for its benefit.
Vesting.
Common
Stock awarded under the restricted stock Award Agreement may (A) be subject
to a
vesting schedule to be determined by the Board, or (B) be fully vested at the
time of grant.
Termination
of Participant’s Continuous Service.
Unless
otherwise provided in the restricted stock Award Agreement, in the event a
Participant’s Continuous Service terminates prior to a vesting date set forth in
the restricted stock Award Agreement, any unvested restricted stock Award shall
be forfeited and automatically transferred to and reacquired by the Company
at
no cost to the Company, and neither the Participant nor his or her heirs,
executors, administrators or successors shall have any right or interest in
the
restricted stock Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided
in the restricted stock Award agreement, in the event a Participant’s Continuous
Service terminates as a result of (A) being terminated by the Company for
reasons other than for cause, (B) death, (C) Disability,
(D) retirement, or (E) a Change of Control (subject to the provisions
of Section 11(c) hereof), then any unvested restricted stock Award shall
vest immediately upon such date.
Transferability.
Rights
to acquire Common Stock under the restricted stock Award Agreement shall be
transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are
set
forth in the restricted stock Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine
in
its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted stock
Award
Agreement remain subject to the terms of the restricted stock Award
Agreement.
Grant
of Stock Appreciation Rights.
Stock
appreciation rights to receive in shares of Common Stock the excess of the
Fair
Market Value of Common Stock on the date the rights are surrendered over the
Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of grant may be granted to any
Employee, Director or Consultant selected by the Board. A stock appreciation
right may be granted (i) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of
another Award, (ii) with respect to a previously granted Award, or
(iii) independent of another Award. A stock appreciation right shall be
subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as the
Board shall impose and shall be evidenced by a written stock appreciation right
agreement, which shall be executed by the Participant and an authorized officer
of the Company. The Board, in its discretion, may determine whether a stock
appreciation right is to qualify as performance-based compensation as described
in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code and stock appreciation right agreements
evidencing stock appreciation rights intended to so qualify shall contain such
terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions
of
Section 162(m) of the Code. The Board may, in its discretion and on such terms
as it deems appropriate, require as a condition of the grant of a stock
appreciation right that the Participant surrender for cancellation some or
all
of the Awards previously granted to such person under this Plan or otherwise.
A
stock appreciation right, the grant of which is conditioned upon such surrender,
may have an exercise price lower (or higher) than the exercise price of the
surrendered Award, may contain such other terms as the Board deems appropriate,
and shall be exercisable in accordance with its terms, without regard to the
number of shares, price, exercise period or any other term or condition of
such
surrendered Award.
AVAILABILITY
OF
STOCK.
Subject
to
the restrictions set forth in Section 4(a), during the terms of the Awards,
the
Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common
Stock
required to satisfy such Awards.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
FROM STOCK.
Proceeds
from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards shall constitute general funds
of the Company.
Exercise
of Awards.
Awards
shall be exercisable at such times, or upon the occurrence of such event or
events as the Board shall determine at or subsequent to grant. Awards may be
exercised in whole or in part. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of
an
Award shall be paid for in full at the time of such purchase.
Acceleration
of Exercisability and Vesting.
The
Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first
be
exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in
accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating
the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will
vest.
Stockholder
Rights.
Options.
Unless
otherwise provided in and upon the terms and conditions in the Option Agreement,
no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights
of a holder with respect to, any Common Stock subject to an Option unless and
until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of, and
has
exercised, the Option pursuant to its terms.
Restricted
Stock. Unless
otherwise provided in and upon the terms and conditions in the restricted stock
Award Agreement, a Participant shall have the right to receive all dividends
and
other distributions paid or made respecting such restricted stock, provided,
however, no unvested restricted stock shall have any voting rights of a
stockholder respecting such unvested restricted stock unless and until such
unvested restricted stock become vested.
No
Employment or other Service Rights.
Nothing
in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall
confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an
Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted, or any
other capacity, or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to
terminate with or without notice and with or without cause (i) the employment
of
an Employee, (ii) the service of a Consultant to the Company or an Affiliate
or
(iii) the service of a Director of the Company or an Affiliate.
Withholding
Obligations.
If the
Company has or will have a legal obligation to withhold the taxes related to
the
grant, vesting or exercise of the Award, such Award may not be granted, vested
or exercised in whole or in part, unless such tax obligation is first satisfied
in a manner satisfactory to the Company. To the extent provided by the terms
of
an Award Agreement or Option Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal,
state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or
acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in
addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the
Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering
a
cash payment in Dollars; (ii) authorizing the Company to withhold Common Stock
from the Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of
the
exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however,
that
no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount
of tax required to be withheld by law; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned
and unencumbered Common Stock.
Listing
and Qualification of Stock.
This
Plan and the grant and exercise of Awards hereunder, and the obligation of
the
Company to sell and deliver Common Stock under such Awards, shall be subject
to
all applicable United States federal and state laws, rules and regulations,
and
any other laws applicable to the Company, and to such approvals by any
government or regulatory agency as may be required. The Company, in its
discretion, may postpone the issuance or delivery of Common Stock upon any
exercise of an Award until completion of any stock exchange listing, or the
receipt of any required approval from any stock exchange or other qualification
of such Common Stock under any United States federal or state law rule or
regulation as the Company may consider appropriate, and may require any
individual to whom an Award is granted, such individual’s beneficiary or legal
representative, as applicable, to make such representations and furnish such
information as the Board may consider necessary, desirable or advisable in
connection with the issuance or delivery of the Common Stock in compliance
with
applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Non-Uniform
Determinations.
The
Board’s determinations under this Plan (including, without limitation,
determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, term, provisions,
amount and timing of the grant of such Awards and of the agreements evidencing
the same) need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons
who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under this Plan, whether or
not
such persons are similarly situated.
ADJUSTMENTS
UPON CHANGES
IN STOCK.
Capitalization
Adjustments.
If any
change is made in the Common Stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Award,
without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through
merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock
dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of stock, exchange of stock, change in corporate structure
or other transaction), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es)
and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection
4(a)
and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person pursuant
to
subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Awards will be appropriately adjusted
in
the class(es) and number of securities and price per stock of Common Stock
subject to such outstanding Awards. The Board shall make such adjustments,
and
its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of
any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction
“without receipt of consideration” by the Company.)
Dissolution
or Liquidation.
In the
event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding
Awards shall terminate immediately prior to such event.
Asset
Sale, Merger, Consolidation or Reverse Merger.
In the
event of a Change of Control (as defined below), any unvested Awards shall
vest
immediately prior to the closing of the Change of Control, and the Board
shall
have the power and discretion to provide for the Participant’s election
alternatives regarding the terms and conditions for the exercise of, or
modification of, any outstanding Awards granted hereunder, provided, however,
such alternatives shall not affect the then current exercise provisions without
such Participant’s consent. The Board may provide that Awards granted hereunder
must be exercised in connection with the closing of such transaction, and that
if not so exercised such Awards will expire. Any such determinations by the
Board may be made generally with respect to all Participants, or may be made
on
a case-by-case basis with respect to particular Participants. For the purpose
of
this Plan, a “Change of Control” shall have occurred in the event one or more
persons acting individually or as a group (i) acquires sufficient additional
stock to constitute more than 50% of (A) the total Fair Market Value of all
Common Stock issued and outstanding or (B) the total voting power of all shares
of capital stock authorized to vote for the election of directors; (ii)
acquires, in a 12-month period, 35% or more of the voting power of all shares
of
capital stock authorized to vote for the election of directors, or alternatively
a majority of the members of the board is replaced during any 12-month period
by
directors whose appointment was not endorsed by a majority of the members of
the
board; or (iii) acquires, during a 12-month period, more than 40% of the total
gross fair market value of all of the Company’s assets. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the provisions of this Section 11(c) shall not apply to (i) any
transaction involving any stockholder that individually or as a group owns
more
than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Stock on the date this Plan
is approved by the Company’s stockholders, until such time as such stockholder
first owns less than forty percent (40%) of the total outstanding Common Stock,
or (ii) any transaction undertaken for the purpose of reincorporating the
Company under the laws of another jurisdiction, if such transaction does not
materially affect the beneficial ownership of the Company's capital
stock.
AMENDMENT
OF THE PLAN
AND AWARDS.
Amendment
of Plan. The
Board
at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan, or any portion thereof
in any respect without the approval by the stockholders, provided however,
that
the stockholders must approve any amendment which increases the fixed maximum
percentage of shares of Common Stock issuable under this Plan, reduces the
exercise price of an Award held by a Director, Officer or Ten Percent
Stockholder or extends the term of an Award held by a Director, Officer or
Ten
Percent Stockholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment shall be
effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent
stockholder approval is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section
422 of
the Code, Rule 16b-3 or any applicable Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or
other
applicable securities exchange listing requirements.
Stockholder
Approval.
The
Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for
stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan
intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation
from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain
executive officers.
Contemplated
Amendments.
It is
expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the
Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the
maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code
and
the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options
and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into
compliance therewith.
No
Impairment of Rights.
Rights
under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired
by
any amendment of the Plan unless the Participant consents in
writing.
Amendment
of Awards.
Subject
to Section 3(b)(iii), the Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend
the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the rights under
any Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless the applicable
Participant consents in writing.
TERMINATION
OR SUSPENSION
OF THE PLAN.
Plan
Term.
The
Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated,
the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of
the
date the Plan is adopted by the stockholders of the Company. No Awards may
be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.
No
Impairment of Rights.
Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations
under any Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written
consent of the Participant.
Savings
Clause.
This
Plan is intended to comply in all aspects with applicable laws and regulations.
In case any one more of the provisions of this Plan shall be held invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under applicable law or regulation,
the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in
any way be affected or impaired thereby and the invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision shall be deemed null and void; however, to the extent
permissible by law, any provision which could be deemed null and void shall
first be construed, interpreted or revised retroactively to permit this Plan
to
be construed in compliance with all applicable laws so as to foster the intent
of this Plan.
The
Plan
shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Award shall be
exercised (or, in the case of a restricted stock Award, shall be granted) unless
and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which
approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan
is
adopted by the Board.
The
law
of the State of New York shall govern all questions concerning the construction,
validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s
conflict of laws rules.
CAPITAL
GOLD CORPORATION
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
February
21, 2007
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICTED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
undersigned hereby appoints Gifford A. Dieterle and Jeffrey W. Pritchard and
each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies to represent the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at
The
Wigwam
Golf Resort and Spa, 300 East Wigwam Boulevard, Litchfield Park, Arizona
85340,
on
Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. local time and
at
any adjournment thereof, and to vote all of the shares of common stock of
Capital Gold Corporation (the “Company”) the undersigned would be entitled to
vote if personally present, upon the following matters:
Please
mark box in blue or black ink.
1. |
Proposal
1-Election
of Directors.
|
Nominees:
Gifford
A. Dieterle, Jack V. Everett, Roger A. Newell, Jeffrey W. Pritchard, Robert
Roningen, Ian A. Shaw, John Postle and Mark T. Nesbitt.
o
For
all
nominees (except as marked to the contrary below)
|
o
Authority
Withheld as to all
Nominees
|
(INSTRUCTION:
TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH
THE NOMINEE’S NAME)
Gifford
A. Dieterle
|
Jack
V. Everett
|
Roger
A. Newel
|
Jeffrey
W. Pritchard
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Roningen
|
Ian
A. Shaw
|
John
Postle
|
Mark
T. Nesbitt.
|
2.
|
Proposal
2-Ratification
of the selection of Wolinetz, Lafazan & Company, P.C., as independent
auditors of the Company for the year ending July 31,
2007.
|
o
For
|
o
Against
|
o
Abstain
|
3.
|
Proposal
3
-
To approve the Company’s Proposal to amend the Company’s certificate of
incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of common
stock
from 200,000,000 shares to 250,000,000
shares.
|
o
For
|
o
Against
|
o
Abstain
|
4.
|
Proposal
4- To
approve the Company’s Proposal to
amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to authorize 1,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, $.0001 par
value.
|
o
For
|
o
Against
|
o
Abstain
|
5. |
Proposal
5-
To
approve the Capital Gold Corporation 2006 Equity Incentive
Plan.
|
o
For
|
o
Against
|
o
Abstain
|
6.
|
Proposal
6-
To
ratify and approve the issuance of certain outstanding options that
require stockholder approval pursuant to the rules of the Toronto
Stock
Exchange.
|
o
For
|
o
Against
|
o
Abstain
|
In
their
discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as
may
properly come before the meeting.
THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE
VOTED
“FOR” THE ELECTION OF GIFFORD A. DIETERLE, JACK V. EVERETT, ROGER A. NEWELL,
JEFFREY W. PRITCHARD, ROBERT RONINGEN, IAN A. SHAW, JOHN POSTLE AND MARK T.
NESBITT AS DIRECTORS, “FOR” ALL OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS AND, IN THE DISCRETION OF
THE PROXIES, ON ALL OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
Please
date, sign as name appears at left, and return promptly. If the stock is
registered in the name of two or more persons, each should sign. When signing
as
Corporate Officer, Partner, Executor, Administrator, Trustee, or Guardian,
please give full title. Please note any change in your address alongside
the
address as it appears in the Proxy.
|
Dated: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
(Print
Name)
|
SIGN,
DATE AND RETURN PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE