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Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | 12. Commitments and Contingencies Tetlin Lease. The Tetlin Lease had an initial ten-year term beginning July 2008 which was extended for an additional ten years to July 15, 2028, and for so long thereafter as the Peak Gold JV initiates and continues to conduct mining operations on the Tetlin Lease. Pursuant to the terms of the Tetlin Lease, the Peak Gold JV is required to spend $350,000 per year until July 15, 2028 in exploration costs. The Company’s exploration expenditures through the 2023 exploration program have satisfied this requirement because exploration funds spent in any year in excess of $350,000 are credited toward future years’ exploration cost requirements. Additionally, should the Peak Gold JV derive revenues from the properties covered under the Tetlin Lease, the Peak Gold JV is required to pay the Tetlin Tribal Council a production royalty ranging from 3.0% to 5.0%, depending on the type of metal produced and the year of production. In lieu of a $450,000 cash payment to the Peak Gold JV from the Tetlin Tribal Council to increase its production royalty by 0.75%, the Peak Gold JV agreed to credit the $450,000 against future production royalty and advance minimum royalty payments due to the Tetlin Tribal Council under the lease once production begins. Until such time as production royalties begin, the Peak Gold JV must pay the Tetlin Tribal Council an advance minimum royalty of approximately $75,000 per year, and subsequent years are escalated by an inflation adjustment. Production commenced in July 2024 and the Peak Gold JV has started to satisfy the production royalty obligations pursuant to the terms of the Tetlin Lease. Gold Exploration. The Company’s Triple Z, Eagle/Hona, Shamrock, Willow, Golden Zone, Amanita, Amanita NE and Lucky Shot claims are all located on State of Alaska lands. The Company released its Bush and West Fork claims in November 2020. The annual claim rentals on these projects vary based on the age of the claims, and are due and payable in full by November 30 of each year. Annual claims rentals for the 202 4-202 5 assessment year totaled $436,258. The Company paid the current year claim rentals in November 2024. The associated rental expense is amortized over the rental claim period, September 1 st - August 31 st of each year. As of December 31, 2023, the Peak Gold JV had met the annual labor requirements for the Manh Choh Project acreage for the next four years, which is the maximum period allowable by Alaska law. Lucky Shot Property. With regard to the Lucky Shot Property, the Company will be obligated to pay CRH Funding II PTE. LTD, a Singapore private limited corporation (“CRH”), additional consideration if production on the Lucky Shot Property meets two separate milestone payment thresholds. If the first threshold of (1) an aggregate “mineral resource” equal to 500,000 ounces of gold or (2) production and receipt by the Company of an aggregate of 30,000 ounces of gold (including any silver based on a 1:65 gold:silver ratio) is met, then the Company will pay CRH $5 million in cash and $3.75 million in newly issued shares of Contango common stock. If the second threshold of (1) an aggregate “mineral resource” equal to 1,000,000 ounces of gold or (2) production and receipt by the Company of an aggregate of 60,000 ounces of gold (including any silver based on a 1:65 gold:silver ratio) is met, then the Company will pay CRH $5 million in cash and $5 million in newly issued shares of Contango common stock. If payable, the additional share consideration will be issued based on the 30-day volume. Royal Gold Royalties. Royal Gold currently holds a 3.0% overriding royalty on the Tetlin Lease and certain state mining claims. Royal Gold also holds a 28.0% net smelter returns silver royalty on all silver produced from a defined area within the Tetlin Lease. Pursuant to the CORE Purchase Agreement, the Company received a prepayment of $1,200,000 for its direct share of silver royalty payments from KG Mining. If the aggregate amount of silver royalty payments exceeds $1,200,000, then beginning with the following calendar quarter such point, the Company shall receive within 45 days after the last day of each such calendar quarter, an amount equal to the product of (i) the amount of the silver royalty earned by the Company pursuant to the Omnibus Royalty Agreement from and after the point at which the silver royalty became greater than $1,200,000 and (ii) CORE Alaska's weighted average interest in the Company during such calendar quarter. The Peak Gold JV commenced production in July 2024 and therefore the Company has started to drawdown the $1,200,000 prepayment into income. The Company has recognized $127,366 into income as of December 31, 2024. CIRI Lease Agreement. JT Mining Inc. entered into a lease agreement effective May 17, 2019 with CIRI and shall pay the sum of $150,000 on the fifth through ninth anniversaries of the effective date, provided that JT Mining Inc.'s obligations to make such payments shall terminate on the commencement of Commercial Production as defined under the agreement. A Commercial Production decision has not been made to date. CIRI Exploration Agreement. JT Mining Inc. entered into an exploration agreement effective July 1, 2023 with CIRI and on each anniversary of the effective date thereafter during the 4 year term shall pay to CIRI an amount equal to $25,000 as consideration for grant of the rights under the agreement and for the purpose.of covering CIRI's administrative costs associated with exploration activities. Mining Lease and Option to Purchase Agreement Amanita Project. Avidian Alaska entered into a 15 year lease agreement with an effective date of July 18, 2015 with Tanya Stolz. Avidian Alaska shall pay minimum annual lease payments as outlined under the schedule in section 4.1 of the agreement. Avidian Alaska's obligation for July 18, 2025 is $100,000 and will increase by $10,000 per year, with a final payment on July 18, 2030 for $130,000. The minimum payments will be credited against Avidian Alaska's royalty payment obligations under the agreement and the Company is currently in good standing. Retention Agreements. The Company has entered into retention agreements with its Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer, Brad Juneau, providing for a payment upon a change of control (as defined in the applicable retention agreement, as amended), provided that the recipient is in the service of the Company when the change of control occurs. Mr. Juneau will receive a payment of $1,000,000 upon a change of control that takes place prior to August 6, 2025. Employment Agreements. Mr. Clark is serving as the Company’s Chief Financing Officer and Secretary and is responsible for performing the functions of the Company’s principal financial officer. Pursuant to his Employment Agreement, Mr. Clark receives a base salary of $300,000 per annum. Mr. Clark is entitled to receive short-term incentive plan and long-term incentive plan bonuses and awards that can be paid in the form of a combination of cash, restricted stock and options, which will be set forth in plans and agreements adopted, or to be adopted, by the Board. He will also receive 12 months of his regular base salary, all bonus amounts paid in the 12 months preceding the termination, and reimbursement for continued group health insurance coverage for 12 months following the termination or the date he becomes eligible for alternative coverage through subsequent employment as severance benefits in the event that his employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other than for just cause or he resigns due to a material, uncured breach of the Employment Agreement by the Company. He is also entitled to enhanced severance benefits if he terminates his employment within 30 days following a change of control (18 months of base salary and bonus amounts or 24 months of base salary and bonus amounts if the change of control is after July 1, 2025). Any payment of severance benefits to him under the Employment Agreement is conditioned on his timely agreement to, and non-revocation of, a full and final release of legal claims in favor of the Company. Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse is serving as the Company’s President & Chief Executive Officer and director. Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse entered into an employment agreement with the Company on September 16, 2024 (the “CEO Employment Agreement”), which superseded the employment offer letter with Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse, dated December 31, 2019, as amended and modified. Pursuant to the CEO Employment Agreement, Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse continues to receive a base salary of $500,000 per annum. Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse continues to be entitled to receive short-term incentive plan and long-term incentive plan bonuses and awards that will be paid in the form of a combination of cash, restricted stock and options, which will be set forth in plans and agreements adopted, or to be adopted, by the Board. He will also receive 12 months of his regular base salary, all bonus amounts paid in the 12 months preceding the termination, and reimbursement for continued group health insurance coverage for 12 months following the termination or the date he becomes eligible for alternative coverage through subsequent employment as severance benefits in the event that his employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other than for just cause or he resigns due to a material, uncured breach of the Employment Agreement by the Company. He is also entitled to enhanced severance benefits if he terminates his employment within 30 days following a change of control. Any payment of severance benefits to him under the CEO Employment Agreement is conditioned on his timely agreement to, and non-revocation of, a full and final release of legal claims in favor of the Company. Short Term Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Company's board of directors (the “Compensation Committee”) adopted a Short-Term Incentive Plan (the “STIP”) for the benefit of its executive officers. Pursuant to the terms of the STIP, the Compensation Committee establishes performance goals at the beginning of each year and then at the end of the year will evaluate the extent to which, if any, the officers meet such goals. The STIP provides for a payout ranging between 0% and 150% of an officer’s annual base salary, depending on what performance rating is achieved. Amounts due under the STIP can be partially settled in the form of restricted stock, subject to the terms of the 2023 Plan and discretion of the Compensation Committee. Committee for Safe Communities Complaint. On October 20, 2023, the Committee for Safe Communities, an Alaskan non-profit corporation inclusive of this same group of objectors and formed for the purpose of opposing the project, filed suit in the Superior Court in Fairbanks, Alaska against the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ("DOT"). The Complaint seeks injunctive relief against the DOT with respect to its oversight of the Peak Gold JV's ore haul plan. The Complaint alleges that the DOT has approved a haul route and trucking plan that violates DOT regulations, DOT's actions have created an unreasonable risk to public safety constituting an attractive public nuisance, and DOT has aided and abetted the offense of negligent driving. On November 2, 2023, the plaintiff filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the DOT and sought expedited consideration of its motion. If granted, the motion could impact the Peak Gold JV's ore haul plans. On November 9, 2023, the Court denied the plaintiff's motion for expedited consideration. On November 15, 2023, the Court granted the Peak Gold JV's motion to intervene. On January 15, 2024, the Peak Gold JV and DOT jointly moved for judgment on the pleadings and to stay all discovery. On May 14, 2024, the Court issued an Order denying the plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction and staying discovery. On June 24, 2024, the Court issued an Order granting judgment on the pleadings as to three of the four claims for relief alleged in the Complaint and denying relief as to the claim for public nuisance. The Order further lifted the stay of discovery. On July 3, 2024, the DOT filed motion for reconsideration as to the Court's Order on the motion for judgment on the pleadings, which the Peak Gold JV joined. On September 13, 2024, the Court entered an Order denying this motion. The case is set for trial on August 11, 2025. Village of Dot Lake Complaint. On July 1, 2024, the Village of Dot Lake, a federally recognized Indian Tribe, located approximately 50 miles from the Manh Choh mine on the ore haul route along the Alaska Highway ("Dot Lake"), filed a Complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska against U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the "Corps") and Lt. General Scott A. Spellmon, in his official capacity as Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the Corps. The Complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief based on the Corps' alleged failure to consult with Dot Lake and to undertake an adequate environmental review with respect to the Corps' issuance in September 2022 of a wetlands disturbance permit in connection with the overall permitting of the Manh Choh mine as to approximately 5 acres of wetlands located on Tetlin Village land. Peak Gold is not named as a defendant in the Complaint and, on August 20, 2024, the Peak Gold JV moved to intervene in the action, which Dot Lake has opposed. On October 10, 2024, the Court granted intervention to the Peak Gold JV. On October 18, 2024, Peak Gold joined the partial motion to dismiss that the Corps filed on August 23, 2024, which motion remains pending.

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