Atlas Lithium Corp 10-K

Item 1A. Risk Factors. RISK FACTORS Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this Annual Report, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding whether to invest in our securities. The occurrence of any of the risks, the events or developments described below could harm our business, financial condition, operating results, and growth prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties summarized and set forth in detail below and elsewhere in this Annual Report before you decide to invest in our common stock. Summary of Risk Factors We are providing the following summary of the risk factors contained in this Annual Report to enhance the readability and accessibility of our risk factor disclosures. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. We encourage you to carefully review the full risk factors contained in this Report in their entirety for additional information regarding the material factors that make an investment in our securities speculative or risky. The primary categories by which we classify risks include those related to: (i) our business, (ii) regulatory and industry, (iii) country and currency, and (iv) common stock. Set forth below within each of these categories is a summary of the principal factors that make an investment in our common stock speculative or risky. Business Risks ● Our future performance is difficult to evaluate because we have a limited operating history. ● We have a history of losses and expect to continue to incur losses in the future. ● We are an exploration stage company, and there is no guarantee that our properties will result in the commercial extraction of mineral deposits. ● Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is not known, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration and evaluation may be lost. ● We face risks related to mining, exploration and mine construction, if warranted, on our properties. ● Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities. ● We depend on our ability to successfully access the capital and financial markets. Any inability to access the capital or financial markets may limit our ability to fund our ongoing operations, execute our business plan or pursue investments that we may rely on for future growth. ● Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results and our revenue are likely to fluctuate significantly in future periods. ● Our ability to manage growth will have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. ● We depend upon Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. ● Our growth will require new personnel, which we will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain. ● Certain executive officers and directors may be in a position of conflict of interest. 28 Table of Contents Regulatory and Industry Risks ● The mining industry subjects us to several risks. ● Our mineral projects will be subject to significant government regulations. ● We will be required to obtain governmental permits in order to conduct development and mining operations, a process which is often costly and time-consuming. ● Compliance with environmental regulations and litigation based on environmental regulations could require significant expenditures. ● Our operations face substantial regulation of health and safety. ● Our operations are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations. ● Mineral prices are subject to unpredictable fluctuations. Country and Currency Risks ● Our ability to execute our business plan depends primarily on the continuation of a favorable mining environment in Brazil and our ability to freely sell our minerals. ● The perception of Brazil by the international community may affect us. ● Exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and capital controls may adversely affect our costs, earnings and the value of some of our assets. Common Stock Risks ● Our common stock price has been and may continue to be volatile. ● We do not intend to pay regular future dividends on our common stock and thus stockholders must look to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investments. ● We may seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions, or develop strategic relationships by issuing securities that would dilute your ownership. ● Our Series A Preferred Stock has the effect of concentrating voting control over us in Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. ● Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors, owns greater than 50% of the Company’s voting securities, which means we are deemed a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq. ● Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment. ● You will experience dilution as a result of future equity offerings. ● Our existing stockholders have substantial influence over our company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, which may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their securities. ● Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our stockholders in the public market could cause our stock price to fall. ● Costs as a result of operating as a public company are significant, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices. ● Our internal control over financial reporting may not meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price. 29 Table of Contents Business Risks Our future performance is difficult to evaluate because we have a limited operating history. Investors should evaluate an investment in us considering the uncertainties encountered by mineral exploration companies. Although we were incorporated in 2011, we began to implement our current business strategy in 2016, which is primarily focused on the exploration of strategic minerals. We have generated limited revenues from operations and our cash flow needs have been financed primarily through debt or equity and not through cash flows derived from our operations. As a result, we have little historical financial and operating information available to help you evaluate and predict our future performance. In addition, advancing our projects will require significant capital and time, and we are subject to all of the risks associated with developing and establishing new mining operations and business enterprises as further described in these risk factors. There can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful or that we will ultimately be able to attain profitability. We have a history of losses and expect to continue to incur losses in the future. We have incurred losses in each of the two past years, have negative cash flow from operating activities, have had limited revenues and expect to continue to incur losses in the future. We have an accumulated deficit of approximately $58.7 million as of December 31, 2022. We expect to continue to incur losses unless and until such time as our projects or one of our future acquired properties enters into commercial production and generates sufficient revenues to fund continuing operations and we are able to develop at least one economic deposit. We recognize that if we are unable to generate cash flows from our operations, we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. At this early stage of our operation, we also expect to face the risks, uncertainties, expenses and difficulties encountered by companies at the mineral exploration stage. We cannot be sure that we will be successful in addressing these risks and uncertainties and our failure to do so could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition. There is uncertainty regarding our ability to implement our business plan and to grow our operations with our existing financial resources without additional financing. Our ability to implement our business plan is dependent on us generating cash from operations, the sale of our stock and/or obtaining debt financing. Historically, we have funded our operations primarily through the issuance of debt and equity securities. Management’s plan to fund our capital requirements and ongoing operations include the generation of revenue from our mining operations and projects. Management’s secondary plan to cover any shortfall is selling our equity securities, including our common stock, or common stock in Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold that we own, and obtaining debt financing, There is no assurance that we will be successful in implementing our business plan or that we will be able to generate sufficient cash from operations, sell securities or borrow funds on favorable terms or at all. Our inability to generate significant revenue or obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our ability to fully implement our business plan and grow our business to a greater extent than we can with our existing financial resources We are an exploration stage company, and there is no guarantee that our properties will result in the commercial extraction of mineral deposits. We are engaged in the business of exploring and developing mineral properties with the intention of locating economic deposits of minerals. An economic deposit is a mineral property which can be reasonably expected to generate profits upon extraction and commercialization of its minerals after considering all costs involved. Our property interests are at the exploration stage. Accordingly, it is unlikely that we will realize profits in the short term, and we also cannot assure you that we will realize profits in the medium to long term. Any profitability in the future from our business will be dependent upon development of at least one economic deposit and most likely further exploration and development of other economic deposits, each of which is subject to numerous risk factors. including all of the risks associated with developing and establishing new mining operations and business enterprises including: ● completion of studies to verify reserves and commercial viability, including the ability to find sufficient ore reserves to support a commercial mining operation; ● the timing and cost, which can be considerable, of further exploration, preparing studies, permitting and construction of infrastructure, mining and processing facilities; ● the availability and costs of drill equipment, exploration personnel, skilled labor, and mining and processing equipment, if required; ● the availability and cost of appropriate smelting and/or refining arrangements, if required; ● compliance with stringent environmental and other governmental approval and permit requirements; ● the availability of funds to finance exploration, development, and construction activities, as warranted; ● potential opposition from non-governmental organizations, local groups or local inhabitants that may delay or prevent development activities; ● potential increases in exploration, construction, and operating costs due to changes in the cost of fuel, power, materials, and supplies; and ● potential shortages of mineral processing, construction, and other facilities related supplies. 30 Table of Contents Further, we cannot assure you that, even if an economic deposit of minerals is located, any of our property interests can be commercially mined. The exploration and development of mineral deposits involves a high degree of financial risk over a significant period which a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge of management may not eliminate. While discovery of additional ore-bearing deposits may result in substantial rewards, few properties which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Significant expenses may be required to establish reserves by drilling and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that our current exploration programs will result in profitable commercial mining operations. The profitability of our operations will be, in part, related to the cost and success of its exploration and development programs which may be affected by several factors. Additional expenditures are required to establish reserves which are sufficient to commercially mine and to construct, complete and install mining and processing facilities in those properties that are mined and developed. In addition, exploration-stage projects like ours have no operating history upon which to base estimates of future operating costs and capital requirements. Exploration project items, such as any future estimates of reserves, metal recoveries or cash operating costs will to a large extent be based upon the interpretation of geologic data, obtained from a limited number of drill holes and other sampling techniques, as well as future studies. Actual operating costs and economic returns of all exploration projects may materially differ from the costs and returns estimated, and accordingly our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows may be negatively affected. Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is unknown, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration and evaluation may be lost. We are an exploration stage company, and we have no “reserves.” A mineral reserve is defined in Regulation S-K 1300 as an estimate of tonnage and grade or quality of “indicated mineral resources” and “measured mineral resources” (as those terms are defined in Regulation S-K 1300) that, in the opinion of a “qualified person” (as defined in Regulation S-K 1300), can be the basis of an economically viable project. We cannot assure you about the existence of economically extractable mineralization at this time, nor about the quantity or grade of any mineralization we may have found. Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is uncertain, our properties may not contain any reserves and any funds spent on evaluation and exploration may be lost. Even if we confirm reserves on our properties, any quantity or grade of reserves we indicate must be considered as estimates only until such reserves are mined. We do not know with certainty that economically recoverable minerals exist on our properties. In addition, the quantity of any reserves may vary depending on commodity prices. Any material change in the quantity or grade of reserves may affect the economic viability of our properties. Further, our lack of established reserves means that we are uncertain about our ability to generate revenue from our operations. Even if we do eventually discover a mineral reserve on one or more of our properties, there can be no assurance that they can be developed into producing mines and that we can extract those minerals. Both mineral exploration and development involve a high degree of risk, and few mineral properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Exploration activities require significant amounts of capital that may not be recovered and may exceed our budget. Mineral exploration activities are subject to many risks, including the risk that no commercially productive or extractable resources will be encountered. There can be no assurance that the Company’s activities will ultimately lead to an economically feasible project or that it will recover all or any portion of its investment. Mineral exploration often involves unprofitable efforts, including drilling operations that ultimately do not further exploration efforts. Despite our efforts to budget such costs, the cost of minerals exploration is often uncertain, and cost overruns are common. Substantial expenditures are required to establish reserves through drilling, to develop processes to extract the ore and, in the case of new properties, to develop the extraction and processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for extraction. Although substantial benefits may be derived from the discovery of a major deposit, we cannot provide any assurance that any such deposit will be commercially viable or that we will be able to obtain the funds required for development on a timely basis. Drilling and exploration operations may be curtailed, delayed or canceled as a result of numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including title problems, weather conditions, protests, compliance with governmental requirements, including permitting issues, and shortages or delays in the delivery of equipment and services. For example, following recent results of our exploration plans of our Minas Gerais Lithium Project, we expect to incur greater cost related to such exploration activities than originally budgeted for. While we believe we have sufficient resources to fund our operations for the next twelve months, an increase in our drilling campaigns to keep pace with positive findings of potential economic deposits, may require us to raise additional capital which, if not available on reasonable terms, may cause us to curtail our operations and impair our ability to become profitable. We face risks related to mining, exploration and mine construction, if warranted, on our properties. Our level of profitability, if any, in future years will depend to a great degree on prices of minerals set by global markets and whether our exploration-stage properties can be brought into production. We cannot provide any assurances that the current and future exploration programs and/or studies on our existing properties will establish reserves. Whether it will be economically feasible to extract a mineral depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; drilling costs; mineral prices; mining, processing and transportation costs; the willingness of lenders and investors to provide project financing; labor costs and possible labor strikes; and governmental regulations, including, without limitation, regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting materials, foreign exchange, environmental protection, employment, worker safety, transportation, and reclamation and closure obligations. The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in us receiving an inadequate return on invested capital. 31 Table of Contents Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our mining activities. Our long-term success, including the recoverability of the carrying values of our assets, and our ability to continue with exploration, development and commissioning and mining activities on our existing projects or to acquire additional projects, depends ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and to develop positive cash flow from our operations by establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable minerals and to develop these into profitable mining activities. We cannot assure you that any ore body that we extract mineralized materials from will result in achieving and maintaining profitability and developing positive cash flow. We depend on our ability to successfully access the capital and financial markets. Any inability to access the capital or financial markets may limit our ability to fund our ongoing operations, execute our business plan or pursue investments that we may rely on for future growth. Until commercial production is achieved from one of our larger projects, we will continue to incur operating and investing net cash outflows associated with among other things maintaining and acquiring exploration properties, undertaking ongoing exploration activities and the development of mines. As a result, we rely on access to capital markets as a source of funding for our capital and operating requirements. We cannot assure you that such additional funding will be available to us on satisfactory terms, or at all. In order to finance our current operations and future capital needs, we will require additional funds through the issuance of additional equity and/or debt securities. Depending on the type and the terms of any financing we pursue, shareholders’ rights and the value of their investment in our shares could be reduced. Any additional equity financing will dilute shareholdings, and new or additional debt financing, if available, may involve restrictions on financing and operating activities. For example, on January 30, 2023, the Company raised an aggregate of $4 million in gross proceeds from the sale of its common stock in transaction exempt under Regulation S of the Securities Act. In addition, if we issue secured debt securities, the holders of the debt would have a claim to our assets that would be prior to the rights of shareholders until the debt is paid. Interest on such debt securities would increase costs and negatively impact operating results. The global decline in economic conditions, geopolitical instability, and other macroeconomic factors, including inflation, interest rate and foreign currency rate fluctuations, and volatility in capital markets could negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations, including our ability to raise capital. If we are unable to obtain additional financing, as needed, at competitive rates, our ability to fund our current operations and implement our business plan and strategy will be affected, and we would be required to reduce the scope of our operations and scale back our exploration, development and mining programs. There is, however, no guarantee that we will be able to secure any additional funding or be able to secure funding which will provide us with sufficient funds to meet our objectives, which may adversely affect our business and financial position. Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results and our revenue are likely to fluctuate significantly in future periods. Our quarterly and annual operating and financial results are difficult to predict and may fluctuate significantly from period to period.based on activities related to our exploration projects. Our revenues, net income and results of operations may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors that are outside our control including, but not limited to, lack of sufficient working capital, equipment malfunction and breakdowns, inability to timely find spare machines or parts to fix the broken equipment, regulatory or licensing delays and severe weather phenomena. 32 Table of Contents Our ability to manage growth will have an impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Future growth may place strains on our financial, technical, operational and administrative resources and cause us to rely more on project partners and independent contractors, potentially adversely affecting our financial position and results of operations. Our ability to grow will depend on several factors, including: ● our ability to successfully complete our exploration activities and develop existing projects; ● our ability to identify new projects; ● our ability to continue to retain and attract skilled personnel; ● our ability to maintain or enter into relationships with project partners and independent contractors; ● the results of our exploration programs; ● the market prices for our minerals; ● our access to capital; and ● our ability to enter into agreements for the sale of our minerals. We may not be successful in upgrading our technical, operational and administrative resources or increasing our internal resources sufficiently to provide certain of the services currently provided by third parties, and we may not be able to maintain or enter into new relationships with project partners and independent contractors on financially attractive terms, if at all. Our inability to achieve or manage growth may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We depend upon Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. Our existing operations and continued future development are largely dependent upon the personal efforts and continued performance of Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and principal stockholder. The loss of the services of Mr. Fogassa would have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects. We maintain key-man life insurance on the life of Mr. Fogassa. See “Management.” If we were to lose Mr. Fogassa, we may not be able to find appropriate replacements on a timely basis and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Although Mr. Fogassa spends significant time with the Company and is highly active in our management, he does not devote his full time and attention to Atlas Lithium. Mr. Fogassa also currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and director of Apollo Resources Corporation (“Apollo Resources”) and Jupiter Gold Corporation (“Jupiter Gold”). Our growth will require new personnel, which we will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain. Our ability to recruit and assimilate new personnel will be critical to our performance. We compete with other mining companies in the recruitment and retention of qualified managerial and technical employees. As we grow, we will be required to recruit additional personnel and to train, motivate and manage employees. If we are unable to successfully compete for qualified employees, our exploration and development programs may be slowed down or suspended. Certain executive officers and directors may be in a position of conflict of interest. Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive and Chairman, also serves as chief executive officer and director of Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. Joel Monteiro, Esq., one of our officers, is a director in both Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. Areli Nogueira, one of our officers, is a director in Jupiter Gold. We have partial equity ownership in both Apollo Resources and Jupiter Gold. There exists the possibility that one or more of these individuals, or others, may in the future be in a position of conflict of interest. where their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, and he may from time to time be incentivized to take certain actions that benefit his other interests and that our other stockholders do not view as being in their interest as investors in our company. Adverse developments affecting the financial services industry, including events or concerns involving liquidity, defaults or non-performance by financial institutions or transactional counterparties, could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. Events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments that affect financial institutions, transactional counterparties or other companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, or concerns or rumors about any events of these kinds or other similar risks, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide liquidity problems. Most recently, on March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. Similarly, on March 12, 2023, Signature Bank and Silvergate Capital Corp. were each swept into receivership. Although we assess our banking and customer relationships as we believe necessary or appropriate, our access to funding sources and other credit arrangements in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our current and projected future business operations could be significantly impaired by factors that affect us, the financial services industry or economy in general. These factors could include, among others, events such as liquidity constraints or failures, the ability to perform obligations under various types of financial, credit or liquidity agreements or arrangements, disruptions or instability in the financial services industry or financial markets, or concerns or negative expectations about the prospects for companies in the financial services industry. In addition, investor concerns regarding the U.S. or international financial systems could result in less favorable commercial financing terms, including higher interest rates or costs and tighter financial and operating covenants, or systemic limitations on access to credit and liquidity sources, thereby making it more difficult for us to acquire financing on acceptable terms or at all. Any decline in available funding or access to our cash and liquidity resources could, among other risks, adversely impact our ability to meet our operating expenses, financial obligations or fulfill our other obligations, result in breaches of our contractual obligations or result in violations of federal or state wage and hour laws. Any of these impacts, or any other impacts resulting from the factors described above or other related or similar factors not described above, could have material adverse impacts on our liquidity and our business, financial condition or results of operations. We may be unable to retain the third party contractors upon which we rely, including for drilling. We have agreements with consultants to perform services for us including with respect to performing drilling services for us. Each of these contractors perform functions that require the services of persons in high demand in the industry and these persons may or may not always be available when needed based on their status as contractors or at affordable prices. The implementation of our business plan and our exploration activities may be impaired if we are not able to retain or afford our significant contractors or if they do not perform in accordance with their agreements and the failure to conduct our exploration activities could result in delays in our ability to execute on our business plan will could have an adverse effect on the value of our company and our common stock. 33 Table of Contents Regulatory and Industry Risks The mining industry subjects us to several risks. In our operations, we are subject to the significant risks normally encountered in the mining industry, such as: ● the discovery of unusual or unexpected geological formations; ● accidental fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural disasters; ● unplanned power outages and water shortages; ● controlling water and other similar mining hazards; ● industrial and mining accidents; ● operating labor disruptions and labor disputes; ● the ability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment, or labor; ● our liability for pollution or other hazards; and ● other known and unknown risks involved in the conduct of exploration and operation of mines. These hazardous activities pose significant management challenges and could result in loss of life, a mine shutdown, damage to or destruction of our properties and surrounding properties, production facilities or equipment, production delays or business interruption. 34 Table of Contents Our mineral projects will be subject to significant governmental regulations. Mining activities in Brazil are subject to extensive federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing environmental protection, natural resources, prospecting, development, production, post-closure reclamation costs, taxes, labor standards and occupational health and safety laws and regulations, including mine safety, toxic substances and other matters. The costs associated with compliance with such laws and regulations can be substantial. In addition, changes in such laws and regulations, or more restrictive interpretations of current laws and regulations by governmental authorities, could result in unanticipated capital expenditures, expenses, or restrictions on, or suspensions of our operations and delays in the development of our properties. We will be required to obtain governmental permits in order to conduct development and mining operations, a process which is often costly and time-consuming. We are required to obtain and renew governmental permits for our exploration activities and, prior to developing or mining any mineralization that we discover, we will be required to obtain new governmental permits. Obtaining and renewing governmental permits is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. The timeliness and success of permitting efforts are contingent upon many variables not within our control, including the interpretation of permit approval requirements administered by the applicable permitting authority. We may not be able to obtain or renew permits that are necessary to our planned operations or the cost and time required to obtain or renew such permits may exceed our expectations. Any unexpected delays or costs associated with the permitting process could delay the exploration, development or operation of our properties, which in turn could materially adversely affect our future revenues and profitability. In addition, key permits and approvals may be revoked or suspended or may be changed in a manner that adversely affects our activities. Private parties, such as environmental activists, frequently attempt to intervene in the permitting process and to persuade regulators to deny necessary permits or seek to overturn permits that have been issued. Obtaining the necessary governmental permits involves numerous jurisdictions, public hearings and possibly costly undertakings. These third-party actions can materially increase the costs and cause delays in the permitting process and could cause us to not proceed with the development or operation of a property. In addition, our ability to successfully obtain key permits and approvals to explore for, develop, operate and expand operations will likely depend on our ability to undertake such activities in a manner consistent with the creation of social and economic benefits in the surrounding communities, which may or may not be required by law. Our ability to obtain permits and approvals and to successfully operate in particular communities may be adversely affected by real or perceived detrimental events associated with our activities. Compliance with environmental regulations and litigation based on environmental regulations could require significant expenditures. Environmental regulations mandate, among other things, the maintenance of air and water quality standards, and the rules on land development and reclamation. They also set forth limitations on the generation, transportation, storage, and disposal of solid and hazardous waste. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that may require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for mining companies and their officers, directors and employees. In connection with our current exploration activities or with our prior mining operations, we may incur environmental costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any failure to remedy an environmental problem could require us to suspend operations or enter into interim compliance measures pending completion of the required remedy. Moreover, governmental authorities and private parties may bring lawsuits based upon damage to property and injury to persons resulting from the environmental, health and safety impacts of prior and current operations, including operations conducted by other mining companies many years ago at sites located on properties that we currently own or formerly owned. These lawsuits could lead to the imposition of substantial fines, remediation costs, penalties and other civil and criminal sanctions. We cannot assure you that any such law, regulation, enforcement or private claim would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. 35 Table of Contents Our operations face substantial regulation of health and safety. Our operations are subject to extensive and complex laws and regulations governing worker health and safety across our operating regions and our failure to comply with applicable legal requirements can result in substantial penalties. Future changes in applicable laws, regulations, permits and approvals or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could substantially increase costs to achieve compliance, lead to the revocation of existing or future exploration or mining rights or otherwise have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position. In addition to potential government restrictions and regulatory fines, penalties or sanctions, our ability to operate (including the effect of any impact on our workforce) and thus, our results of operations and our financial position (including because of potential related fines and sanctions), could be adversely affected by accidents, injuries, fatalities or events detrimental (or perceived to be detrimental) to the health and safety of our employees, the environment or the communities in which we operate. Our operations are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations. Our exploration, development, mining and processing operations are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing land use and the protection of the environment, which generally apply to air and water quality, protection of endangered, protected or other specified species, hazardous waste management and reclamation. We have made, and expect to make in the future, significant expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations. Compliance with these laws and regulations imposes substantial costs and burdens, and can cause delays in obtaining, or failure to obtain, government permits and approvals which may adversely impact our closure processes and operations. Increased global attention or regulation of consumption of water by industrial activities, as well as water quality discharge, and on restricting or prohibiting the use of cyanide and other hazardous substances in processing activities could similarly have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial position due to increased compliance and input costs. Mineral prices are subject to unpredictable fluctuations. Portions of our revenues may come from the extraction and sale of minerals. The price of minerals may fluctuate widely and is affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including international, economic and political trends, expectations of inflation, currency exchange fluctuations, interest rates, global or regional consumptive patterns, speculative activities, increased production due to new extraction developments and improved extraction and production methods and technological changes in the markets for the end products. The effect of these factors on the price of minerals, and therefore the economic viability of any of our exploration properties, cannot accurately be predicted. 36 Table of Contents Country and Currency Risks Our ability to execute our business plan depends primarily on the continuation of a favorable mining environment in Brazil and our ability to freely sell our minerals. Mining operations in Brazil are heavily regulated. Any significant change in mining legislation or other changes in Brazil’s current mining environment may slow down or alter our business prospects. Further, countries in which we may wish to sell our mined minerals may impose special taxes, tariffs, or otherwise place limits and controls on consumption of our mined minerals. The perception of Brazil by the international community may affect us. Brazil’s political environment and its environmental policies, in particular the preservation of the Amazon rain forest, are continuously scrutinized by the global media. If Brazil’s situation or policies are perceived as being inadequate, we may lose the interest of investor groups or potential buyers of our minerals, which will have a negative impact on us. Exposure to foreign exchange fluctuations and capital controls may adversely affect our costs, earnings and the value of some of our assets. Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar; however, we conduct our business in Brazil utilizing the Brazilian real. A large portion of our operating expenses are incurred in Brazilian real. An appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar would increase our costs in U.S. dollar terms. Our consolidated financials are directly impacted by movements in the Brazilian real to U.S. dollar exchange rate. While not expected, Brazil may choose to adopt measures to restrict the entry of U.S. dollars or the repatriation of capital across borders. These measures would have a number of negative effects on us, reducing the immediately available capital that we could otherwise deploy for investment opportunities or the payment of expenses, and the ability to repatriate any profits. Common Stock Risks Our common stock price has been and may continue to be volatile. The market price of our common stock has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and could fluctuate in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following: ● the results from our exploration and/or, if warranted, project development efforts; ● our ability to achieve profitability; 37 Table of Contents ● our ability to raise capital when needed; ● our ability to execute our business plan; ● investor perception of our industry or our prospects; ● legislative, regulatory, and competitive developments; and ● economic and external factors. In addition, the securities markets have from time-to-time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of any company. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock regardless of our actual operations and the results from those operations. We do not intend to pay regular future dividends on our common stock and thus stockholders must look to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investments. We have never paid a dividend and we do not have any plans to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon various factors, including future earnings, if any, our capital requirements and general financial condition, and other factors. Accordingly, stockholders must look solely to appreciation of our common stock to realize a gain on their investment. This appreciation may not occur or may occur only over a longer timeframe. We may seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions, or develop strategic relationships by issuing securities that would dilute your ownership. We may largely finance our operations by issuing equity securities, which may materially reduce the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. Furthermore, any newly issued securities could have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of our existing common stock. Moreover, any issuances by us of equity securities may be at or below the prevailing market price of our stock and in any event may have a dilutive impact on ownership interest of existing common stockholders, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. We may also raise additional funds through the incurrence of debt or the issuance or sale of other securities or instruments senior to our Common Stock. The holders of any debt securities or instruments that we may issue could have rights superior to the rights of our common stockholders. Our Series A Preferred Stock has the effect of concentrating voting control over us in Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. One share of our Series A Preferred Stock is issued, outstanding and held since 2012 by Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. The Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of our Series A Convertible Preferred provides that for so long as Series A Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall vote together as a single class with the holders of our common stock, with the holders of Series A Preferred Stock being entitled to 51% of the total votes on all matters regardless of the actual number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding, and the holders of common stock and any other class or series of capital stock entitled to vote with the common stock being entitled to their proportional share of the remaining 49% of the total votes based on their respective voting power. As a result, you may have limited ability to impact our operations and activities. 38 Table of Contents Marc Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our Board of Directors, owns greater than 50% of the Company’s voting securities, which means we are deemed a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq. As a result of his ownership of all issued and outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, Mr. Fogassa, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, holds more than 50% of our voting securities, and as such, we are a “controlled company” under the rules of Nasdaq. As a “controlled company,” we may elect to rely on some or all of these exemptions, even though currently we do not take advantage of any of these exemptions, but may do so in the future. Accordingly, should the interests of Mr. Fogassa differ from those of other stockholders, the other stockholders may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Our status as a controlled company could make our common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price. Our stock price may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The trading price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially and will depend on several factors, including those described in this “Risk Factors” section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our securities. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include: ● results from our exploration and/or, if warranted, project development efforts; ● changes to our industry, including demand and regulations; ● failure to achieve commercial extraction of mineral deposits from any of our properties; ● absence of any reserves contained within our properties, and loss of any funds spent on exploration and evaluation; ● we may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors; ● competitive pricing pressures; ● our ability to obtain working capital financing as required; ● additions or departures of key personnel; ● sales of our common stock; ● our ability to execute our business plan; ● operating results that fall below expectations; ● any major change in our management; ● changes in accounting standards, procedures, guidelines, interpretations or principals; and ● economic, geo-political and other external factors, particularly within the country of Brazil. In addition, the stock market in general has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Broad market and industry factors, as well as general economic, political and market conditions such as recessions or interest rate changes, may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. Further, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of particular companies’ securities, securities class action litigations have often been instituted against these companies. Litigation of this type, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources. Any adverse determination in any such litigation or any amounts paid to settle any such actual or threatened litigation could require that we make significant payments. 39 Table of Contents You will experience dilution as a result of future equity offerings. We may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. Although no assurances can be given that we will consummate a future financing, in the event we do, or in the event we sell shares of common stock or other securities convertible into shares of our common stock in the future, additional and potentially substantial dilution will occur. Our existing stockholders have substantial influence over our company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other stockholders, which may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their securities. As of the date of this Annual Report, certain stockholders control the voting power in us, including management. As a result, these stockholders have substantial influence over our business, including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our control, which could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of any contemplated sale of our Company and may reduce the price of our common stock. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our stockholders in the public market could cause our stock price to fall. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that these sales might occur could significantly reduce the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise adequate capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We are unable to predict the effect that such sales may have on the prevailing market price of our common stock. Costs as a result of operating as a public company are significant, and our management is required to devote substantial time to compliance with our public company responsibilities and corporate governance practices. As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that private companies do not incur. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market, and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies. Our management and other personnel will devote a substantial amount of time to compliance with these requirements. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will incur as a public company or the specific timing of such costs. Our internal control over financial reporting may not meet the standards required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, could have a material adverse effect on our business and share price. Our management is required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. The rules governing the standards that must be met for our management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness or significant deficiency in our internal control over financial reporting once that firm begins our Section 404 reviews, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the capital markets. 40 Table of Contents Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments. None.