U.S. Gold Corp.: Form 10-K for the period ended Apr 30, 2017

Overview

Since 1967, Dataram Corporation (“Dataram” or the “Company”) has been an independent manufacturer of memory products and provider of performance solutions. The Company provides customized memory solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and compatible memory for leading brands including Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo and Oracle as well as a line of memory products for Intel and AMD motherboard based servers. Dataram manufactures its memory in-house to meet three key criteria - quality, compatibility, and selection - and tests its memory for performance and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) compatibility as part of the production process. With memory designed for over 50,000 systems and with products that range from energy-efficient DDR4 modules to legacy SDR offerings, Dataram offers one of the most complete portfolios in the industry. The Company is a CMTL Premier Participant and ISO 9001 (2008 Certified). Its products are fully compliant with JEDEC Specifications.

Dataram’s customers include an international network of distributors, resellers, retailers, OEM customers and end users.

Dataram competes with several other large independent memory manufacturers and the OEMs noted above. The primary raw material used in producing memory boards is dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. The purchase cost of DRAMs is the largest single component of the total cost of a finished memory board. Consequently, average selling prices for computer memory boards are significantly dependent on the pricing and availability of DRAM chips.

In addition to memory products, Dataram offers solutions that provide its customers significant and quantifiable cost savings (reduction in total cost of ownership) while helping them manage end-of-life transitions. These include:

• Design and engineering services
• Contract and flexible manufacturing to accommodate special customer needs
• Simulation labs for testing and validation

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• Financial programs and trade-in / trade-up programs to allow customers to optimize memory procurements
• Software tools to assess memory needs and optimize memory deployment and application performance

Dataram operates through two business lines which provide complementary solutions to the market. Each has a different customer focus and “go to market” approach. They are:

• Enterprise Memory Solutions (formerly Princeton Memory)
• Web Solutions (formerly Micro Memory Bank (MMB))

The Enterprise Memory Solutions business provides innovative new memory products that support enterprise / mission critical needs; custom and high-end memory solutions for the most demanding customers ranging from enterprise and data center segments to power users; provides solutions to extend the density memory options available to customers. The business also provides:

• Memory Solutions Services:
• Performance optimization, total cost of computing reduction consulting
• Engineering and design services for embedded applications
• Customized consignment programs
• Product on-demand offerings
• Installation services
• Software: products that improve application and computing performance
• Trade-in / Buy-back Program: provides customers with opportunity to “trade-in” existing memory as part of a sale with trade-in credited towards purchase of new memory. Memory traded-in is inspected, tested, certified, refurbished as needed, and then sold.
• Legacy Memory Solutions: provides new and refurbished memory products which are not commonly available. These solutions extend the life of the system where memory is no longer available by the OEM, helping companies avoid the cost of additional hardware expenditures.
• Storage Solutions: the storage product line provides primarily SSDs (solid state drives) for enterprise and data center environments.
• ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) / Technology Recycling: ITAD services provide end of life recycling services to customers across all IT hardware categories including laptops, desktops, workstations, servers, main frames, hubs and switches.

The Web Solutions business (formerly Micro Memory Bank (MMB)) business procures and sells new and refurbished memory for laptops, desktops and servers through its online / e-commerce / web operations. It includes the 18004Memory.com and Memorystore.com businesses. The Web Solutions business maintains a particular niche in legacy memory products where memory is no longer available by the OEM. It is one of the few businesses in the industry that can source and supply most memory upgrades ever manufactured to include technologies such as FPM, EDO, SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and DDR4 products for Notebooks, PCs and Servers. The business also sells memory products for a wide range of consumer oriented devices including significant business in Apple-Mac memory. The business also, on a limited basis, provides brokerage services whereby it makes opportunistic purchases of excess surplus inventories for less than market price and upon acquisition, tests, certifies and sometimes refurbishes the product, prior to sale.

Dataram History

The Company is incorporated in the State of Nevada and was originally incorporated in the State of New Jersey in 1967. The Company’s common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "USAU"

On June 13, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended and restated on July 29, 2016, and further amended and restated on September 14, 2016 and November 28, 2016 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), with Dataram Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“DAS”), U.S. Gold Corp., a Nevada corporation (“USG”) and Copper King LLC, the principal shareholder of USG (“Copper King”).

On July 6, 2016, the Company filed a certificate of amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in order to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock on a 1 for 3 basis. The reverse stock split was effective on July 11, 2016. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the reverse stock-split.

On May 3, 2017, the Company filed a certificate of amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in order to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock on a 1 for 4 basis. The reverse stock split was effective on May 5, 2017. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the reverse stock-split.

On May 23, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company closed the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”) and filed Articles of Merger with the State of Nevada, pursuant to which USG was merged with and into DAS, with USG surviving the merger as the surviving corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company .

The Company's principal executive office is located at 777 Alexander Road, Suite 100, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, its telephone number is (609) 799-0071, its fax is (609) 799-6734, and its website is located at http://www.dataram.com.

Available Information

The Company files annual, quarterly, and current reports, as well as proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available to the public free of charge over the Internet at our website at http://www.dataram.com where our corporate governance materials, committee charters and code of conduct are also available. In addition, materials we file with the SEC are available on the SEC’s website as www.SEC.GOV (http://www.SEC.GOV) free of charge.

Industry Background

The market for the Company’s memory products is principally the buyers and owners of workstations, servers and the OEMs that manufacture workstations, servers and other products that use embedded computers. These systems have been important to the growth of the Internet.

The OEM market is also an important part of the Company’s business. We believe that increasingly cost conscious OEMs are looking to independent memory suppliers such as the Company for the low-cost supply of memory modules.

A workstation, like a PC, is designed to provide computer resources to individual users. A workstation differs from a PC by providing substantially greater computational performance, input/output capability and graphic display. Workstations are nearly always networked. As a result of this networking capability of both workstations and PCs, we believe the value of the network server has increased.

Network servers are computer systems on a network which provide dedicated functions accessible by all workstations and other systems on the same network. Examples of different types of servers in use today include file servers, communication servers, computation servers, database servers, print servers and storage servers.

The Company provides customized memory solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and compatible memory for leading brands including Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo and Oracle as well as a line of memory products for Intel and AMD motherboard based servers.

The “open system” philosophy espoused by most of the general computer industry has played a part in enlarging the market for third party vendors. Under the “open system” philosophy, manufacturers adhere to industry design standards, enabling users to “mix and match” hardware and software products from a variety of vendors so that a system can be configured for the user’s application in the most economical manner with reduced concern for compatibility and support. Memory products for workstations and servers have become commodities with substantial competition from OEMs and a number of independent memory manufacturer suppliers.

Products

The Company’s principal business is the development, manufacture and marketing of memory modules which can be installed initially or, added to various enterprise servers and workstations to upgrade or expand the capabilities of such systems. When vendors produce computer systems adhering to open system industry standards, the development effort for the Company and other independent memory manufacturers is straightforward and allows for the use of many standard components.

Our RAMDisk software product creates a virtual RAM drive, or block of memory, which a computer treats as if it were a disk drive. By storing files and programs into memory, a user can speed up internet load times, disk-to-disk activities, accelerate databases and reduce compile times. The product features a save and load option that allows RAMDisk to appear as persistent storage, even through reboots. RAMDisk has developed a strong presence in both the consumer and commercial marketplace. RAMDisk software has also been licensed and integrated into specialized commercial products. RAMDisk is also capable of extending the longevity of expensive solid state storage devices by housing writes which tend to wear out these devices.

DRAM Prices

The memory product business is heavily dependent upon the price of DRAMs. Producers of DRAM are required to invest substantial capital resources to produce their end product. Their marginal cost is low as a percentage of the total cost of the product. As a result, the world-wide market for DRAMs has swung in the past from period to period from oversupply to shortage. During periods of substantial oversupply, the Company has seen falling prices for DRAMs and wide availability of DRAMs allowing the Company to maintain minimum inventories to meet the needs of customers. During periods of shortages, DRAMs are allocated to customers and the Company must invest heavily in inventory in order to continue to be assured of the supply of DRAMs from vendors. At the present time, the market for DRAMs is soft, but with spot shortages of certain DRAM configurations.

Distribution

The Company sells its memory products to OEMs, distributors, value-added resellers and larger end-users. The Company also sells its memory products through various internet channels. The Company has sales and/or marketing support offices in the USA and Europe.

Product Warranty and Service

Management believes that Dataram’s reputation for providing reliable memory products and confidence of prospective purchasers in Dataram’s ability to provide service over the life of the product, are important factors in making sales. The Company offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty program for its memory products. The economic useful life of the computer systems to which the Company's memory modules are attached is almost always substantially less than the physical useful life of the Company's memory products; therefore, Dataram’s memory products are unlikely to "wear out." The Company's experience is that less than 0.5% of all the products it sells are returned under the Lifetime Warranty.

Memory Product Complexity

DRAM memory products for workstations and enterprise servers have, for many years, been undergoing a process of simplification with a corresponding decline in profit margins for current generation memory products as competitors’ entry into the market becomes easier. Memory products for prior generations of workstations and servers are sold with higher margins as few competitors continue to supply memory for those computers.

Engineering

The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends upon its ability to identify new memory needs of its customers. To achieve this goal, the Company’s engineering group continually monitors computer system new product developments, and the Company evaluates and tests major components as they become available. The Company designs prototype memory modules and subjects them to reliability testing procedures. The Company incurred engineering costs of $185,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 and $191,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016.

Raw Materials

The Company purchases industry standard DRAMs. The Company also purchases finished modules from DRAM manufacturers. In either case, the cost of DRAM chips is the largest single component of the total cost of our memory products. Fluctuations in the availability or prices of DRAMs can have a significant impact on the Company’s profit.

The Company has created close relationships with a number of primary suppliers while qualifying and developing alternate sources as backups. The qualification program consists of extensive evaluation of process capabilities, on-time delivery performance and the financial stability of each supplier. Alternative sources are used to assure supply in the event of a problem with the primary source or to handle surges in demand.

Manufacturing

The Company assembles its memory boards at its manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.

Backlog

The Company expects that all of the backlog on hand will be in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018. The Company's backlog at April 30, 2017 was $399,000 and at April 30, 2016 was $274,000. Product backlog at any point in time may not translate into net revenue in any subsequent period, as unfilled orders can generally be canceled at any time by the customer.

Competition

The intensely competitive computer industry is characterized by rapid technological change and constant pricing pressures. These characteristics are equally applicable to the third party memory market, where pricing is a major consideration in the buying decision. The Company competes with HP, Sun Microsystems, IBM, and Dell, as well as with a number of third party memory suppliers, including Kingston Technology.

Although many of the Company’s competitors possess significantly greater financial, marketing and technological resources, the Company competes favorably based on the buying criteria of price/performance, time-to-market, product quality, reliability, service/support, breadth of product line and compatibility with computer system vendors’ technology. The Company’s objective is to continue to remain strong in all of these areas with particular focus on price/performance and time-to-market, which management believes are two of the more important criteria in the selection of third party memory product suppliers. Market research and analysis capability by the Company is necessary to ensure timely information on new products and technologies coming from the computer system vendors and from the overall memory market. The Company must continue low cost, high volume production while remaining flexible to satisfy the time-to-market requirement.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

The Company believes that its success depends primarily upon the price and performance of its products rather than on ownership of copyrights or patents.

Sale of memory products for systems that use proprietary memory design may from time to time give rise to claims of copyright or patent infringement. In most such instances the Company has products that either do not violate such patents or copyrights or obtained a license.

Because of rapid technological development in the computer industry with concurrent extensive patent coverage and the rapid rate of issuance of new patents, questions of infringement may continue to arise in the future. If such patents or copyrights are issued in the future, the Company believes, based upon industry practice, that any necessary licenses would be obtainable upon the payment of reasonable royalties.

Employees

As of April 30, 2017, the Company had 15 full-time salaried employees and 10 hourly employees. The Company believes it has satisfactory relationships with its employees. None of the Company’s employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Environmental

Compliance with federal, state and local provisions which have been enacted or adopted to regulate the protection of the environment does not have a material effect upon the capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position of the Company. The Company did not make any material expenditures for environmental control facilities in the current fiscal year, nor does the Company expect to make material expenditure in the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018.

Financial information about geographic area sales

For the last two fiscal years the Company has had sales in the following geographic areas:

REVENUES (000’s) & PERCENTAGES (%)

Export

*Principally Asia Pacific Region

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Reverse Stock Split

On May 3, 2017, Dataram Corporation filed a certificate of amendment to its Articles of Incorporation, as amended, with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in order to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock on a one for four basis. The reverse stock split became effective with NASDAQ at the open of business on May 8, 2017. The par value and other terms of the Company’s common stock were not affected by the reverse stock split. As a result of the reverse stock split, every four shares of the Company’s pre-reverse stock split common stock were combined and reclassified into one share of the Company’s common stock. No fractional shares of common stock were issued as a result of the reverse stock split. All common stock and per share amounts have been retroactively restated herein to give effect to the reverse stock split.

Completion of Merger Agreement

On June 13, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended and restated on July 29, 2016, and further amended and restated on September 14, 2016 and November 28, 2016 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), with Dataram Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“DAS”), U.S. Gold Corp., a Nevada corporation (“USG”) and Copper King LLC, the principal shareholder of USG (“Copper King”).

On May 23, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company closed the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”) and filed Articles of Merger with the State of Nevada, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1, pursuant to which USG was merged with and into DAS, with USG surviving the merger as the surviving corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”).

Changes to Business

Following the Closing of the Merger, the Company operates as a single entity with two reporting businesses – a junior mining business and a memory business.

USG

Through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, USG, the Company owns certain mining leases and other mineral rights and will engage in gold exploration.

On June 9, 2017, U.S. Gold Corp. filed a certificate of amendment to its articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State of Nevada in order to change its name to “Gold King Corp”.

Dataram Memory

Through the Company’s new, wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary, Dataram Memory, the Company will continue its legacy business, consisting of, among other things, manufacture, distribution, design, development and sale of memory modules, software products, and technical services (the “Legacy Business”).

While each of these businesses will be operated and managed independent of one another, they will share common resources and functions to include, but not limited to, human resources, legal, facilities, back office operations and administrative support. The sharing of common functions and resources will be of mutual operational and financial benefit.

Distribution of Net Proceeds of Legacy Business

While the Company has no current plans to divest assets of the Legacy Business, if such assets are divested within 18 months of the Closing Date, shareholders of record as of the close on business on May 8, 2017 may be entitled to a distribution, if any, of an interest in the Company’s assets related to its Legacy Business. The Company’s Board of Directors intends to create an irrevocable liquidating trust pursuant to which Dataram Memory will, immediately prior to the divestiture of the assets related to the Legacy Business, place such assets or proceeds there from into such trust to be held for the benefit of the shareholders of record as of May 8, 2017. Shareholders as of the record date will receive a non-transferable beneficial interest in proportion to such shareholder’s pro rata ownership interest in the Company’s Common Stock as of the close of business on the record date, after giving effect to the authorized 1-for-4 reverse split of the Company’s Common Stock which became effective at the market open on May 8, 2017; provided, however, there can be no assurance that the Company will enter into any transaction, that any net proceeds will become available, or that the trust will be created.

Accounting Treatment

The Merger is being accounted for as a “reverse merger,” and USG is deemed to be the acquirer in the reverse merger. Consequently, the assets and liabilities and the historical operations that will be reflected in the financial statements prior to the Merger will be those of USG, and the consolidated financial statements after completion of the Merger will include the assets and liabilities of USG, historical operations of USG and operations of the Company from the Closing Date of the Merger.

New Business Risks Factors for U.S. Gold Corp.

USG is likely to need additional financing, but its access to capital funding is uncertain.

USG will be required to seek additional funding in order to continue our operations. We cannot predict with any certainty when we will need additional funds or how much we will need or if additional funds will be available to us. Our need for future funding will depend on numerous factors, many of which are outside our control.

USG’s access to capital funding is uncertain. We do not have committed external sources of funding, and we may not be able to obtain additional funds on acceptable terms, or at all. During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, we implemented cost-containment initiatives through the restructuring of our workforce and we could implement other cost-containment initiatives in the future. Such cost-containment initiatives could result in a temporary lack of focus and reduced productivity amongst our work force which could adversely impact our prospects for product sales and profitability. We might also need to sell or license our technologies on terms that are not favorable to us, which could also adversely affect our prospects for profitability. Our inability to raise additional capital on terms reasonably acceptable to us would seriously jeopardize the future success of our business.

If USG raises funds by issuing and selling securities, it may be on terms that are not favorable to our existing stockholders. If we raise additional funds by selling equity securities, our current stockholders will be diluted, and new investors could have rights superior to our existing stockholders. If we raise funds by selling debt securities, we could be subject to restrictive covenants and significant repayment obligations.

Exploring for gold is an inherently speculative business.

Natural resource exploration and exploring for gold in particular is a business that by its nature is very speculative. There is a strong possibility that the USG will not discover gold or any other resources which can be mined or extracted at a profit. Although the Copper King Project has known gold deposits, the deposits may not be of the quality or size necessary for it to make a profit from actually mining it. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Unusual or unexpected geological formations, geological formation pressures, fires, power outages, labor disruptions, flooding, explosions, cave-ins, landslides and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labor are just some of the many risks involved in mineral exploration programs and the subsequent development of gold deposits.

USG will need to obtain additional financing to fund its Copper King and Keystone exploration programs.

The USG does not have sufficient capital to fund its exploration programs for the Copper King Project or the Keystone Project as they are currently planned or to fund the acquisition and exploration of new properties. USG will require additional funding to continue its planned exploration programs. Its management estimates that USG will require up to $500,000 in order to fund the first year of planned exploration and development of the Keystone Project, with up to $2,000,000 required in order to fund plans for the second year. In addition, USG will require up to $500,000 per year for maintenance and development of the Copper King Project. Its inability to raise additional funds on a timely basis could prevent USG from achieving its business objectives and could have a negative impact on its business, financial condition, results of operations and the value of its securities.

USG does not know if its properties contain any gold or other minerals that can be mined at a profit.

Although the properties on which USG has the right to explore for gold are known to have deposits of gold, there can be no assurance such deposits which can be mined at a profit. Whether a gold deposit can be mined at a profit depends upon many factors. Some but not all of these factors include: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; operating costs and capital expenditures required to start mining a deposit; the availability and cost of financing; the price of gold, which is highly volatile and cyclical; and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection.

USG is a junior gold exploration company with no mining operations and it may never have any mining operations in the future.

USG’s business is exploring for gold and other minerals. In the event that USG discovers commercially exploitable gold or other deposits, it will not be able to make any money from them unless the gold or other minerals are actually mined or all or a part of its interest is sold. Accordingly, USG will need to find some other entity to mine its properties on its behalf, mine them itself or sell the rights to mine to third parties.

USG’s business is subject to extensive environmental regulations which may make exploring for or mining prohibitively expensive, and which may change at any time.

All of USG’s operations are subject to extensive environmental regulations which can make exploration expensive or prohibit it altogether. USG may be subject to potential liabilities associated with the pollution of the environment and the disposal of waste products that may occur as the result of exploring and other related activities on its properties. USG may have to pay to remedy environmental pollution, which may reduce the amount of money that USG has available to use for exploration. This may adversely affect its financial position. If USG is unable to fully remedy an environmental problem, it might be required to suspend operations or to enter into interim compliance measures pending the completion of the required remedy. If a decision is made to mine its properties and it retains any operational responsibility for doing so, its potential exposure for remediation may be significant, and this may have a material adverse effect upon its business and financial position. USG has not purchased insurance for potential environmental risks (including potential liability for pollution or other hazards associated with the disposal of waste products from its exploration activities). However, if USG mines one or more of its properties and retains operational responsibility for mining, then such insurance may not be available to it on reasonable terms or at a reasonable price. All of its exploration and, if warranted, development activities may be subject to regulation under one or more local, state and federal environmental impact analyses and public review processes. It is possible that future changes in applicable laws, regulations and permits or changes in their enforcement or regulatory interpretation could have significant impact on some portion of USG’s business, which may require its business to be economically re-evaluated from time to time. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk that regulatory authorities may increase bonding requirements beyond its financial capability. Inasmuch as posting of bonding in accordance with regulatory determinations is a condition to the right to operate under all material operating permits, increases in bonding requirements could prevent operations even if USG is in full compliance with all substantive environmental laws.

USG may be denied the government licenses and permits which it needs to explore on its properties. In the event that USG discovers commercially exploitable deposits, USG may be denied the additional government licenses and permits which it will need to mine its properties.

Exploration activities usually require the granting of permits from various governmental agencies. For example, exploration drilling on unpatented mineral claims requires a permit to be obtained from the United States BLM, which may take several months or longer to grant the requested permit. Depending on the size, location and scope of the exploration program, additional permits may also be required before exploration activities can be undertaken. Prehistoric or Indian grave yards, threatened or endangered species, archeological sites or the possibility thereof, difficult access, excessive dust and important nearby water resources may all result in the need for additional permits before exploration activities can commence. As with all permitting processes, there is the risk that unexpected delays and excessive costs may be experienced in obtaining required permits. The needed permits may not be granted at all. Delays in or USG’s inability to obtain necessary permits will result in unanticipated costs, which may result in serious adverse effects upon its business.

The values of USG’s properties are subject to volatility in the price of gold and any other deposits USG may seek or locate.

USG’s ability to obtain additional and continuing funding, and its profitability in the unlikely event it ever commences mining operations or sells the rights to mine, will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of gold. Gold prices fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors, all of which are beyond USG’s control. Some of these factors include the sale or purchase of gold by central banks and financial institutions; interest rates; currency exchange rates; inflation or deflation; fluctuation in the value of the United States dollar and other currencies; speculation; global and regional supply and demand, including investment, industrial and jewelry demand; and the political and economic conditions of major gold or other mineral producing countries throughout the world, such as Russia and South Africa. The price of gold or other minerals have fluctuated widely in recent years, and a decline in the price of gold could cause a significant decrease in the value of USG’s properties, limit USG’s ability to raise money, and render continued exploration and development of its properties impracticable. If that happens, then USG could lose its rights to its properties and be compelled to sell some or all of these rights. Additionally, the future development of its properties beyond the exploration stage is heavily dependent upon the level of gold prices remaining sufficiently high to make the development of USG’s properties economically viable. You may lose your investment if the price of gold decreases. The greater the decrease in the price of gold, the more likely it is that you will lose money.

USG’s property titles may be challenged and it is not insured against any challenges, impairments or defects to its mineral claims or property titles. USG has not fully verified title to its properties.

USG’s unpatented Keystone claims were created and maintained in accordance with the federal General Mining Law of 1872. Unpatented claims are unique U.S. property interests and are generally considered to be subject to greater title risk than other real property interests because the validity of unpatented claims is often uncertain. This uncertainty arises, in part, out of the complex federal and state laws and regulations under the General Mining Law. USG has obtained a title report on its Keystone claims, but cannot be certain that all defects or conflicts with its title to those claims have been identified. Further, USG has not obtained title insurance regarding its purchase and ownership of the Keystone claims. Defending any challenges to its property titles may be costly, and may divert funds that could otherwise be used for exploration activities and other purposes. In addition, unpatented claims are always subject to possible challenges by third parties or contests by the federal government, which, if successful, may prevent us from exploiting its discovery of commercially extractable gold. Challenges to its title may increase its costs of operation or limit its ability to explore on certain portions of its properties. USG is not insured against challenges, impairments or defects to its property titles, nor does USG intend to carry extensive title insurance in the future.

Possible amendments to the General Mining Law could make it more difficult or impossible for USG to execute its business plan.

U.S. Congress has considered proposals to amend the General Mining Law of 1872 that would have, among other things, permanently banned the sale of public land for mining. The proposed amendment would have expanded the environmental regulations to which USG is subject and would have given Indian tribes the ability to hinder or prohibit mining operations near tribal lands. The proposed amendment would also have imposed a royalty of 8% of gross revenue on new mining operations located on federal public land, which would have applied to substantial portions of its properties. The proposed amendment would have made it more expensive or perhaps too expensive to recover any otherwise commercially exploitable gold deposits which USG may find on its properties. While at this time the proposed amendment is no longer pending, this or similar changes to the law in the future could have a significant impact on USG’s business model.

Market forces or unforeseen developments may prevent USG from obtaining the supplies and equipment necessary to explore for gold and other resources.

Gold exploration, and resource exploration in general, has demands for contractors and unforeseen shortages of supplies and/or equipment could result in the disruption of USG’s planned exploration activities. Current demand for exploration drilling services, equipment and supplies is robust and could result in suitable equipment and skilled manpower being unavailable at scheduled times for its exploration program. Fuel prices are extremely volatile as well. USG will attempt to locate suitable equipment, materials, manpower and fuel if sufficient funds are available. If USG cannot find the equipment and supplies needed for its various exploration programs, it may have to suspend some or all of them until equipment, supplies, funds and/or skilled manpower become available. Any such disruption in its activities may adversely affect its exploration activities and financial condition.

USG may not be able to maintain the infrastructure necessary to conduct exploration activities.

USG’s exploration activities depend upon adequate infrastructure. Reliable roads, bridges, power sources and water supply are important factors which affect capital and operating costs. Unusual or infrequent weather phenomena, sabotage, government or other interference in the maintenance or provision of such infrastructure could adversely affect USG’s exploration activities and financial condition.

The Company is a party to a number of litigations that could cause the Company to incur substantial costs to pay substantial damages.

The Company is presently a party to two lawsuits. On April 9, 2015, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, John Freeman, filed a lawsuit, John Freeman v. Dataram Corporation, David A. Moylan, Jon Isaac, and John Does 1-5, in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, Essex County, Docket No. ESX-L-002471-15. On April 10, 2015, the Company filed an action against Mr. Freeman, styled as Dataram Corporation v. John Freeman, et al., in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, Mercer County, Docket No. ESX-L-000886-15. These actions have been consolidated in Essex County. A range of loss, if any, cannot be estimated at this point in time.

Risks Related To Dataram Memory’s Business (“Dataram”)

Dataram’s operating results, financial condition, and prospects are subject to a variety of significant risks, many of which are beyond our control. The following is a description of some of the important risk factors particular to our business and industry that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ substantially from those we currently expect or seek. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. There are additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be unlikely or immaterial that also may materially adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition, or prospects.

Dataram has incurred net losses in recent years and its future profitability is not assured.

For the fiscal years ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, we incurred net losses of approximately $1,915,000 and $1,221,000, respectively. Our operating results for future periods are subject to numerous uncertainties and we cannot assure you that we will not continue to experience net losses for the foreseeable future. If we are not able to increase revenue and reduce our costs, we may not be able to achieve profitability.

Dataram may have to substantially increase its working capital requirements in the event of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip allocations.

Over the past 20 years, availability of DRAMs has swung back and forth from oversupply to shortage. In times of shortage, Dataram has been forced to invest substantial working capital resources in building and maintaining inventory. At such times Dataram has bought DRAMs in excess of its customers’ needs in order to ensure future allocations from DRAM manufacturers. In the event of a shortage, Dataram may not be able to obtain sufficient DRAMs to meet customers’ needs in the short term, and Dataram may have to invest substantial working capital resources in order to meet long-term customer needs.

Dataram could suffer additional losses if DRAM prices continue to decline.

Dataram is at times required to maintain substantial inventories during periods of shortage and allocation. Thereafter, during periods of increasing availability of DRAMs and rapidly declining prices, Dataram has been forced to write down inventory. There can be no assurance that Dataram will not suffer losses in the future based upon high inventories and declining DRAM prices.

Dataram’s sales, revenues and results of operations could fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

Dataram’s revenues and ultimate results of operation may vary for a variety of reasons. Such reasons could include, for example, changes in general economic conditions or consumer demand, the introduction of new products by Dataram or by its competitors, a significant purchase or sale of assets or other business combination or an unanticipated event affecting Dataram or its industry, among other factors. Such variability in operating results may affect credit terms offered to Dataram, makes prediction of revenues for each financial period difficult and increases the risk of unanticipated variations in quarterly results and financial condition.

In order to compete and succeed, Dataram needs to introduce, and continue to provide, products that provide value for customers.

Dataram’s future success is dependent on the development of new markets wherever possible, and new applications and new products which customers believe will add value, as well as the continued demand for Dataram’s products among its existing customers. Dataram’s ability to develop, qualify and distribute new products and related technologies to meet evolving industry requirements, at prices acceptable to its customers and on a timely basis are significant factors in determining its competitiveness in its target markets. There can be no assurance that Dataram will be able to exploit new markets or continue to develop products that achieve wide customer acceptance in the marketplace, or that demand for existing products will continue.

Dataram’s business is subject to the risks of international procurement which could have an adverse effect on Dataram’s financial results.

A significant portion of Dataram’s raw materials and finished goods are purchased from foreign manufacturers. As a result, Dataram’s international procurement operations are subject to the risks associated with such activities including, economic and labor conditions, international trade regulations (including tariffs and anti-dumping penalties), war, international terrorism, civil disobedience, natural disasters, political instability, governmental activities and deprivation of contract and property rights. In addition, periods of international unrest may impede Dataram’s ability to procure goods from other countries and could have a material adverse effect on Dataram’s business and results of operations. An interruption in supply and resulting higher costs, could have an adverse effect on Dataram’s financial results.

Dataram may not successfully implement its strategic plans.

Dataram has historically planned to expand its sales of memory products, to develop new business opportunities based on its existing expertise and software, to continue to seek and evaluate possible strategic alliances to enhance its sales, and to develop and monetize additional intellectual property. These plans, however, are subject to modification or replacement by management if it decides that economic, industry, technological, regulatory or other factors warrant a change. In addition, there can be no assurance that Dataram will successfully implement all such plans or that circumstance in the marketplace and the economy will allow the implementation of such plans.

If Dataram fails to achieve and maintain favorable pricing and credit terms from Dataram’s vendors, its business would be harmed and its operating results would be adversely affected.

Dataram’s costs are affected by its ability to achieve favorable pricing and credit terms from its vendors and contract manufacturers, including through negotiations for vendor rebates and other vendor funding received in the normal course of business. Because these supplier negotiations are continuous and reflect the ongoing competitive environment, the variability in terms can negatively affect its costs and operating results if it cannot sufficiently adjust pricing or cost variables.

In order to compete, Dataram must attract, retain, and motivate key employees, and its failure to do so could harm Dataram’s results of operations.

In order to compete, Dataram must attract, retain, and motivate executives and other key employees. Hiring and retaining qualified executives, engineers, technical staff, and sales representatives are critical to its business, and competition for experienced employees in its industry can be intense. Dataram also does not have an equity compensation plan applicable to executive officers. If Dataram continues to suffer losses or does not implement an equity compensation plan for executive officers, its ability to attract, retain, and motivate executives and employees could be weakened, which could harm its results of operations.

Dataram may lose an important customer.

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, Dataram had two customers with sales over 10% of Dataram’s revenues. One customer that accounted for approximately 29% and another customer that accounted for approximately 11% of Dataram’s revenues. There can be no assurance these customers will not cease or materially decrease their business with Dataram in the future and that Dataram’s financial performance will not be adversely affected thereby.

Sales directly to OEM’s and contract manufacturers can make Dataram’s revenues, earnings, backlog and inventory levels uneven.

Revenue and earnings from OEM sales may become uneven as order sizes are typically large and often a completed order cannot be shipped until released by the OEM, e.g., to meet a “just in time” inventory requirement. This may occur at or near the end of an accounting period. In such case, revenues and earnings could decline for the period and inventory and backlog could increase.

Dataram faces competition from OEM’s.

In the compatibles market Dataram sells its products at a lower price than OEMs. Customers will often pay some premium for the “name brand” product when buying additional memory and OEMs seek to exploit this tendency by having a high profit margin on memory products. However, individual OEMs can change their policy and price memory products competitively. While Dataram believes that with its manufacturing efficiency and low overhead it still would be able to compete favorably with OEMs, in such an event profit margins and earnings would be adversely affected. Also, OEMs could choose to use “free memory” as a promotional device in which case Dataram’s ability to compete would be severely impaired.

Dataram faces competition from DRAM manufacturers.

DRAM manufacturers not only sell their product as discrete devices, but also as finished memory modules. They primarily sell these modules directly to OEMs and large distributors and as such compete with Dataram. There can be no assurance that DRAM manufacturers will not expand their market and customer base, and Dataram’s profit margins and earnings could be adversely affected.

A portion of Dataram’s operations is designed to meet the needs of the very competitive Intel and AMD processor-based motherboard market.

In addition to selling server memory systems, Dataram develops, manufactures and markets a variety of memory products for motherboards that are Intel or AMD processor based. Many of these products are sold to OEMs and incorporated into computers and other equipment. This is an intensely competitive market with high volumes but lower margins.

Delays in product development schedules may adversely affect Dataram’s revenues.

The development of software products is a complex and time-consuming process. New products and enhancements to existing products can require long development and testing periods. Dataram’s increasing focus on software plus services also presents new and complex development issues. Significant delays in new product or service releases or significant problems in creating new products or services could adversely affect Dataram’s revenue.

The market for Dataram’s products may narrow over time.

The principal market for Dataram’s memory products consists of the manufacturers, buyers and owners of workstations and enterprise servers, classes of machines lying between large mainframe computers and personal computers. Personal computers and mobile devices are increasing in their power and sophistication and, as a result, are now filling some of the computational needs traditionally filled by workstations. The competition for the supply of after-market memory products in the PC industry is very competitive and to the extent Dataram competes in this market it can be expected to have lower profit margins. There can be no assurance that this trend will not continue in the future, and that Dataram’s financial performance will not be adversely affected.

Any claim that Dataram’s products are defective could harm Dataram’s business.

Dataram undertake to produce consistently high-quality products, free of defects and errors. Nevertheless, it is possible that Dataram’s products may contain errors or defects. Dataram’s products are complex and must meet stringent user requirements, and Dataram has consistently provided a lifetime warranty for its products. Any customer claims of errors or defects could result in increased expenditures for product testing, or increase Dataram’s service costs and potentially lead to increased warranty claims. Errors or defects in Dataram’s products may be caused by, among other things, errors or defects in the memory or controller components, including components Dataram procures from third parties. These factors could result in the rejection of Dataram’s products, product recalls, and damage to Dataram’s reputation, lost revenues, diverted development resources, increased customer service and support costs, warranty claims and litigation. Dataram records an allowance for warranty and similar costs in connection with sales of Dataram’s products, but actual warranty and similar costs may be significantly higher than Dataram’s recorded estimate and harm Dataram’s operating results and financial condition.

Moreover, despite testing prior to its release, Dataram’s software products may contain errors, especially when first introduced or when new versions are released. The detection and correction of any errors can be time consuming and costly. Errors in Dataram’s software products could affect the ability of its products to work with other software or hardware products, could delay the development or release of new products or new versions of products and could adversely affect market acceptance of Dataram’s products. If Dataram experiences errors or delays in releasing its new software or new versions of its software products, it could lose revenues. End users, who rely on the software products and services for applications that are critical to their businesses, may have a greater sensitivity to product errors than customers for software products generally. Errors in the software products or services could expose Dataram to product liability, performance and/or warranty claims as well as harm Dataram’s reputation, which could impact Dataram’s future sales of products and services.

Dataram may be adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations.

A portion of Dataram’s accounts receivable and a portion of Dataram’s expenses are denominated in foreign currencies. These proportions change over time. As a result, Dataram’s revenues and expenses may be adversely affected, from time to time, by changes in the relationship of the dollar to various foreign currencies on foreign exchange markets. Currently, Dataram does not hedge its foreign currency risks, but could do so in the future.

Government regulations may have a negative effect on Dataram’s business.

Government regulators, or Dataram’s customers, may in the future require Dataram to comply with product or manufacturing standards that are more restrictive than current laws and regulations related to environmental matters, conflict minerals or other social responsibility initiatives. The implementation of these standards could affect the sourcing, cost and availability of materials used in the manufacture of Dataram’s products. For example, there may be only a limited number of suppliers offering “conflict free” metals used in Dataram’s products, and there can be no assurance that Dataram will be able to obtain such metals in sufficient quantities or at competitive prices. Also, Dataram may face challenges with regulators and customers and suppliers if it is unable to sufficiently verify that the metals used in its products are conflict free. Non-compliance with these standards could cause Dataram to lose sales to these customers and compliance with these standards could increase its costs, which may harm operating results.

Dataram may suffer a breach of Dataram’s computer security measures, which could harm its business.

If Dataram’s security measures are breached and unauthorized access is obtained to its information technology systems, Dataram may lose proprietary data or suffer damage to its business. Dataram’s security measures may be breached as a result of third-party action, including computer hackers, employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, and result in unauthorized access to customers’ data or its data, including intellectual property and other confidential business information, or information technology systems. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, or to sabotage systems, change frequently, Dataram may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. Dataram believes it has obtained adequate available insurance to address the business which can be insured against with respect to its business. However, any security breach could result in disclosure of its trade secrets or confidential customer, supplier or employee data, or harm its ability to carry on its business, all of which could result in legal liability, harm to its reputation and otherwise harm its business.

Risks Related to Dataram’s Intellectual Property Rights

Dataram may not be able to adequately protect Dataram’s intellectual property rights.

Dataram relies on copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, controls and contractual commitments to protect Dataram’s intellectual property rights. Despite Dataram’s efforts, these protections may be limited. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer portions of Dataram’s products or otherwise obtain and use Dataram’s intellectual property. Any patents owned by Dataram may be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. Any of Dataram’s pending or future patent applications, whether or not being currently challenged, may not be issued with the scope of the claims Dataram seeks, if at all. In addition, the laws of some countries do not provide the same level of protection of Dataram’s intellectual property rights as do the laws and courts of the United States. If Dataram cannot protect Dataram’s intellectual property rights against unauthorized copying or use, or other misappropriation, Dataram may not remain competitive.

Dataram’s products may violate third party intellectual property rights.

Certain of Dataram’s products are designed to be used with proprietary computer systems built by various OEM manufacturers. Dataram often has to comply with the OEM’s proprietary designs which may be patented, now or at some time in the future. OEMs have, at times, claimed that Dataram has violated their patent rights by adapting Dataram’s products to meet the requirements of their systems. It is Dataram’s policy to, in unclear cases, either obtain an opinion of patent counsel prior to marketing, or obtain a license from the patent holder. Dataram’s presently licensed by Sun Microsystems and Silicon Graphics to sell memory products for certain of their products. However, there can be no assurance that product designs will not be created in the future which will, in fact, be patented and which patent holders will require the payment of substantial royalties as a condition for Dataram’s continued presence in the segment of the market covered by the patent or they may not give Dataram a license. Nor can there be any assurance that Dataram’s existing products do not violate one or more existing patents.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

There are Significant Risk Factors in Owning Gold Mining Stocks.

On May 23, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of various mining leases and other mineral rights and will engage in the gold exploration business. As previously reported, the Company’s legacy business consisting of the manufacture, distribution, design, development and sale of memory modules, software products and technical services (the “Legacy Business”) have been in decline and undergone review for alternatives, which could involve the sale or suspension of such business and operations. In the event the Legacy Business is disposed of or closed, the Company will operate in a single segment, as a junior gold exploration company. There are significant risks to junior gold exploration stock including extreme volatility, influence of the market price of base metals and other resources, investor sentiment and general economic conditions. It is possible that investors do not respond favorably or adjust to the Company operating in a sole segment, as a mining and resource Company or the direction of management, all of which could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate or decline.

The market price for the Company’s common stock has experienced significant price and volume volatility and may continue to experience significant volatility in the future.

The Company’s stock has experienced significant price and volume volatility for the past several years, and is likely to experience significant volatility in the future, which could result in investors losing all or part of their investments. We believe that such fluctuations will continue as a result of many factors, including financing plans, future announcements concerning us, our competitors or our principal customers regarding financial results or expectations, technological innovations, industry supply and demand dynamics, new product introductions, governmental regulations, the commencement or results of litigation or changes in earnings estimates by analysts, as well as a result of numerous factors outside our control. Significant declines in our stock price may interfere with our ability to raise additional funds through equity financing or to finance strategic transactions with our stock. A significant adverse change in the market value of our common stock could also trigger an interim goodwill impairment test that may result in a non-cash impairment charge. In addition, we have historically used equity incentive compensation as part of our overall compensation arrangements. The effectiveness of equity incentive compensation in retaining key employees may be adversely impacted by volatility in our stock price.

The Company’s common stock may be affected by limited trading volume and price fluctuations which could adversely impact the value of our common stock.

Although our stock is publicly traded, there can be no assurance that an active trading market in our common stock will be maintained. Our common stock has experienced, and is likely to experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock without regard to our operating performance. In addition, we believe that factors such as quarterly fluctuations in our financial results and changes in the overall economy or the condition of the financial markets could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. These fluctuations may also cause short sellers to periodically enter the market in the belief that we will have poor results in the future. We cannot predict the actions of market participants and, therefore, can offer no assurances that the market for our common stock will be stable or appreciate over time.

The Company’s does not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

We have rarely declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. We anticipate that we will retain any future earnings to support operations and to finance the development of our business and do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, the success of an investment in our common stock will depend entirely upon any future appreciation in its value. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which stockholders have purchased their shares.

Investor Relations activities, nominal “float” and supply and demand factors may affect the price of our stock

We expect to utilize various techniques such as non-deal road shows and investor relations campaigns in order to create investor awareness for the Company. These campaigns may include personal, video and telephone conferences with investors and prospective investors in which our business practices are described. We may provide compensation to investor relations firms and pay for newsletters, websites, mailings and email campaigns that are produced by third-parties based upon publicly-available information concerning the Company. We will not be responsible for the content of analyst reports and other writings and communications by investor relations firms not authored by the Company or from publicly available information. We do not intend to review or approve the content of such analysts’ reports or other materials based upon analysts’ own research or methods. Investor relations firms should generally disclose when they are compensated for their efforts, but whether such disclosure is made or complete is not under our control. In addition, investors in the Company may be willing, from time to time, to encourage investor awareness through similar activities. Investor awareness activities may also be suspended or discontinued which may impact the trading market our common stock.

The SEC and FINRA enforce various statutes and regulations intended to prevent manipulative or deceptive devices in connection with the purchase or sale of any security and carefully scrutinize trading patterns and company news and other communications for false or misleading information, particularly in cases where the hallmarks of “pump and dump” activities may exist, such as rapid share price increases or decreases. We, and our shareholders may be subjected to enhanced regulatory scrutiny due to the small number of holders who initially will own the registered shares of our common stock publicly available for resale, and the limited trading markets in which such shares may be offered or sold which have often been associated with improper activities concerning penny-stocks, such as the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTCQB Marketplace (Pink OTC) or pink sheets. Until such time as the common stock sold in the Private Placement is registered and until such time as our restricted shares are registered or available for resale under Rule 144, there will continue to be a small percentage of shares held by a small number of investors, many of whom acquired such shares in privately negotiated purchase and sale transactions, that will constitute the entire available trading market. The Supreme Court has stated that manipulative action is a term of art connoting intentional or willful conduct designed to deceive or defraud investors by controlling or artificially affecting the price of securities. Often times, manipulation is associated by regulators with forces that upset the supply and demand factors that would normally determine trading prices. Since a small percentage of the outstanding common stock of the Company will initially be available for trading, held by a small number of individuals or entities, the supply of our common stock for sale will be extremely limited for an indeterminate amount of time, which could result in higher bids, asks or sales prices than would otherwise exist. Securities regulators have often cited thinly-traded markets, small numbers of holders, and awareness campaigns as components of their claims of price manipulation and other violations of law when combined with manipulative trading, such as wash sales, matched orders or other manipulative trading timed to coincide with false or touting press releases. There can be no assurance that the Company’s or third-parties’ activities, or the small number of potential sellers or small percentage of stock in the “float,” or determinations by purchasers or holders as to when or under what circumstances or at what prices they may be willing to buy or sell stock will not artificially impact (or would be claimed by regulators to have affected) the normal supply and demand factors that determine the price of the stock.

The Company occupies 2,865 square feet of space for administrative, sales, research and development and manufacturing support in Princeton, New Jersey under a lease expiring on April 30, 2020.

The Company leases 17,500 square feet of assembly plant and office space in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The lease expires on June 30, 2018.

Rent expense amounted to approximately $241,000 and $316,000 for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is presently a party to two lawsuits. On April 9, 2015, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer, John Freeman, filed a lawsuit, John Freeman v. Dataram Corporation, David A. Moylan, Jon Isaac, and John Does 1-5, in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, Essex County, Docket No. ESX-L-002471-15. On April 10, 2015, the Company filed an action against Mr. Freeman, styled as Dataram Corporation v. John Freeman, et al., in the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey, Mercer County, Docket No. ESX-L-000886-15. These actions have been consolidated in Essex County. A range of loss, if any, cannot be estimated at this point in time.

This Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and other parts of this Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “future,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “can,” “may,” and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors,” which are included herein. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K. All information presented herein is based on the Company’s fiscal calendar. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years or quarters refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in April and the associated quarters of those fiscal years. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Overview

Since 1967, Dataram has been an independent manufacturer of memory products and provider of performance solutions. The Company provides customized memory solutions for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and compatible memory for leading brands including Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo and Oracle as well as a line of memory products for Intel and AMD motherboard based servers.

Dataram operates through two business lines which provide complementary solutions to the market. Each has a different customer focus and “go to market” approach. They are:

• Enterprise Memory Solutions (formerly Princeton Memory)
• Web Solutions (formerly Micro Memory Bank (MMB))

23

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth consolidated operating data expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods indicated.

Fiscal 2017 Compared With Fiscal 2016

Revenues for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 were $17,402,000 compared to $25,182,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016, a 31% decrease. The Company reduced sales resources associated with marginally profitable broker product line which resulted in approximately $3,300,000 decline in revenue. There was also a general weakness domestically for the Company’s products.

Revenues for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2017 and 2016 by geographic region were:

*Principally Asia Pacific Region

The Company expects that the entire backlog on hand will be filled during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018 and mostly in the first quarter. The Company’s backlog at April 30, 2017 was $399,000. At April 30, 2016, the Company’s backlog was $274,000.

Cost of sales was $14,468,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 or 83% of revenues compared to $20,464,000 or 81% of revenues in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016. The decrease in gross margin is the result of the Company reducing selling prices trying to protect market share.

Engineering expense in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 was approximately $185,000 versus approximately $191,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $4,516,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 versus $5,767,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016. Stock-based compensation expense was recorded as a component of selling, general and administrative expense and totaled approximately $476,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, versus $746,000 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016. The remainder of the decrease is the result of reduction in cost related to the aforementioned closing of the broker business and other cost reductions.

Other income (expense) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 totaled approximately $148,000 of expense versus $168,000 of expense in fiscal 2016. Other income (expense) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017 includes interest expense of approximately $136,000 on the Company’s revolving bank credit line and approximately $12,000 of foreign currency transaction losses. Other income (expense) for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016 includes interest expense of approximately $200,000 on the Company’s revolving bank credit line and approximately $9,000 of foreign currency transaction gains. Additionally, there was approximately $22,000 of debt extinguishment gain recorded.

The Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2016 include a gain recorded on the sale of state net operating losses of approximately $190,000.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of April 30, 2017, the Company had cash totaling approximately $155,000. Net cash used in operating activities totaled approximately $218,000. Net loss in the year totaled approximately $1,915,000 which included approximately $476,000 of stock based compensation expense. Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $87,000 was recorded. Inventory decreased by approximately $391,000. The decrease in inventories was a management decision to reduce inventory levels. Trade receivable decreased by approximately $930,000, primarily the result of decreased shipments. Accrued liabilities decreased by approximately $64,000 and accounts payable increased by approximately $266,000.

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled approximately $317,000 and consisted of proceeds of $503,000 from the sale of Series B Preferred Stock. The Company also closed on a $250,000 bridge note with its parent U.S. Gold Corp. Borrowing on the line of credit decreased by approximately $436,000.

The Company took steps to mitigate these factors by completing the merger with USG. The merger lowered the Company’s potential cash exposure. As a result, as of the date of the issuance of these financial statements, the Company believes its current cash position and current cash position of USG will sustain operations for the foreseeable future through a year and a day from the issuance of these consolidated financial statements.

Working Capital Requirements

Credit Facility

The Company’s financing agreement (the “Financing Agreement”) with Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc. provides for a revolving loan with a maximum borrowing capacity of $3,500,000. The Financing Agreement renewal date was August 31, 2016 and will renew from year to year unless such Financing Agreement is terminated as set forth in the loan agreement. The amount outstanding under the Financing Agreement bears interest at a rate of the Prime Rate (as defined in the Financing Agreement) plus 3.25% (the “Effective Rate”) or on Over-advances (as defined in the Financing Agreement), if any, at a rate of the Effective Rate plus 3%. The Financing Agreement contains other financial and restrictive covenants, including, among others, covenants limiting the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, guarantee obligations, sell assets, make loans, enter into mergers and acquisition transactions and declare or make dividends. Borrowings under the Financing Agreement are collateralized by substantially all the assets of the Company. The Financing Agreement provides for advances against eligible accounts receivable and inventory balances based on prescribed formulas of raw materials and finished goods. Borrowings at April 30, 2017 totaled approximately $1,340,000 and there was no additional availability on that date. On July 25, 2017 the Company had approximately $184,000 in borrowing availability.

Sales of Securities

Series B preferred shares

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2017, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock converted 331,559 Series B Preferred Shares into 552,598 shares of Common Stock. The converted value for each Series B Preferred Share is approximately $12.20 or $4,045,007 and resulted in an offsetting increase to Additional Paid in Capital in the April 30, 2017 consolidated balance sheet. As of April 30, 2017 there are no remaining outstanding Series B Preferred Shares.

Series D preferred shares

On August 3, 2016, the Company entered into separate securities purchase agreements with accredited investors for the issuance and sale of the Company’s newly designated 0% Series D Convertible Preferred Stock which are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Series D Preferred Stock is governed by a Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the 0% Series D Convertible Preferred Stock. Each share of Series D Preferred Stock was sold at a per share purchase price of $136.00 and converts into 25 shares of common stock, subject to adjustment for dividends and stock splits. On August 5, 2016, the Company closed the private placement and sold 3,699 shares of Series D Preferred Stock convertible into an aggregate of approximately 92,500 shares of common stock with gross proceeds to the Company of $503,000.

On February 2, 2017 the Company issued a dividend of approximately 3,699 shares of Series D Preferred stock to the holders of the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock. This resulted in an increase in Series D Convertible Preferred Stock of approximately $503,000 with an offsetting decrease in Additional Paid in Capital in the April 30, 2017 consolidated balance sheet. The Company also recorded a non cash dividend of approximately $544,000. The dividend was calculated using the conversion rate 25 shares of common stock for each Preferred Series D share at a closing market price of $5.88.

As of April 30, 2017 all Series D Preferred Shares has been converted into approximately 185,000 Common Shares.

Common Stock

On July 6, 2016, the Company filed a certificate of amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in order to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock on a 1 for 3 basis. The reverse stock split was effective on July 11, 2016. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the reverse stock-split.

On May 3, 2017, the Company filed a certificate of amendment to its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada in order to effectuate a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock on a 1 for 4 basis. The reverse stock split was effective on May 5, 2017. All share and per share amounts have been retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the reverse stock-split.

Completion of the Merger Agreement

On June 13, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended and restated on July 29, 2016, and further amended and restated on September 14, 2016 and November 28, 2016 (as so amended, the “Merger Agreement”), with Dataram Acquisition Sub, Inc., a Nevada corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“DAS”), U.S. Gold Corp., a Nevada corporation (“USG”) and Copper King LLC, the principal shareholder of USG (“Copper King”).

On May 23, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company closed the transactions contemplated under the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”) and filed Articles of Merger with the State of Nevada, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1, pursuant to which USG was merged with and into DAS, with USG surviving the merger as the surviving corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”). In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and as consideration for the acquisition of USG, on the Closing Date, outstanding shares of USG’s common stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as well as outstanding options and warrants of USG were converted into the following:

• 395,833 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) were issued to certain holders of USG common stock;
• 37,879 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued to certain members of USG management;
• 1,083,543 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued to holders of USG’s Series A Preferred Stock;
• 466,678 shares of the Company’s Common Stock were issued to holders of USG’s Series B Preferred Stock;
• 45,000.18 shares of the Company’s newly designated Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), convertible into an aggregate of 4,500,180 shares of the Company’s Common Stock that were to be issued to Copper King, 45,500.18 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were issued to Copper King on the Closing and 4,500.01 shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be held in escrow pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement as further discussed below;
• 452,359 five-year cashless warrants with an exercise price of $2.64 per share were issued to Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.;
• 462,500 shares of Common Stock were issued to holders of USG common stock issued in connection with the closing of the Keystone acquisition; and
• 231,458 five-year options with an exercise price of $3.60 per share, which vest in 24 equal monthly installments commencing on the date of issuance were issued to holders of options issued in connection with the closing of the Keystone acquisition (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”).
• A minimum of 333,333 and a maximum of 583,333 shares of Dataram’s Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 62,500 shares of Dataram’s Common Stock (or such lesser amount depending on the size of the U.S. Gold Financing) shall be issued to the placement agent in the U.S. Gold Financing;

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The Company registered the shares of Common Stock issued to holders of outstanding shares of USG’s common stock, Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock together with the shares of Common Stock underlying the Company’s newly designated Series C Preferred Stock on a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (file number 333-215385) which Registration Statement was declared effective on March 7, 2017.

The merger has constituted a change of control or change in control, the majority of the Board of Directors changed with the consummation of the merger. The Company issued to USG shares of Common Stock which represented approximately 91% of the combined company.

Contractual Obligations

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of April 30, 2017 are as follows:

Leases

Purchases

At April 30, 2017, the Company had open purchase orders outstanding totaling $350,000, primarily for inventory items to be delivered in the first three months of the fiscal year ending April 30, 2018. These purchase orders are cancelable.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have, and do not have any present plans to implement, any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Note 3)

Critical Accounting Policies

During December 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published a Commission Statement in the form of Financial Reporting Release No. 60 which encouraged that all registrants discuss their most “critical accounting policies” in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations. The SEC has defined critical accounting policies as those that are both important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results, and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. While the Company’s significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 3 of notes to consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, management believes the following accounting policies to be critical:

Revenue Recognition - Revenue is recognized when title passes upon shipment of goods to customers. The Company’s revenue earning activities involve delivering or producing goods. The following criteria are met before revenue is recognized: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, shipment has occurred, selling price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The Company does experience a minimal level of sales returns and allowances for which the Company accrues a reserve at the time of sale in accordance with the Revenue Recognition – Right of Return Topic of the FASB ASC. Estimated warranty costs are accrued by management upon product shipment based on an estimate of future warranty claims.

Research and Development - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred, including Company-sponsored research and development and costs of patents and other intellectual property that have no alternative future use when acquired and in which we had an uncertainty in receiving future economic benefits. Development costs of a computer software product to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are subject to capitalization beginning when a product’s technological feasibility has been established and ending when a product is available for general release to customers. Technological feasibility of a computer software product is established when all planning, designing, coding and testing activities that are necessary to establish that the product can be produced to meet its design specifications (including functions, features and technical performance requirements) are completed.

Income Taxes - The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of the Expenses – Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC. Under the asset and liability method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The Company considers certain tax planning strategies in its assessment as to the recoverability of its tax assets. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that the tax rate changes. The Company recognizes, in its consolidated financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not to be sustained on audit, based on technical merits of the position. There are no material unrecognized tax positions in the financial statements.

Goodwill – The carrying value of goodwill is not amortized, but is tested annually as of April 30th as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable using a two-step process. As of April 30, 2017, management has concluded that no impairment of goodwill is required.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, including deferred income tax asset valuation allowances and certain other reserves and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined to be necessary. Some of the more significant estimates made by management include the allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns, the deferred income tax asset valuation allowance and other operating allowances and accruals. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Company does not invest in market risk sensitive instruments. At times, the Company’s cash equivalents consist of overnight deposits with banks and money market accounts. The Company’s objective in connection with its investment strategy is to maintain the security of its cash reserves without taking market risk with principal.

The Company purchases and sells primarily in U.S. dollars. The Company sells in foreign currency (primarily Euros) to a limited number of customers and as such incurs some foreign currency risk. At any given time, approximately 5% to 40% of the Company’s accounts receivable are denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars. At present, the Company does not purchase forward contracts as hedging instruments, but could do so as circumstances warrant.

a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of April 30, 2017. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including our principal executive and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective, at the reasonable assurance level, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for our company. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive and principal financial officer and effected by the our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;

2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible enhancements to controls and procedures.

We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer conclude that, at April 30, 2017, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer conducted an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter ended April 30, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that there were no such changes during the quarter ended April 30, 2017.