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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 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

For the month of May 2024


Commission File Number: 001-31819

 

 

Gold Reserve Inc.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

 

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 of 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): ¨

 
 

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

 

On May 3, 2024 Gold Reserve Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 6-K.

This Report on Form 6-K and the exhibit attached hereto are hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s effective registration statements (including any prospectuses forming a part of such registration statements) on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and are to be a part thereof from the date on which this report is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

The information presented or incorporated by reference in this report, other than statements of historical fact, are, or could be, “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws) (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) that state the Company’s and its management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future.

 
 

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates, expectations, and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company and its management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company cautions 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 to be materially different from those expressed or implied therein, many of which are outside its control. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and any such forward-looking statements are not intended to provide any assurances as to future results. The Company believes its estimates, expectations and assumptions are reasonable, but there can be no assurance those reflected herein will be achieved. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. 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, any of which could adversely affect the Company, including, without limitation:

 

·risks associated with recovering funds (including related costs associated therewith) under the Company’s settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela”) or its various proceedings against the government of Venezuela, including (a) the potential ability of the Company to obtain funds as a result of the writ of attachment fieri facias granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware with respect to shares of PDV Holdings, Inc. (“PDVH”), which was served on PDVH by the U.S. Marshal on April 5, 2024, and whereby the Company may potentially enforce its September 2014 arbitral award (the “Award”) and corresponding November 2015 U.S. judgment by obtaining proceeds from the potential sale of PDVH shares, and the potential ability of the Company to obtain the funds that the Lisbon District Court attached in Portugal on the Company’s requests, and (b) the Company’s ability to repatriate any funds obtained in the Lisbon proceedings, or any funds owed to the Company under the settlement arrangements that may become available;
·risks associated with sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Canadian governments, including without limitation those targeting Venezuela;
·risks associated with whether the Company is able to obtain (or get results from) relief from such sanctions, including whether and to what extent the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control grants licenses with respect to any court-ordered sale of PDVH shares, including timing and terms of such licenses;
·Venezuela’s breach of the Company’s Settlement Agreement with it, with respect to its obligations to the Company in connection with the joint venture entity Empresa Mixta Ecosocialista Siembra Minera, S.A. (“Siembra Minera”);
·risks associated with the timing and ability to contest, reverse or otherwise alter the resolution of the Venezuela Ministry of Mines to revoke the mining rights held by Siembra Minera for alleged non-compliance with certain Venezuelan mining regulations (the “Resolution”), with various Venezuelan authorities;
·risks associated with Venezuela’s ongoing failure to honor its commitments associated with the formation, financing and operation of Siembra Minera and the inability of the Company and Venezuela to overcome certain obstacles associated with the Siembra Minera project;
·risks associated with the breach by Venezuela of one or more of the terms of the underlying agreements governing the formation of Siembra Minera and the future development of the Siembra Minera project by Venezuela;
·risks associated with changes in law in Venezuela, including the recent enactment of the Law for Protection of the Assets, Rights, and Interests of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its Entities Abroad, which negatively impacts the ability of the Company to carry on activities in Venezuela, including safety and security of personnel, the repatriation of funds and other factors identified herein;
 
 
·risks associated with the fact that the Company has no revenue producing operations at this time and its future working capital position is dependent upon the collection of amounts due pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and/or Award or the Company’s ability to raise additional funds from the capital markets or other external sources;
·risks associated with activist campaigns, including potential costs and distraction of management and the directors’ time and attention related thereto that would otherwise be spent on other matters including contesting the Resolution; and
·risks associated with potential tax, accounting or financial impacts, including any potential income tax liabilities in addition to those currently recorded, that may result from the current (or any future) audits of our tax filings by U.S. and Canadian tax authorities.

 

This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s 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”), the Ontario Securities Commission or other securities regulators or presented on the Company's website. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. 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.sedarplus.ca, respectively.

These risks and uncertainties, and additional risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, are more fully described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 40-F, including, but limited to, the section entitled “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC and Canadian securities regulatory agencies, which can be viewed online at www.sec.gov and www.sedarplus.ca, respectively. Consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, the Company’s management, or other persons acting on the Company’s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company 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 and regulations promulgated by the SEC and applicable Canadian provincial and territorial securities laws. Any forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and results as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented in the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

 
 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description

99.1

 

 Press release issued by Gold Reserve Inc. on May 3, 2024*
* Furnished herewith

 

 

 
 

SIGNATURES

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.

 

Date: May 9, 2024

 

GOLD RESERVE INC. (Registrant)

 

 

By: /s/ David P. Onzay

David P. Onzay, its Chief Financial Officer

and its Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

GOLD RESERVE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE VICE-CHAIRMAN; AMENDMENT TO EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, May 3, 2024 NR 24-04

 

Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX.V: GRZ) (OTCQX: GDRZF) (“Gold Reserve” or the “Company”) today announces the appointment of Paul Rivett as a director and as the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately.

 

Board Chair Robert Cohen said the following about the appointment of Mr. Rivett: “At this important time in Gold Reserve’s continuing effort to enhance shareholder value, we are delighted to welcome new Executive Vice-Chairman Paul Rivett to the Company. Paul is well known as a dynamic entrepreneur and successful developer of value in enterprises in a variety of industries. He brings his valuable experience, great energy and enthusiasm to the tasks ahead at Gold Reserve. We are all excited to begin working with him.”

 

In connection with the appointment of Mr. Rivett as Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Company has granted Mr. Rivett an aggregate of 750,000 stock options (the “Options”) under the Company’s current amended and restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase up to 750,000 Class A common shares in the capital of the Company.

 

250,000 of Mr. Rivett’s Options will vest immediately at an exercise price of US$3.28 per share. For the additional 500,000 Options, 50% will vest on the date that is 6 months from the date of grant and the remaining 50% will vest on the date that is 12 months from the date of grant, at an exercise price of US$5.00 per share. All of Mr. Rivett’s Options have a maximum term of five years from the date of grant.

 

AMENDMENT TO EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND GRANT OF CONDITIONAL OPTIONS

 

The Company also announces that the Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Plan whereby, among other things, the number of Class A common shares of the Company available to be granted under the Plan will be increased to 14,932,307, representing approximately 15% of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares of the Company as of the date hereof (the “Plan Amendment”). The Plan Amendment is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and shareholders of the Company.

 

The Company has also granted, subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and shareholders of the Company, Mr. Rivett 2,500,000 conditional stock options (“Conditional Options”) under the Plan to purchase up to 2,500,000 Class A common shares in the capital of the Company. 50% of the Conditional Options will vest on the date that is 9 months from the date of grant and the remaining 50% will vest on the date that is 18 months from the date of grant, at an exercise price of US$7.00 per share, and will have a maximum term of five years from the date of grant. The Conditional Options granted under the Plan may not be exercised until shareholder approval of the Plan Amendment and disinterested shareholder approval of the grant of the Conditional Options has been received.

 

 
 

Certain major shareholders of the Company, representing approximately 54.6% of the outstanding Class A common shares have agreed to vote their shares in favour of the approval of the Plan Amendment and the grant of the Conditional Options at the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company.

 

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

 

James H. Coleman

President and Chairman Emeritus of Gold Reserve Inc.

 

Gold Reserve Inc. Contact

Jean Charles Potvin

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, including, without limitation, with respect to obtaining regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange approval for the Conditional Options described herein, their issuance or exercise (or lack thereof) and amendments to the Plan. Such statements set out Gold Reserve’s and its management’s 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 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.

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.