GOLD Reserve Announces Cost Reduction Program and Stock Option Grants
1
NR-21-02
GOLD RESERVE ANNOUNCES COST REDUCTION PROGRAM AND STOCK OPTION GRANTS
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, May 19, 2021
Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX.V:GRZ) (OTCQB:GDRZF) (" Gold Reserve" or the " Company")
announces that its Board of Directors has approved a three-year cost reduction program to decrease cash
operating costs while management continues its efforts to achieve the Company’s objectives which include
collecting the remaining amounts owed to the Company by Venezuela pursuant to the existing Settlement
Agreement and Arbitral Award and to realize maximum shareholder value as it relates to the Company’s
45% interest in the Siembra Minera gold – copper project as the situation in Venezuela continues to evolve.
As part of these measures, the Company has entered into voluntary agreements with three of its
executives (“Senior Management”), its directors and certain technical consultants to reduce cash
compensation. Senior Management being James Coleman, Chairman, Rockne Timm, CEO, and Doug
Belanger, President, have voluntarily agreed to reduce their cash compensation for the next 36 months
ranging from 25% to 50%. In addition, the directors and certain technical consultants have agreed to reduce
compensation until certain conditions change. The estimated compensation reductions will result in annual
cash savings of approximately US$1,120,000.
In conjunction with the cash compensation reduction and the lack of historical stock option grants
since 2017 to the Senior Management, the Board of Directors intends to grant up to 2,309,250 stock options
to officers and directors and 598,750 stock options to consultants. These stock options will have a 10-year
term and will be issued pursuant to the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the " Option
Plan") once approval of the amendment as described below is received.
In addition, the Company has developed an incentive bonus plan in which Senior Management will
participate. The bonus plan contemplates the payment of a bonus on the achievement of certain specific
objectives related to the development of the Company's business and prospects in Venezuela on or before
December 31, 2023. If an objective is not achieved by December 31, 2023 the amount of the bonus is
reduced by 40% if the objective is achieved on or before December 31, 2024, with no bonus payable
thereafter. For example, if an objective is achieved by December 31, 2023, the bonus payments would
approximate US$3,200,000 based on certain assumptions. The actual bonus payments could be
significantly less or more.
The agreement s entered into with Senior Management also clarify payments to be made upon
termination of employment in certain circumstances including retirement and/or after a change of control .
In the event of separation of employment by the Company (other than “for cause” ), the Company, at the
election of the individual, has the ability to enter into a three-year Consulting Agreement to have continued
access to the knowledge and expertise of such individual and allow for an orderly succession process.
The Company has amended and restated the Option Plan to fix the number of Class A Common
Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of options granted thereunder to 9,939,500 shares.
Consistent with historical practice, such fixed number represents less than 10% of the currently issued and
outstanding Class A Common Shares including the 4,679,565 currently outstanding options. All other terms
of the plan remain the same. Approval of this amendment is being sought from the TSX Venture Exchange
(the “TSXV”) and does not require the approval of shareholders.
2
For many years the C ompany and eligible employees have made cash contributions to a 401(k)
Plan for retirement savings. For the Company’s 2020 contribution the Board of Directors has recommended
and the Trustees of the 401(k) Plan have decided to use the contribution to acquire additional Class A
Common Shares for the accounts of the participating employees. In addition, Mr. Coleman, as a resident
of Canada, who does not participate in the 401(k) Plan but is entitled to an equivalent payment, will use his
payment to subscribe for additional Class A Common Shares. The number of additional Class A Common
Shares to be issued with respect to the 401(k) Plan and Mr. Coleman is de minimus. The Board of Directors
is expected to forma lly approve such private placements shortly. This private placement is subject to the
approval of the TSXV.
Further information regarding the Company can be located at www.goldreserveinc.com ,
www.sec.gov, and www.sedar.com.
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. 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 risks and uncertainties associated with U.S. and Canadian
Sanctions against Venezuela and/or its government officials, risks associated with the continued
failure by Venezuela to honor its commitments under the Settlement Agreement and/or the Award;
risks associated with the collection of the Award and substantial concentration of our operations
and assets in Venezuela and risks that any future Venezuelan administration will fail to respect
the agreements of the prior administration. In addition, with respect to the matters disclosed in
this news release there are also uncertainties and risks arising from : our ability to achieve
expected costs reductions or bonus objectives, retain our key executives and consultants as
employees or consultants or obtain relevant regulatory approvals, where required; and the share
price of the Class A Common Shares at various points in time and when and if certain events
affecting the Company’s business and affairs occur. 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
3
and Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020 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, 2020 which have been
filed on EDGAR and are available under the Company’s profile at www.sec.gov/edgar.
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.