Note 8 - Related Party Transactions

DGSE has a corporate policy governing the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of transactions with related persons, as that term is defined in the Instructions to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act (“Related Party”). Under this policy, all Related Party transactions are identified and approved prior to consummation of the transaction to ensure they are consistent with DGSE’s best interests and the best interests of its stockholders. Among other factors, DGSE’s Board considers the size and duration of the transaction, the nature and interest of the of the Related Party in the transaction, whether the transaction may involve a conflict of interest and if the transaction is on terms that are at least as favorable to DGSE as would be available in a comparable transaction with an unaffiliated third party. DGSE’s Board reviews all Related Party transactions at least annually to determine if it is in DGSE’s best interests and the best interests of DGSE’s stockholders to continue, modify, or terminate any of the Related Party transactions. DGSE’s Related Person Transaction Policy is available for review in its entirety under the “Investors” menu of the Company’s corporate relations website at www.DGSECompanies.com.

Elemetal, LLC (“Elemetal”) is DGSE’s largest shareholder. Elemetal and its affiliates are also DGSE’s primary refiner and bullion trading partner. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017, 20% of sales and 13% of purchases were transactions with Elemetal, and in the same period of 2016, these transactions represented 35% of DGSE’s sales and 20% of DGSE’s purchases. As of September 30, 2017, the Company was obligated to pay $4,105,705 to Elemetal as a trade payable, and had a $23,496 receivable from Elemetal. As of December 31, 2016, the Company was obligated to pay $4,107,425 to Elemetal as a trade payable, and had a $40,627 receivable from Elemetal. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company paid Elemetal $149,521 and $187,784, respectively, in interest on the Company’s outstanding payable.

On July 19, 2012, DGSE entered into a loan agreement with NTR Metals, LLC (“NTR”), an affiliate of DGSE’s largest stockholder Elemetal, pursuant to which NTR, agreed to provide the Company a guidance line of revolving credit in an amount up to $7,500,000 (the “Loan Agreement”). The Loan Agreement anticipated termination-at which point all amounts outstanding thereunder would be due and payable (such amounts, the Obligations”)–upon the earlier of: (i) August 1, 2014; (ii) the date that is twelve months after DGSE receives notice from NTR demanding the repayment of the Obligations; (iii) the date the Obligations are accelerated in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement; or, (iv) the date on which the commitment terminates under the Loan Agreement. In connection with the Loan Agreement, DGSE granted a security interest in the respective personal property of each of its subsidiaries. The loan carried an interest rate of two percent (2%) per annum for all funds borrowed pursuant to the Loan Agreement. Proceeds received by DGSE pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement were used for repayment of all outstanding financial obligations incurred in connection with that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2005, between DGSE and Texas Capital Bank, and additional proceeds were used as working capital in the ordinary course of business. On February 25, 2014, we entered into a one-year extension of the Loan Agreement with NTR, extending the termination date to August 1, 2015, and on February 4, 2015, we entered into an additional two-year extension, extending the termination date to August 1, 2017. On December 9, 2016, DGSE and NTR closed the transactions contemplated by stock purchase agreement dated June 20, 2016 (the “Elemetal Agreement”) whereby DGSE issued NTR 5,948,560 shares of common stock for $0.41 per share in exchange for the cancellation and forgiveness of the outstanding Obligations. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the outstanding balance of the NTR loan was $0. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company paid NTR $0 and $34,421, respectively, in interest on the Company’s line of credit.

In April 2013, DGSE moved its principal corporate offices to office space at 15850 Dallas Parkway, Suite 140, Dallas, Texas. This property is owned by an affiliate of Elemetal, and also serves as its headquarters. DGSE leased space in the building subject to a lease that expired in December 2015. The Company continued to pay this lease on a month-to-month basis with no increase in the rent until our new Midtown retail location was completed in December 2016. The Midtown location is large enough to facilitate the retail space and our corporate offices. In the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized rent expense of $0 and $67,500, respectively, related to the space rented from Elemetal.