-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GUwWfgfveOM9gmYHFtd4Iin/73p8E6pOFJPDT4Qg7M0saXpF1pGXZ1/lOq0Xu5+m PqkE7mjon9QXC59c/5Qd+Q== 0000950144-97-006032.txt : 19970520 0000950144-97-006032.hdr.sgml : 19970520 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950144-97-006032 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10QSB PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970331 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970515 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PIEDMONT MINING CO INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000819517 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: GOLD & SILVER ORES [1040] IRS NUMBER: 561378516 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NC FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10QSB SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-16436 FILM NUMBER: 97609498 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4215 STUART ANDREW BLVD CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28217 BUSINESS PHONE: 7045236866 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4215 STUART ANDREW BLVD CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28217 10QSB 1 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY INC 10-QSB 3/31/97 1 U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-QSB (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________ to __________ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-16436 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. (Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter) NORTH CAROLINA 56-1378516 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 4101-G STUART ANDREW BOULEVARD CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28217 (Address of principal executive offices) (704) 523-6866 (Issuer's telephone number) NOT APPLICABLE (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) Check whether the issuer (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO --- --- APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE--16,443,869 SHARES OUTSTANDING AS OF MARCH 31, 1997 Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one) Yes No X ----- ----- 1 2 INDEX PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements. Page Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets--March 31, 1997 (unaudited) and December 31, 1996 3 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (unaudited)-- Three months ended March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1996 4 Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows 5 (unaudited)--Three months ended March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1996 Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements 6 (unaudited)--March 31, 1997 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation 10 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 13 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. 15 SIGNATURES 16 2 3 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
At At March 31 December 31 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS 1997 1996 ------------ ------------ ASSETS (unaudited) CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents (including $0 and $0 relating to the Haile Mining Venture) $ 540,000 $ 700,000 Prepaid expenses -0- 1,000 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 540,000 701,000 ------------ ------------ PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (including $217,000 and $227,000 relating to the Haile Mining Venture) 253,000 263,000 OTHER ASSETS Deferred costs (including $1,536,000 relating to the Haile Mining Venture) net of accumulated amortization of $3,377,000 1,754,000 1,754,000 Other 3,000 3,000 ------------ ------------ TOTAL OTHER ASSETS 1,757,000 1,757,000 ------------ ------------ TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,550,000 $ 2,721,000 ============ ============ LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Notes payable $ 290,000 $ 290,000 Accounts payable (including $275,000 and $246,000 relating to Haile Mining Venture) 276,000 267,000 Accrued venture costs (Note C) 840,000 783,000 Accrued salaries and wages 7,000 4,000 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,413,000 1,344,000 ------------ ------------ ACCRUED RECLAMATION COSTS 125,000 125,000 ------------ ------------ DEFERRED GAIN 7,019,000 7,019,000 Less accumulated amortization 6,958,000 6,862,000 ------------ ------------ 61,000 157,000 UNCERTAINTIES AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes B, C AND E) SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Common Stock 11,717,000 11,717,000 Contributed capital 317,000 317,000 Accumulated deficit (11,083,000) (10,939,000) ------------ ------------ TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 951,000 1,095,000 ------------ ------------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 2,550,000 $ 2,721,000 ============ ============
3 4 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended March 31 ---------------------------------- 1997 1996 NET SALES $ -0- $ -0- COST OF SALES: Depreciation expense 1,000 2,000 Haile Mining Venture expenses (Notes B,C) 96,000 124,000 Amortization-deferred gain (Notes B,C) (96,000) (124,000) ------------ ------------ 1,000 2,000 ------------ ------------ GROSS LOSS FROM OPERATIONS 1,000 1,000 OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSES: General and administrative 100,000 168,000 Exploration 2,000 2,000 Professional fees 48,000 132,000 Interest and other, net (7,000) (7,000) Gain on sale of stock -0- (35,000) Brokers fees and commissions -0- 1,000 ------------ ------------ 143,000 261,000 ------------ ------------ LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 144,000 263,000 Income tax provision -0- 45,000 ------------ ------------ NET LOSS $ 144,000 $ 308,000 ============ ============ NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE $ .01 $ .02 ============ ============ CASH DIVIDENDS PER SHARE None None WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING 16,443,869 15,043,869 ============ ============
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements. 4 5 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended March 31 ----------------------------- 1997 1996 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Loss $(144,000) $(308,000) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation 10,000 11,000 Amortization of deferred gain (96,000) (124,000) Deferred income tax (benefit) expense -0- 45,000 (Gain) Loss on sale of assets -0- (35,000) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses 69,000 141,000 Other 1,000 -0- --------- --------- NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES (160,000) (270,000) --------- --------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sales of land, property and equipment -0- -0- Proceeds from sales of Amax Gold Inc. stock -0- 95,000 --------- --------- NET CASH PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES -0- 95,000 --------- --------- INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (160,000) (175,000) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 700,000 782,000 --------- --------- CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 540,000 $ 607,000 ========= =========
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements. 5 6 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) March 31, 1997 NOTE A - BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-QSB and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of the Registrant and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kershaw Gold Company, Inc. (formerly Mineral Mining Company, Inc.) and Piedmont Gold Company, Inc. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts have been made to conform to current year presentation. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1997. For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Registrant's audited consolidated financial statements on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996. NOTE B - HAILE MINING VENTURE On March 15, 1991, the Registrant entered into an option and earn-in agreement with Amax Gold Exploration, Inc. (AGEI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amax Gold Inc. (AGI), pursuant to which AGI acquired an option to purchase a 62.5% interest in the Registrant's Haile Property located in South Carolina. Pursuant to this agreement and as part of the earn-in conditions, AGEI paid the Registrant $1,000,000 in cash; assumed the Registrant's obligations to make payments on its notes to MMC Holding, Inc. and its sole shareholder through May 1, 1992 (a total of $1,072,000); provided financial support for a $750,000 reclamation bond increase; agreed to fund all exploration costs during the option period and prepared at its sole cost a preliminary feasibility study for the Haile Property which was delivered to the Registrant in December, 1991. On May 1, 1992, AGI through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lancaster Mining Company, Inc., exercised its option and acquired a 62.5% undivided interest in the Registrant's Haile Property. Upon the exercise of the option, the Registrant received $1,750,000 in cash and 1,000,000 unregistered shares of AGI's common stock (AGI Common Stock), all of which had been sold by the Registrant by December 31, 1996. Pursuant to the terms of the option and earn-in agreement, Kershaw Gold Company, Inc. and Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. formed the Haile Mining Venture (the Venture) to further explore, evaluate and, if warranted, develop and operate a gold mine at the Haile Property. Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. owns a 62.5% undivided interest and Kershaw Gold Company, 6 7 Inc. owns a 37.5% undivided interest in the Venture's assets and liabilities. Costs of the Venture have been borne by each party based on their respective interests, and the ultimate gold production by the Venture, if any, will be taken by the parties in kind. In contemplation of the formation of the Venture described above, the Registrant suspended its mining and hauling operations in August 1991. On June 30, 1992, leaching and recovery of gold ceased for the Registrant's account and commenced for the account of the Venture. The excess of the consideration received by the Registrant from AGI over the carrying value of the Haile assets sold and liabilities assumed has been recorded as a deferred gain in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet because the Registrant had intended to fund its share of the costs of the Venture at the Haile Property. The Venture agreement between Kershaw Gold Company, Inc. and Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. provided that the Venture participants jointly decide whether to commence production at the Haile Property. Until a production decision is made, the Registrant is accruing its share of the Venture's costs and expenses. The 1994 program and budget called for total Venture expenditures of approximately $6,300,000, including $1,900,000 for additional drilling and $150,000 for completion of a bankable feasibility study. However, no further drilling was conducted in 1994, the bankable feasibility study has not yet been provided to the Registrant, and actual Venture expenditures for 1994 were approximately $2,415,000. In September 1994, the Registrant was advised by AGI that AGI had decided to pursue the sale of its interest in the Venture. Total Venture expenditures for 1996 were $1,099,000, of which 37.5% would be approximately $412,000. The 1997 program and budget calls for total Venture expenditures of approximately $1,549,000, of which 37.5% would be approximately $581,000. The Registrant is amortizing the deferred gain to income in amounts equal to the sum of the Registrant's share of the Venture's costs and expenses and the Registrant's other direct costs of participation in the Venture. The amortization recorded was approximately $96,000 relating to costs incurred during the three-month period ended March 31, 1997. However, as discussed in Note C, no cash calls have been paid by the Registrant since February 1995. On March 29, 1995, the Registrant filed a lawsuit in South Carolina against AGI and certain of its affiliates, claiming, among other things, that AGI's failure to implement the 1994 program and budget was in breach of its obligations under the Venture Agreement and Management Agreement for the Venture, and seeking damages. The Registrant intends to vigorously pursue its claims. (See Part II, Item 1--Legal Proceedings) The failure of AGI to implement the 1994 work plan and budget, the decision by AGI to pursue the sale of its interest in the Venture, and the pending litigation between the Registrant and AGI are expected to further delay a decision whether to commence production at the Haile property. Preliminary estimates of the total costs of developing and commencing operations, based upon the 7 8 Preliminary Feasibility Study prepared by AGI in December 1991 pursuant to the Option and Earn-In Agreement, ranged up to approximately $80,000,000, of which the Registrant's 37.5% share would have been approximately $30,000,000. NOTE C - ACCRUED VENTURE COSTS In February 1995, the Registrant advised AGI of its position that AGI was in breach of the Haile Mining Venture Agreement and Management Agreement. In March 1995, the Registrant further advised AGI of its position that it was not obligated to continue to pay the monthly cash calls for the Venture. Subsequent to the filing of the lawsuit against AGI described in Note B, the Registrant, through its counsel, again advised AGI of its position that it is not required to and does not intend to pay any further cash calls until the litigation is resolved. The cash calls for March 1995 through March 1997 are reflected as accrued venture costs on the Registrant's balance sheet at March 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996 and are included in the Haile Mining Venture expenses and offset by the corresponding amortization of deferred gain in the Registrant's statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1996. However, the Registrant has not paid such cash calls and maintains its position that it is not obligated to make such payments. NOTE D - INVESTMENT IN AMAX GOLD COMMON STOCK Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities ("FAS 115"), the Registrant records its investment in AGI Common Stock at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity. In January 1995, the Registrant began selling shares of the AGI Common Stock on the open market. On February 27, 1995 the Registrant paid AGI $1,248,000, representing the entire loan balance plus accrued interest owed to AGI, from the proceeds of the sale of a portion of the shares of AGI Common Stock held by the Registrant. In addition, the Registrant repaid a brokers' loan in the first quarter of 1995 with $949,000 of such proceeds. During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Registrant sold all of its remaining shares of the AGI Common Stock resulting in a net gain of $15,000. The Registrant has substantial deferred tax assets relating principally to net operating loss carryforwards which were applied to offset taxable income generated upon the disposition of the AGI shares. Based on the Registrant's evaluation of the realizability of its deferred tax assets, the Registrant recorded a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount equal to its deferred tax liability. As of March 31, 1996, a deferred income tax liability relating to the unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale, in the amount of approximately $45,000, was recorded as a reduction in the unrealized gain. In accordance with FAS 109, the tax expense relating to the increase of the valuation allowance has been recorded in the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1996. 8 9 NOTE E - CONTINGENCIES Pursuant to the Option and Earn-In Agreement, the Venture Agreement between the subsidiaries of the Registrant and AGI that are the Venture participants, and certain related agreements, the Registrant and its subsidiary agreed to indemnify AGI and its affiliates from all environmental and other liabilities arising from matters occurring or existing at the Haile Property prior to March 15, 1991, or arising from acts, omissions and operations of the Registrant and its subsidiary from March 15, 1991 to July 1, 1992 (the date of formation of the Venture). Venture expenditures incurred from its formation through December 31, 1996 totaled approximately $12,604,000 of which the Registrant has paid 37.5% through February 1995. AGI has identified approximately $2,492,000 of these Venture expenditures through March 31, 1997 ($290,000 for the second half of 1992, $681,000 for 1993, $674,000 in 1994, $488,000 for 1995, $279,000 for 1996 and $80,000 for the first three months of 1997) that it now claims are subject to such indemnification provisions and should be reallocated 100% to the Registrant. The Registrant has paid 37.5% of such costs through December 31, 1994 (which totaled approximately $617,000). A substantial part of such costs relate to ongoing water treatment and property maintenance at the Haile Mine property, as well as certain reclamation costs. The Venture's financial statements do not reflect the amount of such costs as Venture expenditures. The Registrant disputed the cost reallocation asserted by AGI and arbitration proceedings were commenced by AGI in May 1995. On March 5, 1996, an arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association rendered an award in connection with the Registrant's dispute with AGI over such cost reallocation. Pursuant to the award, the Registrant paid approximately $1,370,000 to a subsidiary of AGI. In addition, approximately $33,000 in administrative expenses were borne by the Registrant. The Registrant believes that it is not responsible for any cost allocations in excess of the $1,370,000 that was the subject of the arbitration award. However, AGI has taken the position that the Registrant should be responsible for 100% of similar ongoing expenses in the future. The Registrant has not funded its share of the Venture's expenditures since February 1995 as a result of the litigation commenced against AGI in March 1995, but such costs have been accrued. AGI has indicated that it intends to activate the dilution of interest provisions of the Venture Agreement as a result of the Registrant's failure to pay its share of Venture expenditures since March 1995. Dilution of the Registrant's interest in the Venture, if any, would result in a proportionate adjustment to the accounts on the Registrant's balance sheet relating to the Venture. On March 29, 1995, the Registrant filed a lawsuit in South Carolina against AGI claiming, among other things, that AGI's failure to implement the approved 1994 Program and Budget for the Venture was in breach of its obligations under the Venture Agreement and Management Agreement for the Venture, and seeking actual and punitive damages. See Part II, Item 1 -- Legal Proceedings. No amounts have been recorded in the accompanying financial statements relating to this gain contingency. 9 10 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION RESULTS OF OPERATIONS GENERAL The Registrant's principal operations prior to mid-1992, other than its exploration activities, were mining and production of gold at the Haile Property, which accounted for most of the Registrant's revenues to date. On March 15, 1991, the Registrant entered into an Option and Earn-In Agreement with Amax Gold Inc. (AGI) pursuant to which AGI was granted an option to acquire a 62.5% undivided interest in the Haile Property. In connection with its entering into the Option and Earn-In Agreement and AGI's exploration activities at the Haile Property during the option period thereunder, the Registrant began to phase out its shallow, open-pit mining operations at the Haile Property in March 1991 and suspended mining and hauling in August 1991. AGI exercised its option on May 1, 1992, and the Registrant and AGI formed the Venture on July 1, 1992 to further explore, evaluate, and, if warranted, develop and operate a large-scale mining operation at the Haile Property. The Registrant has an undivided 37.5% interest in the Venture's assets and revenues. Recovery and production of gold from the leaching of ore previously mined continued until July 1, 1992 for the account of the Registrant until the formation of the Venture on July 1, 1992, after which AGI commenced taking its 62.5% of the gold production. THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996. There were no sales or mine operating expenses for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1996 and 1995 due to the suspension of mining in 1991 and the completion in 1992 of recoveries of gold from leaching of ore previously mined. Depreciation expense declined 50% to $1,000 because there were no machinery and equipment purchases to offset fixed assets being fully depreciated. General and administrative expenses decreased by 40.5% for the three-month period ended March 31,1997 due to reduced office and salary expenses. Professional fees decreased 63.6% principally due to the decrease in required legal and consulting services related to the litigation against AGI. Exploration expenses were unchanged due to level lease expense for the Registrant's North Carolina properties. 10 11 Interest and other, net was unchanged for the three-month period ending March 31,1997 compared to the three-month period ending March 31, 1996. This was a result of interest income on invested cash remaining essentially unchanged. The Registrant recorded no gain or loss on the sale of AGI Common Stock during the three-month period ending March 31, 1997, since all shares had been sold by December 31,1996. For the three-month period ended March 31, 1996, the Registrant recorded a gain of $35,000 on the sale of shares of AGI Common Stock. For the three months ending March 31, 1997, there were no brokers' fees and commissions compared to $1,000 for the same period in 1996. The Registrant has been amortizing the deferred gain, recorded as a result of the AGI option exercise, to income in amounts equal to the sum of 37.5% of the Venture's costs and expenses and the Registrant's other direct costs of participation in the Venture. Such costs and related amortization amounted to $96,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997. This amount is 22.6% lower than the three months ended March 31, 1996. The Registrant recorded no deferred income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 1997, compared to a $45,000 income tax provision for the three-month period ended March 31,1996. The Registrant's net loss of $144,000 for the three-month period ended March 31, 1997 was due to the factors set forth above. FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company's financial condition and liquidity continued to decline in the first three months of 1997 due primarily to the accounting charge for 37.5% of the costs and expenses of the Haile Mining Venture, and various corporate costs without any offsetting revenues. The working capital deficit increased to $(873,000) at March 31, 1997, compared with $(643,000) at the end of 1996. The Company's principal source of liquidity during 1996 was from the sale of all of the remaining shares of AGI Common Stock it had acquired upon AGI's exercise of its option with respect to the Haile Property, which the Company began to liquidate in January 1995. Proceeds from the sale of such shares were also used to repay previous borrowings against such shares made in 1993 and 1994. In late 1996, the Company completed the sale of its remaining shares of AGI Common Stock. The net proceeds from such sale were used to pay most of the arbitration award. In addition, in December 1996, the Company completed a sale of 1,400,000 shares of its Common Stock and issued $290,000 of Notes convertible into Common Stock. The net proceeds from such sales were approximately $850,000, a portion of which was used to pay the remainder of the arbitration award. At March 31, 1997, the Company had approximately $540,000 in cash or cash equivalents. 11 12 The Company believes that its current cash position may provide sufficient capital resources for its continued operations (including the costs of pursuing the lawsuit against AGI) through the end of 1997. However, additional financing will be required to develop and commence mining operations at the Haile Property or if there is no favorable resolution of the litigation during 1997. Additional financing for such purposes could be sought through the issuance of additional shares of the Company's Common Stock or other equity securities, through debt financing, or through various arrangements (including joint ventures or mergers) with third parties. However, the Company currently has no commitments for any such additional financing, and there is no assurance that the Company could obtain any such additional financing if and when needed. 12 13 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings. On March 29, 1995, the Registrant and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kershaw Gold Company, Inc., as plaintiffs, filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas for Lancaster County, South Carolina (Case No. 95-155) against Amax Gold Inc., Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. and Haile Mining Company, Inc., alleging breach of contract by defendants Amax Gold Inc., Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. and Haile Mining Company, Inc., and tortious interference with contractual rights by defendant Amax Gold Inc. The complaint asked for actual and punitive damages as the Court and jury should determine. A trial by jury was demanded. A hearing on pending motions in the state court proceeding was held on October 5, 1995. On November 2, 1995, the court issued an order dismissing the claims of Piedmont Mining Company, Inc. (but not those of Kershaw Gold Company) against the defendants, and dismissing both plaintiffs' claims for breach of contract against Amax Gold Inc. (but not Kershaw Gold Company's claims against Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. and Haile Mining Company, Inc.), on the grounds that only the subsidiaries of the Registrant and of Amax Gold Inc. were parties to the contract in question. The order also stayed Kershaw Gold Company's claims for breach of contract against the two Amax Gold Inc. subsidiaries pending a determination of arbitrability by the arbitrators. Kershaw Gold Company's claim against Amax Gold Inc. for tortious interference with contract (including the Venture Agreement) was allowed to proceed. Amax Gold Inc.'s motion for a more definite statement of the tortious interference claim was granted. Discovery on the tortious interference claim was also authorized. The Registrant intends to vigorously prosecute these claims against Amax Gold Inc. and the two subsidiaries. The Registrant timely moved for reconsideration of the court's November 2, 1995 order. To date no hearing or ruling has occurred with respect to such motion. Following the court's November 2, 1995 order, the defendant Amax Gold Inc. removed the claim against it by Kershaw to the Federal District Court for the District of South Carolina. Kershaw filed its amended complaint in this action on January 29, 1996 alleging tortious interference and civil conspiracy. The civil conspiracy claim was later dismissed. Discovery is substantially completed. On August 19, 1996, Amax Gold filed a motion for summary judgement. A hearing on this motion was held on November 25,1996 before a Magistrate Judge, who recommended on January 17, 1997 that Amax Gold's motion for summary judgement be denied. The Magistrate's recommendation is now before the Federal District Judge. It is currently anticipated that the case will be called for trial during the term of court beginning in mid-August 1996. On May 24, 1995, Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association alleging the breach by plaintiffs of their obligations under the Venture Agreement. The defendant has sought to recover costs incurred, and has taken the position that "future costs are not waived, but are specifically preserved." The Registrant has taken the position before both the court and the American Arbitration Association that the dispute is not 13 14 arbitrable under the terms of the Venture Agreement, and the Registrant has objected to the arbitration proceedings. Nevertheless, the arbitration proceedings were conducted in early 1996 before an arbitration panel of the American Arbitration Association. On March 5, 1996, the arbitration panel rendered an award calling for the Registrant to pay approximately $1,370,000 of the disputed expenses to a subsidiary of AGI. According to the award, the administrative and arbitrators' fees and expenses, totalling approximately $66,000, were to be borne equally by the parties. In August 1996, the award was confirmed by the U.S. District Court in South Carolina and judgement was entered on the award. On September 9, 1996, the Registrant and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kershaw Gold Company, Inc., filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Such filings automatically stayed the enforcement of the judgement on the arbitration award. After a hearing, the Bankruptcy Court dismissed the petitions on October 30, 1996, thereby terminating the automatic stay. Following dismissal of the bankruptcy proceedings, Lancaster Mining Company, Inc. commenced proceedings to enforce its judgement. The Registrant paid the judgement in full in December 1996. 14 15 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K. (a) Exhibits 27 Financial Data Schedule (filed in electronic format only) (b) Reports on Form 8-K The Registrant filed a current report on Form 8-K dated March 3,1997, reporting under Item 4 thereof the engagement of Gleiberman Spears Shepherd & Menaker, P.A. as the Registrant's independent public accountants. 15 16 PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. SIGNATURES In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. PIEDMONT MINING COMPANY, INC. Date: May 15, 1997 By /s/ Robert M. Shields, Jr. ---------------------------------------- Robert M. Shields, Jr. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 16 EX-27 2 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE REGISTRANT'S FORM 10-QSB FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-QSB. 3-MOS DEC-31-1997 JAN-01-1997 MAR-31-1997 540,000 0 0 0 0 540,000 253,000 0 2,550,000 1,413,000 0 0 0 11,717,000 0 2,550,000 0 0 1,000 1,000 150,000 0 (7,000) (144,000) 0 0 0 0 0 (144,000) (.01) (.01)
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