Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES .
Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
At the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that: (i) information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report on management’s assessment are included in “Item 8 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” herein.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
An attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting by our independent registered public accounting firm is not included herein because, as a non-accelerated filer, we are exempt from the requirement to provide such report.
Changes in Internal Controls .
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION .
N o n e .
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not Applicable.
PART II I
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE .
Information concerning our executive officers, directors, Audit Committee, corporate governance, compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Code of Ethics will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement, to be filed within 120 days after December 31, 2023 pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for the 2024 Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have a code of business conduct and ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to all employees, officers, and directors of the Company and its affiliated entities. The Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.vistagold.com. We will post any amendments, waivers, and implicit waivers to the Code of Ethics on that website.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION .
Information relating to executive compensation will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMEN T AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Information relating to security ownership of certain beneficial owners of our Common Shares, our equity compensation plans and the security ownership of our management will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS .
Information concerning this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES .
Information concerning this item will be contained in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART I V
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES .
Documents Filed as Part of Report
Financial Statements
The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are filed as part of this report:
1. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( Plante & Moran, PLLC , Denver, Colorado , PCAOB ID 166 ).
2. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ( Davidson & Company LLP , Vancouver, Canada , PCAOB ID 731 ).
3. Consolidated Balance Sheets – As of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
4. Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
5. Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
6. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
7. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
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Financial Statement Schedules
No financial statement schedules are filed as part of this report because such schedules are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto. See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.01
Certificate of Continuation, previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 12, 2013 and incorporated by reference herein (File No. 1-09025)
3.02
Notice of Articles, previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 12, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
3.03
Articles, previously filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 12, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
4.01
Description of Registrant’s Securities
4.02
Form of Warrant previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 9, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
4.03
Form of Underwriter’s Warrant previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 9, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.01*
Amended Stock Option Plan of Vista Gold filed as Appendix F to the Company’s Proxy Statement on March 20, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.02
Agreement, dated March 1, 2006, among the Northern Territory of Australia, Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Vista Gold Corp. filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K, dated February 28, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.03
At-the-Market Offering Agreement dated November 22, 2017, previously filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated November 22, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.04
Amendment No. 1 to At-the-Market Offering Agreement dated June 24, 2020, previously filed as Exhibit 1.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated June 25, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.05**
Deed of Variation, previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 2, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.06
Amended and Restated Underwriting Agreement previously filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 12, 2021 and incorporated by reference herein (File No. 1-09025)
10.07
Amendment No. 2 to the At-the-Market Offering Agreement dated December 10, 2021 previously filed as Exhibit 1.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated December 13, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.08*
Amended Long Term Equity Incentive Plan of Vista Gold filed as Appendix D to the Company’s Proxy Statement on March 17, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.09*
Deferred Share Unit Plan of Vista Gold filed as Appendix E to the Company’s Proxy Statement on March 17, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.10*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of Frederick H. Earnest, dated May 26, 2022 previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q dated July 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.11*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of Douglas L. Tobler, dated May 26, 2022 previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q dated July 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.12*
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement of John W. Rozelle, dated May 26, 2022 previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q dated July 27, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.13
Deed of Variation to agreement among the Northern Territory of Australia, Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Vista Gold Corp., dated February 10, 2014
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10.14
Deed of Variation to agreement among the Northern Territory of Australia, Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Vista Gold Corp., dated April 26, 2017
10.15
Deed of Variation to agreement among the Northern Territory of Australia, Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Vista Gold Corp., previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.16
Independent Contractor Services Agreement effective January 1, 2024, by and between John W. Rozelle and Vista Gold Corp. previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated January 16, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.17
Royalty Agreement dated December 13, 2023, between Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Wheaton Precious Metals (Cayman) Co., previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 15, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
10.18
General Security Deed, by and between Vista Gold Australia Pty. Ltd. and Wheaton Precious Metals (Cayman) Co., previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated February 27, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 1-09025)
19
Vista Gold Corp. Insider Trading Policy
21
Subsidiaries of the Company
23.1
Consent of Plante & Moran, PLLC, Denver, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Davidson & Company LLP, Vancouver, Canada, Chartered Professional Accountants
23.3
Consent of Tetra Tech, Inc.
23.4
Consent of Maurie Marks
23.5
Consent of Rex Clair Bryan
23.6
Consent of Thomas L. Dyer
23.7
Consent of Amy L. Hudson
23.8
Consent of April Hussey
23.9
Consent of Chris Johns
23.10
Consent of Max Johnson
23.11
Consent of Deepak Malhotra
23.12
Consent of Zvonimir Ponos
23.13
Consent of Vicki Scharnhorst
23.14
Consent of Keith Thompson
23.15
Consent of John Rozelle
24
Powers of Attorney
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
96.1
Technical Report Summary for the Mt Todd Gold Project
97
Vista Gold Corp. Incentive Compensation Recovery Policy
101.INS (1)
Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH (1)
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Schema
101.CAL (1)
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Calculations
101.DEF (1)
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Definitions
101.LAB (1)
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Labels
101.PRE (1)
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension – Presentations
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File––the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document
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*
Management Contract or Compensatory Plan
**
Certain portions of the exhibit that are not material and would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed have been redacted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K. Copies of the unredacted exhibit will be furnished to the Commission upon request.
(1) Submitted Electronically Herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2023 and 2022, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
VISTA GOLD CORP.
(Registrant)
Dated: March 14, 2024
By: /s/ Frederick H. Earnest
Frederick H. Earnest,
Chief Executive Officer
Dated: March 14, 2024
By: /s/ Douglas L. Tobler
Douglas L. Tobler
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Dated: March 14, 2024
By: /s/ Frederick H. Earnest
Frederick H. Earnest,
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: March 14, 2024
By: /s/ Douglas L. Tobler
Douglas L. Tobler
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature
Capacity
Date
/s/ Frederick H. Earnest
Frederick H. Earnest
Director
March 14, 2024
*
John M. Clark
Director
March 14, 2024
*
Deborah J. Friedman
Director
March 14, 2024
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*
Tracy A. Stevenson
Director
March 14, 2024
*
M ichel Sylvestre
Director
March 14, 2024
* By: /s/ Frederick H. Earnest
Frederick H. Earnest, Attorney-in-Fact
Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed as Exhibit 24 herewith.
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