UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of April 2019
Commission File Number: 001-31819
Gold Reserve Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its
charter)
999 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 401
Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ¨ Form 40-F x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by
furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing
the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ¨ No x
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
This Report on Form 6-K and the exhibit attached hereto are hereby incorporated by reference into Gold Reserve Inc.’s (the “Company”) current Registration Statements on Form F-3 on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
The following exhibit is furnished with this Form 6-K:
99.1 News Release
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and information
The information presented or incorporated by reference in this report contains both historical information and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) or "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") that may state our intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause our actual financial results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein and many of which are outside our control.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, including those set out herein, that may never materialize, prove incorrect or materialize other than as currently contemplated which could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "may," "could" and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are not intended to provide any assurances as to future results.
Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:
· continued delay or failure by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ("Venezuela") to make payments or otherwise honor its commitments under the settlement agreement whereby Venezuela agreed to pay us damages pursuant to an International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID") judgment totaling $713 million in damages, plus pre-award interest and legal costs and expenses (the "Award") and purchase our mining data, previously compiled in association with our development of the Brisas Project (the "Mining Data") for $792 million and $240 million, respectively, for a total of approximately $1.032 billion (as amended, the "Settlement Agreement");
· risk that the Company may be unable to access current or future amounts deposited into a trust account for the benefit of the Company at Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela ("Bandes Bank") (the" Trust Account") which have been blocked as a result of the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls (“OFAC”) designation of Bandes Bank as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) pursuant to an Executive Order (“EO”). As a result of the Bandes Bank designation, the Company recorded an impairment loss on the current balance of the trust of approximately $21.5 million;
· delay or failure by Venezuela to honor its commitments associated with the formation and operation of Empresa Mixta Ecosocialista Siembra Minera, S.A. ("Siembra Minera") which holds certain gold, copper, silver and other strategic mineral rights within Venezuela's Bolivar State which includes the historical Brisas and Cristinas areas (referred to as the "Siembra Minera Project") including risks associated with the ability of the Company and Venezuela to (i) successfully overcome legal or regulatory obstacles to operate Siembra Minera for the purpose of developing the Siembra Minera Project, (ii) complete any additional definitive documentation and finalize any remaining governmental approvals and (iii) obtain financing to fund the capital costs of the Siembra Minera Project;
· risks associated with the current or future sanctions by the U.S., Canada or other jurisdictions which generally prohibit the Company and its management or its employees from dealing with certain Venezuelan individuals and entities or entering into certain financial transactions (the "Sanctions") that may negatively impact our ability to freely receive funds from Venezuela, either from the Trust Account or the remaining funds owed by Venezuela or our ability to do business in Venezuela;
· risks that U.S. and Canadian government agencies that enforce Sanctions may not issue licenses that the Company may need to engage in certain Venezuela-related transactions;
· risks that any future Venezuelan administration will void or otherwise fail to respect the agreements of the prior administration;
· risks associated with the collection of the Award and concentration of our operations and assets in Venezuela which are and will be subject to risks specific to Venezuela, including the effects of political, economic and social developments, instability and unrest; international response to Venezuelan domestic and international policies; Sanctions by U.S., Canadian or other jurisdictions and potential invalidation, confiscation, expropriation or rescission of governmental orders, permits, agreements or property rights either by the existing or future regimes;
· risks associated with our ability to resume our efforts to enforce and collect the Award, including the associated costs of such enforcement and collection effort and the timing and success of that effort, if Venezuela fails to make payments under the Settlement Agreement, it is terminated and further efforts related to the Settlement Agreement are abandoned;
· the risk that the conclusions of management and its qualified consultants contained in the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Siembra Minera Gold Copper Project in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") may not be realized in the future;
· risks associated with the distribution of approximately $75 million in the aggregate to holders of Class A shares as a return of capital (the “Return of Capital Transaction”) that has been approved by our board of directors, (the "Board") including risks related to our ability to receive required approvals from our shareholders, the Court and the TSXV and the risk that our Board may determine not to move forward with the Return of Capital Transaction if it determines it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders;
· risks associated with exploration, delineation of adequate reserves, regulatory and permitting obstacles and other risks associated with the development of the Siembra Minera Project;
· risks associated with our continued ability to service outstanding obligations as they come due and access future additional funding, when required, for ongoing liquidity and capital resources, pending the receipt of payments under the Settlement Agreement or collection of the Award in the courts;
· risks associated with our prospects in general for the identification, exploration and development of mining projects and other risks normally incident to the exploration, development and operation of mining properties, including our ability to achieve revenue producing operations in the future;
· shareholder dilution resulting from the future sale of additional equity, if required;
· value realized from the disposition of the remaining assets related to our previous mining project in Venezuela known as the “Brisas Project”, if any;
· abilities of and continued participation by certain employees; and
· impact of current or future U.S., Canadian and/or other jurisdiction's tax laws to which we are or may be subject..
See “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Information Form and Annual Report on Form 40-F filed on www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively for additional risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from forward-looking statements.
Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and investors should not infer that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this report that would warrant any modification of any forward-looking statement made in this document, other documents periodically filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or other securities regulators or presented on the Company’s website. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to our disclosure obligations under applicable U.S. and Canadian securities regulations. Investors are urged to read the Company’s filings with U.S. and Canadian securities regulatory agencies, which can be viewed online at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
Dated: April 18, 2019
GOLD RESERVE INC. (Registrant)
By: /s/ Robert A. McGuinness
Robert A. McGuinness, its Vice President of Finance,
Chief Financial Officer and its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Exhibit 99.1
GOLD RESERVE PROVIDES UPDATE ON PREVIOUSLY
ANNOUNCED RETURN OF CAPITAL TRANSACTION
Spokane, Washington, April 18, 2019 NR 19-04
Gold Reserve Inc. (TSXV: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) (“Gold Reserve” or the “Company”) is providing an update regarding its previously announced intention to return between US$90 and US$100 million in the aggregate to holders (the “Shareholders”) of its Class A common shares (the “Class A Shares”) pursuant to a return of capital transaction (the “Return of Capital Transaction”).
Following the Government of Canada’s decision on April 15, 2019 to impose sanctions against 43 additional individuals under the Special Economic Measures (Venezuela) Regulations of the Special Economic Measures Act, Gold Reserve’s board of directors (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders to reduce the aggregate amount of capital to be returned to Shareholders pursuant to the Return of Capital transaction to approximately US$75 million, or approximately US$0.76 per Class A Share.
The imposition of the April 15, 2019 sanctions poses a significant impediment to the Company’s ability to work with government officials related to the development of the Siembra Minera gold copper project, and the Company’s ability to work with government officials responsible for the payment and transfer of funds associated with the Settlement Agreement.
The Company expects to apply for a license from the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to allow the Company to pursue payments under the Settlement Agreement and allow international financial institutions to facilitate such transactions to North America at least in the near term without violating US sanctions on Venezuela. The Company may also pursue similar relief from sanctions imposed under Canadian law. There can be no assurance that the Company will obtain such relief or licenses.
Receipt of Interim Order
Gold Reserve is pleased to announce that it has obtained an interim order of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench (the “Court”) authorizing, among other things, the holding of the Company’s annual general and special meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting“). At the Meeting, among other things, the Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on a special resolution (the “Special Resolution”) approving a statutory plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) whereby, subject to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement, the Company will complete the distribution of US$75 million, or approximately US$0.76 per Class A Share pursuant to the Return of Capital Transaction.
The Meeting will be held on June 13, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. at 999 W. Riverside Avenue, 7th Floor, Masthead Suite, Spokane, Washington, USA. Meeting materials, including a notice of annual general and special meeting and information circular, will be mailed shortly to Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 24, 2019. The meeting materials will also be available for review on the Company’s website at www.goldreserveinc.com under 2019 Annual Shareholder Meeting and under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
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Assuming approval of the Arrangement at the Meeting, the Company will return to the Court on June 13, 2019 to seek a final order to implement the Arrangement. Assuming such final order is obtained, the Company expects to implement the Arrangement and complete the Return of Capital Transaction on or about June 14, 2019 (the “Effective Date”). All registered and beneficial Shareholders as of the Effective Date will be entitled to receive the distribution of approximately US$0.76 per Class A Share to be made pursuant to the Return of Capital Transaction.
The Company’s board of directors has unanimously approved the Arrangement and recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the Special Resolution.
Full details of the Return of Capital Transaction will be described in the Company’s management information circular and other related materials. Those documents are expected to be mailed to Shareholders, filed with applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and made available without charge on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and posted on the Company’s website at www.goldreserveinc.com, on or about May 9, 2019.
Gold Reserve Inc. Contact
A. Douglas Belanger, President
999 W. Riverside Ave., Suite 401
Spokane, WA 99201 USA
Tel. (509) 623-1500
Fax (509) 623-1634
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. federal securities laws and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws and state Gold Reserve’s and its management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future including without limitation statements with respect to the completion of the Return of Capital Transaction, the receipt of all necessary Shareholder, Court, and other regulatory approvals, future payments under the Settlement Agreement, management and advancement of the Siembra Minera Project, and the receipt of any applicable license to transfer funds from Venezuela to Canada through the facilities of applicable international financial institutions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual outcomes, financial results, performance, or achievements of Gold Reserve to be materially different from our estimated outcomes, future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including without limitation the timing for the approval and implementation of the Return of Capital Transaction, the anticipated tax treatment for Shareholders of the Return of Capital Transaction, the risks that payments due under the Settlement Agreement continue to be delayed, the Company may not receive future payments due under the Settlement Agreement, the Company may not be able to repatriate payments that are received, imposition of further sanctions by the U.S., Canada or other jurisdictions that may negatively impact the Company’s ability to freely transfer funds from Venezuela, the ability of the Company to obtain the requisite approvals to transfer funds from Venezuela to Canada through the facilities of applicable international financial institutions, or our ability to do business in Venezuela. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Gold Reserve’s forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company’s business, see the Company’s Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017 which have been filed on SEDAR and are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and which form part of the Company’s Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 which have been filed on EDGAR and are available under the Company’s profile at www.sec.gov/edgar.
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Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Gold Reserve or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Gold Reserve disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of assumptions or factors, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, subject to its disclosure obligations under applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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