UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:
☐ Preliminary Proxy Statement
☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
☒ Definitive Proxy Statement
☐ Definitive Additional Materials
☐ Soliciting Material Under § 240.14a-12


COMSTOCK MINING INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

No fee required.
Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:




IMAGE_01A.JPG
COMSTOCK MINING INC.
117 American Flat Road
P.O. Box 1118
Virginia City, Nevada 89440

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of shareholders of Comstock Mining Inc. will be held on June 3, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (“PST”), at the Gold Hill Hotel, 1540 Main Street, Gold Hill, Nevada 89440, to:

1.Elect the five named nominees to the Board of Directors for the ensuing year or, if earlier, until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

2.Ratify the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, as our independent registered public accounting firm, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;

3.Approve a non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers;

4.Conduct any other business that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Holders of shares of Comstock Mining Inc. common stock of record at the close of business on April 6, 2021, may vote at the meeting.

The approximate mailing date of this notice, accompanying proxy statement and proxy card is April 23, 2021.

UNLESS YOU PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO VOTE, BROKERS MAY NOT VOTE YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ON THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS OR THE NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.



This year, we are again making our Annual Meeting materials accessible to our shareholders electronically, as permitted under the “Notice and Access” rules approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders that do not opt out of Notice and Access will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access Annual Meeting materials via the internet. The Notice also provides instructions on how to obtain paper copies if preferred.

To ensure your vote is counted, please vote your shares promptly by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, or by telephone or Internet, regardless of whether you plan on attending the meeting.

If you are present at the meeting, you may supersede your proxy and vote in person by ballot, even if you have already voted your proxy by mail, telephone or Internet.

Seating at the meeting will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure that you have a seat, please arrive early. Due to COVID 19 physical distancing requirements, legal restrictions and limited space in the venue, not all shareholders can be admitted.
By Order of the Board of Directors
April 23, 2021

IMAGE_11A.JPG




PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
COMSTOCK MINING INC.
TO BE HELD June 3, 2021
APPROXIMATE DATE OF MAILING – April 23, 2021

This Proxy Statement (this “Proxy Statement”) sets forth certain information about the accompanying proxy for the 2021 Annual Meeting (the “Meeting”) of shareholders of Comstock Mining Inc., or any adjournments or postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors has designated the historic Gold Hill Hotel, 1540 Main Street, Gold Hill, Nevada 89440, as the place of the Meeting. The Meeting will be called to order at 9:00 a.m., PST, on June 3, 2021.

The Board of Directors solicits this proxy and urges you to vote immediately. Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “Comstock,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Company” means Comstock Mining Inc.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (the “Annual Report”), is being mailed concurrently with this Proxy Statement to our shareholders. Our Annual Report is not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement and shall not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement or soliciting materials, unless otherwise specifically stated herein.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR ANNUAL MEETING
Q: Who is asking for my vote and why am I receiving this document?

A: The Board of Directors asks that you vote on the matters listed in the Notice of Annual Meeting of shareholders that are more fully described in this Proxy Statement.
We are providing this Proxy Statement and related proxy materials to our shareholders in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at the Meeting. A proxy, if duly executed and not revoked, will be voted in accordance with the specific instructions noted on the proxy and, if it does not contain specific instructions, will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors set forth in this Proxy Statement.



Q: Who is entitled to vote?
A: You may vote if you owned shares of our common stock, par value $0.000666 per share (“Common Stock”) on April 6, 2021, the date established by the Board of Directors under Nevada law and our by-laws for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. On the record date, there were 42,455,515 outstanding shares of Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting.

Q: What is a proxy?
A: A proxy is your legal designation of another person to vote your stock. If you designate someone in writing, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. Messrs. William J. Nance and Judd B. Merrill have been designated as proxies or proxy holders for the Meeting. Proxies properly executed and received by our Secretary prior to the Meeting and not revoked will be voted in accordance with the terms thereof.
Q: What is a voting instruction?
A: A voting instruction is the instruction form you receive from your bank, broker or its nominee if you hold your shares of Common Stock in street name. Shares are held in “street name” when a bank, brokerage or its nominee holds such shares on behalf of a client. · The name that appears on the stock or bond certificate is that of bank, brokerage or its nominee. The form instructs you on how to direct your bank, broker or its nominee, as record holder, to vote your shares.
Q: What am I voting on at the Meeting?
A: You will be voting on the following matters at the Meeting:
• Election of the five named nominees to the Board of Directors;
• Ratification of Assure CPA, LLC as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021;



• Approval of a non-binding advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers; and
• Any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Q: How many votes must be present to hold the Meeting?
A: In order for the Meeting to be conducted, one-third of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, as of the record date, must be represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. This is referred to as a quorum. Abstentions, withheld votes and shares held of record by a bank, broker or its nominee (“broker shares”) that are voted on any matter (including an abstention or withheld vote by broker shares) are included in determining the number of votes present. Broker shares that are not voted on any matter will not be included in determining whether a quorum is present.
Q: What vote is needed to elect directors?
A: The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of Common Stock voted in the election of directors.
Q: What vote is needed to ratify the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC?

A: The ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC requires that the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast in opposition.

Q: What vote is needed to approve the non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers?

A: The approval of the non-binding advisory resolution for the compensation of our named executive officers requires that the votes cast in favor exceed the votes cast in opposition. Because this resolution is advisory, it will not bind the Company or the Board of Directors. However, the Board of Directors will review and consider the results of this vote for future executive compensation decisions.


Q: What are the voting recommendations of the Board of Directors?


A: The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the proposed nominees for director, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, and “FOR” a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers.
Q: How do I vote?
A:
Registered shareholders (shareholders who hold Common Stock in certificated form as opposed to through a bank, broker, or other nominee) may vote in person at the Meeting or by proxy. Registered shareholders may submit their proxies by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.  
Shareholders who hold Common Stock through banks, brokers or other nominees (street name shareholders) who wish to vote at the Meeting should be provided voting instructions on the instruction form provided to them from the institution that holds their shares. If this has not occurred, please contact the institution that holds your shares. Street name shareholders may also be eligible to vote their shares electronically by following the voting instructions provided by the bank, broker or other nominee that holds the shares, using either the toll-free telephone number or the Internet address provided on the voting instruction form, or otherwise complete, date and sign the voting instruction form and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Shareholders who hold shares in street name are NOT permitted to vote such shares in person, unless the bank, broker or its nominee has authorized such shareholders to act on behalf of the bank, broker or nominee. To obtain such authorization, street name shareholders will need to bring a valid “legal proxy.” You can obtain a legal proxy by contacting your account representative at the bank, broker or other similar organization through which you hold your shares.

The deadline for proxies received by mail is 5:00 p.m., PST, on June 2, 2021.





Q: Can I attend the Meeting?



A: The Meeting is open to all holders of our Common Stock as of the record date, April 6, 2021. However, space is limited and seating at the Meeting will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, following the State of Nevada and Storey County COVID social distancing guidelines. You may vote by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Even if you plan to attend the Meeting, however, we encourage you to vote your shares by proxy. We will not permit cameras, recording devices or other electronic devices at the Meeting.
Q: Can I change or revoke my vote?
A: Any shareholder giving a proxy may change or revoke it at any time before it is voted at the Meeting. A proxy can be changed or revoked by:
• delivering a later dated proxy, or written notice of revocation, to our Secretary at the address listed under “Shareholder Proposals;” or
• appearing at the Meeting and voting in person.
If you decide to vote by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card, you should retain a copy of the proxy card in the event that you decide later to change or revoke your proxy at the Meeting. Your attendance at the Meeting will not itself revoke a proxy.

If you are a shareholder whose stock is held in street name with a bank, broker or other nominee, you must follow the instructions found on the voting instruction form provided by the bank, broker or other nominee, or contact your bank, broker or other nominee in order to change or revoke your previously given proxy. Shareholders who hold shares in street name are NOT permitted to vote such shares in person, unless the bank, broker or its nominee has authorized such shareholders to act on behalf of the bank, broker or nominee. To obtain such authorization, street name shareholders will need to bring a valid “legal proxy.” You can obtain a legal proxy by contacting your account representative at the bank, broker or other similar organization through which you hold your shares.
Q: How will my shares be voted if I sign, date and return my proxy card, but do not provide a completed proxy card with respect to each proposal?



A:
Shareholders should specify their choice for each matter on the enclosed proxy. If no specific instructions are given, it is intended that all proxies that are signed and returned will be voted “FOR” the election of all nominees for director, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC, and “FOR” a non-binding advisory resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers. As to any other business that may properly come before the Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will vote the shares of Common Stock represented by the proxy in the manner as the Board of Directors may recommend, or otherwise in the proxy holders’ discretion. The Board of Directors does not presently know of any other such business.

Q: How will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy card or my voting instruction form?

A:
It will depend on how your ownership of shares is registered.
If you own your shares as a registered holder (meaning that your shares are registered in your name with Equiniti, our transfer agent), your shares will only be voted if Equiniti receives specific voting instructions from you. Otherwise, your unvoted shares will not be represented at the Meeting and will not count toward the quorum requirement, which is explained under “Questions and Answers For Annual Meeting — How many votes must be present to hold the Meeting?” above, unless you attend the Meeting to vote them in person.
If you own your shares and they are held in street name (meaning that your shares are registered in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee), your bank, broker or other nominee may not vote your shares in their discretion (with certain limited exceptions), unless you have provided voting instructions to the bank, broker or its nominee.
Under the rules of the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”), your broker may vote your shares in their discretion on “routine matters.” Based on the rules of the NYSE American, we believe that the ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm is a routine matter for which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their clients if no voting instructions are provided. Therefore, if you are a shareholder whose shares of Common Stock are held in street name with a bank, broker or other nominee and you do not return your voting instruction form, your bank, broker or other nominee may vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment by the Audit and Finance Committee of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm.
Q: Where can I find the results of the Meeting?


A: We intend to announce preliminary voting results at the Meeting and publish final results through a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within four business days of the Meeting.

Q: Who pays for the solicitation of proxies?
A: We will pay for the cost of the solicitation of proxies.

Q: Could other matters be decided at the Meeting?
A: As of the date of the mailing of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors did not know of any other business that might be brought before the Meeting. However, if any other matters should properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy to vote on such matters as they, in their discretion, may determine.

Q: Where can I find the Company’s corporate governance materials?
A: Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, including our independence standards for members of the Board of Directors, our Code of Conduct and Ethics and the charters of our Audit and Finance Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, are available on our website at http://www.comstockmining.com/about/corporate-governance and are available in print to any shareholder upon request by contacting our investor relations department.

Q:

How do I communicate with the Board of Directors?



A:
Shareholders and other interested persons may communicate with the full Board of Directors, a specified committee of the Board of Directors, or a specified individual member of the Board of Directors, in writing, by mail addressed to: Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440, Attention: Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and his duly authorized agents are responsible for collecting and organizing shareholder communications. Absent a conflict of interest, the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating the materiality of each shareholder communication and determining whether further distribution is appropriate, and, if so, whether to (1) the full Board of Directors, (2) one or more committees of the Board of Directors, (3) one or more Board members and/or (4) other individuals or entities.


































***********
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on June 3, 2021.

This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are both available free of charge on our website at http://www.comstockmining.com/investors/financial-filings. In addition, a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K is enclosed. We will provide without charge to each person to whom this Proxy Statement has been delivered, on the request of any such person, additional copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K. Requests should be directed to our external relations department as described below:
Comstock Mining Inc.
P.O. Box 1118
Virginia City, Nevada 89440
Attention: Mr. Zach Spencer, Director of External Relations
Telephone: (775) 847-847-5272 ext.151

We also make available, free of charge, through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for prior years, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this Proxy Statement or incorporated into any other filings we make with the SEC.



PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Nominating and Governance Committee has unanimously recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors has unanimously approved, the persons named below as nominees for election to the Board of Directors at the Meeting. Each nominee has consented to being named as such and to serve as such if elected. Messrs. De Gasperis, Drozdoff, Marting, Merrill, and Nance each presently serve as a director. Proxies will be voted for the election of the persons named below (or if for any reason such persons are unavailable, of such substitutes as the Board of Directors may designate) as directors for the ensuing year. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable. Each nominee who is elected will serve as a director until his successor is elected at our 2022 annual meeting of shareholders or until his earlier resignation or removal.

Set forth below is information concerning the age, principal occupation, employment and directorships during the past five years and positions with the Company of each nominee and director, and the year in which he first became a director of the Company. Also set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills as of the date of this Proxy Statement that led to the conclusion that each nominee and director should serve as a director, in light of the Company’s business and structure. The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors reviews at least annually the skills and characteristics of new and existing directors, including diversity.

Corrado De Gasperis; age 55; joined Comstock in April 2010, as Chief Executive Officer. He has been a director since June 2011, and Executive Chairman since September 2015. Mr. De Gasperis was also the President of the Company from April 2010 until August 2019. Mr. De Gasperis is also a Director, President and CEO of Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund Inc., and Chairman of LINICO Corporation, and a Director of Mercury Clean Up LLC, all three strategic investments of Comstock Mining. He brings more than 30 years of material science based industrial manufacturing, financial, project management and board governance experience.
From 2006 to 2009, Mr. De Gasperis served as the Chief Executive Officer of Barzel Industries Inc. (“Barzel”) and its predecessors. Barzel operated a network of 15 steel-based manufacturing, processing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada that offered a wide range of metal solutions to various industries, from construction and industrial manufacturing to transportation and mining. Mr. De Gasperis resigned from Barzel in September 2009, after Barzel agreed to sell substantially all of its assets in a planned transaction that was consummated in a sale pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code following a multiple party bidding process with suitors focused on both in-court and out-of-court transactions. Barzel and substantially all of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries were purchased for $65 million in cash.



From June 1998 to March 2006, Mr. De Gasperis held roles of increasing responsibility at GrafTech International Ltd. (“GrafTech”), a global manufacturer of graphite and carbon electrodes and cathodes. From 2001 to 2006, he served as the Chief Financial Officer, in addition to his duties as Vice President and Chief Information Officer, which he assumed in 2000. From 1998 to 2000, he served as the Controller of GrafTech and a leader of its global transformation.
From 1987 to 1998, Mr. De Gasperis was a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG LLP, an international provider of financial advisory and assurance services. As a Senior Assurance Manager in the Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution Practice, he served clients such as General Electric Company and Union Carbide Corporation. KPMG announced his admittance, as a Partner, effective July 1, 1998.
Mr. De Gasperis is also a founding member and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. He is a board member and previously served as Chairman of the Virginia City Tourism Commission from December 2018 until January 2020, and is a member of the Northern Nevada Development Authority and the Northern Nevada Network. Mr. De Gasperis has served as a director of GBS Gold International Inc., where he was Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominations and Advisory Committees. Mr. De Gasperis holds a BBA from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University, with honors.
Leo M. Drozdoff; age 55; director since February 2018. Mr. Drozdoff serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Drozdoff has extensive experience in Nevada's mining industry, including engineering, legislation, environmental regulation, economic development, legislation and historical preservation. Mr. Drozdoff owns and operates Drozdoff & Associates LLC, is a registered lobbyist for the Nevada legislature, representing a variety of mining and other environmental relevant companies. He previously served as the Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources from 2010 to 2016, and was a Cabinet member reporting to two Nevada Governors, where Mr. Drozdoff oversaw 900 state employees responsible for mining, environmental protection, water resources, forestry, state parks, state lands and the State Historic Preservation Office.
Mr. Drozdoff also served as lead Administrator of Nevada’s Division of Environmental Protection from October 2004 to April 2010, and from 1998 to 2001 as Bureau Chief over Water Control and Mining Regulation from 1996 to 1998, two of the most critical Nevada mining regulatory bureaus. He also chaired the Nevada Public Employee Benefits Program Board, overseeing the benefits of more than 30,000 public employees, retirees and their families.



Mr. Drozdoff graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and he holds an MBA degree with an emphasis in management from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Walter A. “Del” Marting Jr., age 74; director since April 2018. Mr. Marting is the Founder and Managing Member of CereCare, LLC, dba Brain Health Restoration, a firm focused on providing breakthrough rehabilitation treatment for individuals, including numerous veterans, suffering from brain disease, traumatic brain injury and related substance use disorders - most commonly alcoholism and opioid addictions.
Mr. Marting is also an experienced mining executive, having started his mining career with Amax Inc., working there from 1975 to 1984. He held positions of increasing responsibility at Amax starting as a shift boss at Amax’s largest underground and open pit molybdenum mine, Climax Molybdenum, and later becoming head of worldwide strategic planning for all of Amax’s new properties. He was appointed Vice President of Finance and Administration for Amax Europe in 1982 and had responsibility for all of Amax’s treasury and financial operations at Amax’s European headquarters in Paris, France. He also consolidated and oversaw all of Amax’s metal trading for molybdenum, tungsten, copper, coal and iron ore in Paris. Amax eventually was acquired by Freeport-McMoRan, the largest molybdenum producer in the world.
In 1984, Mr. Marting became the Chairman and CEO of Lucky Chance Mining Co., a Nevada-based junior gold mining firm that successfully reopened and restarted production at the famed 16-1 Mine in Allegheny, California. More recently, Mr. Marting served as a as a merchant banker with JFP Holdings, Inc., a US firm based in Beijing, China which has overseen a wide portfolio of cross-border merger and acquisition transactions.
Mr. Marting graduated from Yale University in 1969, with a BA in English and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Marting is also a Navy veteran, including service as a member of the US Navy SEAL Team Two.
Judd B. Merrill; age 50; director since September 2020. Mr. Merrill is currently Chief Financial Officer of Aqua Metals, Inc. since November 2018. Aqua Metals is reinventing lead recycling with its patented and patent pending AquaRefining™ technology. These systems reduce environmental impact and scale lead acid recycling production capacity to meet the growing demand for lead-driven innovations in batteries, solar, wind, and grid scale energy storage.
Mr. Merrill has extensive mining industry experience. Prior to joining Aqua Metals, Mr. Merrill was the Director of Finance/Accounting at Klondex Mines Ltd., a Nevada based international mining company. Before its acquisition by Hecla, Klondex was a $500 million, publicly traded company listed on the New York and the Toronto Stock Exchanges. From 2011 to 2017, Mr. Merrill was employed by Comstock Mining Inc. with financials positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Merrill was


instrumental in establishing financial processes and driving efficiencies, and managing and maintaining the Company’s liquidity and efficient access to the capital markets. He worked directly with bankers, lenders, investment funds and major shareholders related to the company’s capital management Mr. Merrill previously worked as a controller at Fronteer Gold Inc. and as an assistant controller at Newmont Mining Corp., where he acquired and developed strong financial planning, cost management, treasury and cash management experience.
Mr. Merrill began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP and spent six years working in broad financial accounting, reporting, auditing, internal control, and corporate financial activities. Mr. Merrill holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Central Washington University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
William J. Nance; age 77; director since October 2005. Mr. Nance also serves as the Chairman of the Audit and Finance and the Nominating and Governance Committees. He is the President and CEO of Century Plaza Printers, Inc., a company he founded in 1979 and has served as a consultant in the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate.
Mr. Nance is a Certified Public Accountant and, from 1970 to 1976, was with Kenneth Leventhal & Company where he specialized in the area of REITS, restructurings of real estate companies, mergers and acquisitions, and most phases of real estate development and financing. Mr. Nance has been a Director of InterGroup Corporation since 1984, and of Santa Fe Financial Corporation and Portsmouth Square, Inc. since May 1996.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from California State University in Los Angeles. Mr. Nance has extensive management experience within a wide range of businesses and brings more than 35 years of public company director experience.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the nominees listed above.
















CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS

Corporate Governance

We are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, which has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to set forth certain corporate governance practices. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at http://www.comstockmining.com/about/corporate-governance. The information contained on our website is not part of this Proxy Statement.

These guidelines cover such matters as purpose and powers, composition, meetings, procedures, required responsibilities and discretionary activities which our Board of Directors or the appropriate committee should periodically consider undertaking. Each committee is authorized to exercise all power of our Board of Directors with respect to matters within the scope of its charter.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines require, among other things, that:


• a majority of the directors shall be independent within the NYSE American listing standards;
• if a member of the Audit and Finance Committee simultaneously serves on an audit committee of more than three public companies, our Board of Directors must determine that such service would not impair the ability of such member to effectively serve on the Audit and Finance Committee;

• our Board of Directors shall meet in regular sessions at least four times annually (including telephonic meetings and the annual retreat described below); and

• our Board of Directors may have an annual retreat with executive officers where there will be a full review of financial statements and financial disclosures, long-term strategies, plans and risks, and current developments in corporate governance.
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and committee charters are not intended to, and do not, expand or increase the duties, liabilities or responsibilities of any director under any


circumstance beyond those that a director would otherwise have under applicable laws, rules and regulations in the absence of such Governance Guidelines or charters.


Independence of Directors

The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Drozdoff, Marting, Merrill and Nance are all “independent” directors within the listing standards of the NYSE American and the independence standards of our Corporate Governance Guidelines. Messrs. Drozdoff, Marting and Nance are also independent within the standards set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Generally, in order for a director to be considered “independent” by the Board of Directors, he or she must (1) be free of any relationship that, applying the rules of the NYSE American, would preclude a finding of independence and (2) not have any relationship (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization) with us or any of our affiliates or any executive officer of us or any of our affiliates (exclusive of relationships based solely upon investment) that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. On an annual basis, each director and executive officer is obligated to disclose any transactions with the Company and any of its subsidiaries in which a director or executive officer, or any member of his or her immediate family, have a direct or indirect material interest. In evaluating the materiality of any such relationship, the Board of Directors takes into consideration whether disclosure of the relationship would be required by the proxy rules under the Exchange Act. If disclosure of the relationship is required, the Board of Directors must make a determination that the relationship is not material as a prerequisite to finding that the director is “independent.”

Board of Directors Meetings

The Board of Directors meets on a regularly scheduled basis during the year to review significant developments affecting us and to act on matters requiring Board of Directors’ approval, and may hold special meetings between scheduled meetings when appropriate. During 2020, the Board of Directors and its committees held 20 meetings of all the committees of the Board of Directors on which the directors then served. The directors attended 99% of the aggregate of (1) the total number of meetings of all committees of the Board of Directors on which the director then served and (2) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors.






Board of Directors Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

The Company is led by Corrado De Gasperis, who has served as Executive Chairman of the Board since September 2015, and Chief Executive Officer since April 2010.

The Board of Directors believes that the current Board leadership structure, in which the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by one person, is appropriate for the Company and its shareholders at this time. The current Board leadership structure is believed to be appropriate because it demonstrates to our employees, suppliers, customers, and other shareholders that the Company is under strong leadership, with a single person setting the tone and having primary responsibility for managing the Company’s operations. The Board will continue to reexamine our corporate governance policies and leadership structure on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to meet the Company’s needs. The Company will review these policies and may adopt a different approach in the future if circumstances warrant a change.

The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management and receives periodic reports from management. Management and the Board are focused on the vision for the Company, and enhancing shareholder value, management and strategic planning and oversight of Company operations. We believe that our directors provide effective oversight of the risk management function, especially through dialogue between the Board and our management.

Executive Officers

The Company had two executive officers during 2020. Mr. De Gasperis, the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, serves as the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Juan Carlos Giron Jr., CFA, was hired as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and President, effective September 1, 2019, until February 28, 2020, when he left the Company to pursue other opportunities.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

The Code of Conduct and Ethics applies to all employees, including senior executives, and all directors. It is intended, at a minimum, to comply with the listing standards of the NYSE American, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SEC rules adopted thereunder. Only our Board or the Audit and Finance Committee may waive the provisions of our Code of Conduct and Ethics for executive officers and directors. Our Code of Conduct and Ethics constitutes a code of ethics for purposes of Item 406 of Regulation S-K, and is posted on our website at www.comstockmining.com.



No Hedging or Short Selling

Our securities trading policy applies to all of our directors, officers and employees and restricts trading in our securities while in possession of material nonpublic information. The policy also prohibits our directors, officers, employees and their designees from engaging in hedging, short sales and other trading techniques that offset any decrease in market value of our equity securities.

Board Committees

The Board has established three standing committees (the Audit and Finance Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee) and periodically establishes other committees, in each case so that certain important matters can be addressed in greater depth than may be possible in a meeting of the entire Board. Under the committee charters described below, members of the three standing committees must be independent directors within the meaning of the listing standards of the NYSE American. Further, members of the Audit and Finance Committee must be independent directors within the meaning of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, must satisfy the expertise requirements of the listing standards of the NYSE American and must include at least one “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of SEC rules. Our Board has determined that the three standing committees currently consist of members who satisfy such requirements.

Audit and Finance Committee

The Audit and Finance Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties and responsibilities with respect to the financial affairs of the Company.

Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Audit and Finance Committee has responsibility to, among other things:

• select, retain, determine appropriate compensation of (and provide for payment of such compensation), evaluate and, as appropriate, terminate and replace the independent registered public accounting firm;

• review and, as appropriate, approve, prior to commencement, all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm;



• review regularly with management, the director of internal audits, where applicable, and the independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s responses thereto;

• resolve or direct the resolution of all material disagreements between management and the independent registered public accounting firm regarding accounting and financial reporting;

• review with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, among other things, all reports delivered by the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to critical accounting policies and practices used or to be used, alternative treatments of financial information available under generally accepted accounting principles and other material written communications between the independent registered public accounting firm and management;

• review with management major issues regarding auditing, accounting, internal control and financial reporting principles, policies and practices and regulatory and accounting initiatives, and presentation of financial statements, and major issues as to the adequacy of the internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies;

• meet at least once annually with management and the independent registered public accounting firm in separate sessions;

• review, prior to filing with the SEC, all annual and quarterly reports (and all interim reports on Form 8-K to be filed that contain financial disclosures of similar scope and magnitude as annual reports and quarterly reports);

• assess at least annually the adequacy of codes of conduct, including codes relating to ethics, integrity, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, public disclosure and insider trading and, as appropriate, adopt changes thereto;



• direct the establishment and maintenance of procedures for the receipt and retention of, and the treatment of, complaints received regarding accounting, internal control or auditing matters; and

• direct the establishment and maintenance of procedures for the confidential and anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

Members of the Audit and Finance Committee are William Nance (Chair), Leo Drozdoff and Walter Marting Jr. The Board has determined that each member of the Audit and Finance Committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the NYSE American and SEC, and that no members of the Audit and Finance Committee violate the prohibition on serving as an Audit and Finance Committee member due to having participated in the preparation of our financial statements at any time during the past three years. William Nance qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC, and therefore meets the NYSE American financial sophistication requirement for at least one Audit and Finance Committee member. The designation of William Nance as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on him any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than those that are generally imposed on him as a member of our Audit and Finance Committee and the Board, and his designation as an “audit committee financial expert” pursuant to this SEC requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of our Audit and Finance Committee or the Board.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties with respect to management compensation, succession planning, employee relations and employee benefits, plan administration and director compensation.

Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Compensation Committee shall, among other things:



• review and approve annually the goals and objectives relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive Officer in light of such goals and objectives and annually determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;

• review and approve, as appropriate, annually the compensation of the other executive officers and directors and review compensation of other members of senior management and other employees generally;

• assess organizational systems and plans, including those relating to management development and succession planning;

• administer stock-based compensation plans and assess compensation arrangements, plans, policies and programs and benefit and welfare plans and programs; and

• review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for inclusion in the annual proxy statements or annual report, as the case may be.

Members of the Compensation Committee are Leo Drozdoff (chair) and William Nance, each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of NYSE American and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our Compensation Committee is a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee was at any time an officer or employee of the Company, nor is any member of the Compensation Committee related to any other member of the Compensation Committee, any other member of the Board of Directors or any executive officer of the Company. No executive officer of the Company served as a director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers is a member of the Company’s Compensation Committee.




The Nominating and Governance Committee

The Nominating and Governance Committee assists our Board in discharging and performing its duties and responsibilities with respect to nomination of directors, selection of committee members, assessment of performance of our Board and other corporate governance matters. Without limiting the scope of such activities, the Nominating and Governance Committee shall, among other things:

• review candidates for nomination for election as directors submitted by directors, officers, employees and shareholders; and

• review at least annually the current directors of our Board to determine whether such individuals are independent under the listing standards of the NYSE American and the SEC rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (and non-employee directors (as defined under Exchange Act Rule 16b-3) and outside directors (as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 162 (m))).

Members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are William Nance (chair) and Walter Marting Jr., each of whom satisfies the independence requirements of NYSE American and SEC rules and regulations.

The charter of the Nominating and Governance Committee sets for the minimum qualifications to serve as a director. As set forth in such charter, each director and nominee should have the following skills and characteristics:

1. Have high personal standards:
a. Integrity;
b. Honesty; and
c. Desire to make full disclosure of all present and future conflicts of interest.
2. Have the ability to make informed business judgments;
3. Have literacy in financial and business matters;
4. Have the ability to be an effective team member;
5. Have a commitment to active involvement and an ability to give priority to the Company; a member of the Audit and Finance Committee should serve on no more than three public company audit committees;
6. Have no affiliations with competitors;


7. Have achieved high levels of accountability and success in his or her given fields;
8. Have no geographic travel restrictions;
9. Have an ability and willingness to learn the Company’s business;
10. Preferably have experience in the Company’s business or in professional fields (i.e. finance, accounting, law or banking) or in other industries or as a manager of international businesses so as to have the ability to bring new insight, experience or contacts and resources to the Company;
11. Preferably have a willingness to make a personal substantive investment in the Company;
12. Preferably have no direct affiliations with major suppliers or vendors; and
13. Preferably have previous public company board experience together with good references.

Shareholders may communicate with the full Board of Directors (including shareholder nominations), a specified committee of the Board of Directors or a specified individual member of the Board of Directors in writing by mail addressed to Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440, Attention: Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee. The Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee and his or her duly authorized agents are responsible for collecting and organizing shareholder communications. Absent a conflict of interest, the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for evaluating the materiality of each shareholder communication and determining whether further distribution is appropriate, and, if so, whether to (1) the full Board of Directors, (2) one or more committee members, (3) one or more Board members and/or (4) other individuals or entities. There will not be any difference between the manner in which the committee evaluates a nominee recommended by a shareholder and the manner in which the committee evaluates any other nominee. Please note that Mr. De Gasperis was elected as a director of the Company in 2011, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement.

Attendance at Annual Meeting

We expect all directors and nominees to attend the annual meeting of shareholders each year. All five directors attended the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

The Board of Directors has adopted a written related person transaction policy that governs the review, approval or ratification of covered related person transactions. The Audit and Finance Committee manages this policy. The policy generally provides that we may enter into a related person transaction only if:



• the Audit and Finance Committee approves or ratifies such transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy and the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party; or

• the transaction is approved by the disinterested members of the Board of Directors; or

• the transaction involves compensation approved by the Compensation Committee.



DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Based solely on our review of the forms required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act that have been received by us, we believe there has been compliance with all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of our Common Stock.


STOCK OWNERSHIP

The following table sets forth, as of April 6, 2021, the total number of shares owned beneficially by each of our directors, officers and key employees, individually and as a group, and the present owners of 5% or more of any class of our voting equity securities.
Name and Address(a)
Title of class Amount and nature of beneficial ownership
Percent of class(b)
Winfield Group Common Stock 3,335,439 (c) 7.9 %
Officers, Directors and Nominees
Corrado De Gasperis Common Stock        650,000 (e)                    *
William J. Nance Common Stock 232,000 (e) *
Leo M. Drozdoff Common Stock 306,240 (e) *
Judd B. Merrill Common Stock 135,100 (e) *
Walter A. Marting Jr. Common Stock 225,000 (e) *
Juan Carlos Giron Jr. Common Stock 0
All directors and executive officers as a group Common Stock 1,548,340 3.65 %
_____________
* Less than 2%
(a)    Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each person named in the table is c/o of Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, 117 American Flat Road, Virginia City, NV 89440.
(b)    Applicable percentage of ownership is based on 42,455,515 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 6, 2021 together with all applicable options and warrants for such stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting and investment power with respect to shares. Shares of our common stock subject to options, warrants or other convertible securities exercisable within 60 days after April 6, 2021 are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such options, warrants or other convertible securities, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. Except otherwise noted, the named beneficial owner has the sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock shown.
(c)    Mr. Winfield is the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The InterGroup Corporation, Santa Fe Financial Corporation and Portsmouth Square, Inc. and may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over shares of the Company’s securities owned by each of The InterGroup Corporation, Santa Fe Financial Corporation and Portsmouth Square, Inc. Mr. Winfield has sole voting power over shares of the Company’s securities held by Northern Comstock. The 3,335,439 shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Winfield includes (i) 557,517 shares of the Company’s common stock held directly by Mr. Winfield, (ii), 190,007 shares of the Company’s common stock held by InterGroup, (iii) 355,516 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Portsmouth, (iv) 181,330 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Santa Fe, (vi) 2,051,069 shares of the Company’s common stock held by Northern Comstock.


(d)    Includes a grant of 500,000 unvested performance share units and options to acquire 50,000 shares of common stock. Among 100,000 shares owned, 41,820 shares have been pledged as security to an unrelated third party.
(e)    Includes 135,000 unvested restricted shares representing board compensation over the next three years, with one-third of shares vesting on January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Amount and nature of beneficial ownership
John Winfield 557,517
The InterGroup Corporation 190,007
Portsmouth Square Inc. 355,516
Santa Fe Financial Corporation 181,330
Northern Comstock LLC 2,051,069
Total 3,335,439


























CHANGE IN ACCOUNTANTS

On September 23, 2020, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, upon completion of a formal proposal process with independent registered public accounting firms, dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) as its independent registered public accounting firm and selected Assure CPA, LLC (a successor-in-interest of DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S. formed on November 3, 2020) (“Assure”), as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of Comstock and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020.
The reports of D&T on the consolidated financial statements of Comstock as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion. These reports were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 there were no disagreements between D&T and Comstock on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of D&T, would have caused D&T to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their reports. Furthermore, during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, there were no reportable events (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). The fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 are Comstock’s two most recent completed fiscal years prior to the end of D&T’s engagement.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 neither Comstock nor anyone on its behalf consulted Assure regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on Comstock's consolidated financial statements, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K) or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
Comstock provided D&T with a disclosure and requested D&T to furnish Comstock with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with such statements. A copy of D&T’s letter is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to our Form 8-K filed on September 28, 2020.







THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of three independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit and Finance Committee approves the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm.
Management is responsible for our disclosure controls, internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and for issuing a report thereon. The Audit and Finance Committee’s primary responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes and to report thereon to the Board of Directors. In this context, the Audit and Finance Committee has met privately with management and Assure CPA, LLC (“Assure CPA”) (formerly known as DeCoria, Maichel & Teague, P.S.), our independent registered public accounting firm. Assure has had unrestricted access to the Audit and Finance Committee.
The Audit and Finance Committee has discussed with Assure CPA the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s Auditing Standard 1301 Communications with Audit Committees, including the scope of the auditor’s responsibilities and whether there are any significant accounting adjustments or any disagreements with management.
The Audit and Finance Committee also has received the written disclosures and the letter from Assure CPA required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications with the Audit and Finance Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Assure CPA that firm’s independence from the Company.
The Audit and Finance Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and Assure CPA. Based on this review and these discussions, the representation of management that the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the report of Assure CPA to the Audit and Finance Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC.
The Audit and Finance Committee also reviews with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the firm’s review of the unaudited financial statements that are included in our quarterly reports filed with the SEC on Form 10-Q.



Fees Billed by our Auditors

The Company’s Audit and Finance Committee reviews the fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2019 and until September 23, 2020 was Deloitte & Touche LLP. Since that date, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has been Assure CPA. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fees set forth below were incurred in connection with services provided by those firms.
2020
2020
2019
Assure CPA, LLC Deloitte & Touche LLP Deloitte & Touche LLP
Audit Fees $18,704 $80,069 $293,000
Audit Related Fees — 139,718 32,877
Tax Fees — 11,000 13,551
Other Fees 12,480 31,242 30,195
Total fees $31,184 $262,029 $369,623

Audit Fees. Audit fees represent fees and expenses for professional services rendered by the independent registered public accounting firms for the audit of the financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K and the reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. This category also includes fees for audits provided in connection with statutory filings, or services that generally only the independent registered public accounting firm reasonably can provide to a client, including implementation of new financial and accounting reporting standards and audit consents.

Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees include consultation on valuations, significant transactions and consents.

Tax Fees. Tax fees include original and amended tax returns, studies supporting tax return amounts as may be required by Internal Revenue Service regulations, claims for refunds, assistance with tax audits and other work directly affecting or supporting the payment of taxes.

    Other Fees. Other fees and expenses include fees for professional services not deemed to be audit, audit related or tax fees, including fees related to assistance with review of Forms S-3 and S-8 and related consents, and expenses associated with all fee categories.






Audit and Finance Committee Pre-Approval Policy

The charter of our Audit and Finance Committee provides that the duties and responsibilities of our Audit and Finance Committee include the pre-approval of all audits, audit-related, tax, and other services permitted by law or applicable SEC regulations (including fee and cost ranges) to be performed by our independent auditor. Any pre-approved services that will involve fees or costs exceeding pre-approved levels will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit and Finance Committee. Unless otherwise specified by the Audit and Finance Committee in pre-approving a service, the pre-approval will be effective for the 12-month period following pre-approval. The Audit and Finance Committee will not approve any non-audit services prohibited by applicable SEC regulations or any services in connection with a transaction initially recommended by the independent auditor, the purpose of which may be tax avoidance and the tax treatment of which may not be supported by the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations.

To the extent deemed appropriate, the Audit and Finance Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committee or any one or more other members of the Audit and Finance Committee provided that any member of the Audit and Finance Committee who has exercised any such delegation must report any such pre-approval decision to the Audit and Finance Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit and Finance Committee will not delegate to management the pre-approval of services to be performed by the independent auditor.

Our Audit and Finance Committee requires that our independent auditor, in conjunction with our Chief Executive Officer, be responsible for seeking pre-approval for providing services to us and that any request for pre-approval must inform the Audit and Finance Committee about each service to be provided and must provide detail as to the particular service to be provided. Our Audit and Finance Committee Chair and Audit and Finance Committee financial expert is William Nance.

THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
William J. Nance, Chairman
Leo M. Drozdoff
Walter A. Marting Jr.
April 6, 2021





PROPOSAL NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit and Finance Committee has appointed Assure CPA, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. A representative of Assure CPA, LLC is expected to be present at the Meeting with an opportunity to make a statement and to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Assure CPA, LLC’s principal function is to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and, in connection with that audit, to review certain related filings with the SEC and to conduct limited reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

Appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Company for ratification by our by-laws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit and Finance Committee will reconsider whether to retain the firm. In such event, the Audit and Finance Committee may retain Assure CPA, LLC, notwithstanding the fact that the shareholders did not ratify the appointment or may select another qualified, independent accounting firm without resubmitting the matter to shareholders. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit and Finance Committee reserves the right, in its discretion, to select a different accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules of the SEC promulgated thereunder, the Audit and Finance Committee is solely responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm.

The Board of Directors and Audit and Finance Committee recommend that shareholders vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of Assure CPA, LLC as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.






COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This compensation discussion and analysis explains the material elements of the compensation for our named executive officers.

The Company’s philosophy is to align total compensation of its employees, including the named executive officers, with performance-based incentives for the achievement of the Company’s goals, and most importantly, creating sustainable wealth. The adoption and implementation of compensation programs are intended to support that philosophy and the interest of the Company and its shareholders by providing appropriate forms of performance-based cash and stock-based compensation alternatives that strengthen the ability of the Company to attract and motivate employees and others who focus their efforts and abilities on realizing the Company’s specific objectives, and are in a position to impact the financial and operational performance of the Company.

What are our compensation principles?
The Compensation Committee (for purposes of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the “Committee”) designs and oversees the Company’s compensation policies and approves compensation for our named executive officers. Our goal is to create compensation plans directly linked to specific performance that enhances shareholder value. We strive to align the interests of shareholders with those of employees at all levels of the organization. Our focus is on achieving sustainable results through the systematic and methodical implementation of our strategic plan. These principles are inherently long-term in nature. To accomplish this, our plans are designed to:
    
• Support our business strategy - We align our programs with business strategies focused on long-term growth and enhanced shareholder value. Our compensation plans allow our executives to share in that wealth creation, based on specific performance objectives, and support an environment that promotes improvement and breakthrough performance.

• Pay for Performance - Substantially all of our executive pay has historically been dependent upon the achievement of specific corporate performance goals and this remains a foundational principal for our future compensation plans. As a result, individual performance as it relates to compensation is only relevant insofar as it advances the goals of the Company. Our plans will result in realizing higher compensation when goals are met and lower and possibly no compensation when goals are partially met or not met.



• Pay Competitively - We establish compensation levels that are designed to meet or exceed the needs of our employees. We also assess them against companies that we believe compete with us for human capital. In this context, we believe we are more than competitive with those competing companies.

What are our compensation objectives?

Central to the Company’s goal of wealth creation is the achievement of predictable, sustainable growth of throughput (that is, the rate at which our system generates cash). Accordingly, it is important to the Company that measurements that conflict with future throughput-based performance are eliminated from decision-making or minimized (for example, when required by law). Additionally, we seek to use Statistical Process Control (SPC) on the most critical, interdependent processes to promote stability and predictability in our operations.

In designing our compensation plans, our overreaching objectives are to:

• Drive superior throughput-based financial performance - we design programs that encourage our executives to achieve or exceed goals and share in that value creation.

• Attract, retain and motivate the right people in the right role, within the broader system design - we require independent and interdependent performance and allow our executives to share in the value created based on the system’s performance.

• Align our executives with shareholders’ long-term interests by building the opportunity for significant ownership of Company stock through our compensation programs, vesting only on the systems achievement of value enhancing performance objectives.

• Focus on full alignment to the goal of the system, our executives vest only when the systems objectives and goals are achieved. The objectives and the vesting do not vary from the rest of program participants.



Our compensation plans are intended to serve both named executive officers and employees generally. Accordingly, we currently offer two components of compensation as explained below:

Base Compensation. Base compensation should both reflect the Company’s appreciation of the employee’s competencies (with some but not absolute consideration to the market’s valuation of those competencies) and meet the needs of the employee for stability. The objective should be that base compensation is not only enough to meet the basic needs for employees and their families, but is also enough to take the issue of money-as-a-motivator off the table.

Stock-based Compensation. We acknowledge the risk that certain stock-based compensation programs could fail to completely satisfy the compensation principles previously described because the various instruments typically used (options, warrants, time-based grants, etc.) may not present real or timely correlation to performance and, in particular, performance against a precisely defined goal and duration. However, we believe that stock-based compensation tied to the achievement of precise goals and the Company’s strategic plan does provide meaningful rewards for stable, measurable progress. Accordingly, we adopted a shareholder approved, equity incentive plan that includes performance-based vesting.

    In 2020, the Company adopted the 2020 Plan. The 2020 Plan replaced the equity plans previously adopted by the Company in 2011. The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2020 Plan is 1,800,000, including the 540,000 shares granted to non-executive directors and vesting in three equal increments of 180,000 shares each on January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The remaining availability under the 2020 Plan is 1,260,000 shares. The plan provides for the grant of various types of awards, including, but not limited to, restricted stock (including performance awards), restricted stock units, stock options, and other types of stock-based awards. Stock-based awards will be based on the Company’s goal, which is to grow per-share value by commercializing environment-enhancing, precious and strategic-metal-based products and processes that generate a rate of predictable cash flow (throughput) and increase the long-term enterprise value of our northern Nevada based platform. The next three years are dedicated to delivering that value by achieving the performance objectives listed below:
Commercialize a global, ESG-compliant, profitable, mercury remediation and other critical mineral systems:
•Establish the technical efficacy of MCU’s Mercury Remediation System, and protect the intellectual property;
•Deploy and operate the first international mercury remediation project by deploying MCU’s second and third mercury remediation systems, into the Philippines;


•Identify, evaluate and prioritize a pipeline of potential mercury remediation projects; then deploy the third and fourth mercury remediation projects, producing extended, superior cash flow returns; and
•Assess and acquire accretive, ESG-based, strategic and critical expansion opportunities.

Establish and grow the value of our mineral properties:
•Establish the Dayton Resource area’s maiden, stand-alone mineral resource estimate;
•Expand the Dayton-Spring Valley Complex through exploration drilling and geophysical modelling;
•Develop the expanded Dayton-SV Complex toward full economic feasibility, supporting a decision to mine;
•Entitle the Dayton-SV Complex with geotechnical, metallurgical and environmental studies and permitting; and
•Validate the Comstock NSR Royalty portfolio (e.g., Lucerne Mine, Occidental Lode, Comstock Lode).

Monetize non-strategic assets and build a quality organization:
•Monetize our third-party, junior mining securities responsibly, for $12.5 million or more;
•Monetize our non-mining assets for $12.5 million, excluding the Gold Hill Hotel;
•Grow the value of our Opportunity Zone investments to over $30.0 million; and
•Deploy a systemic organization, capable of accelerating growth and handling complexity.

The plan is designed to deliver per-share value over the next three years, while positioning the Company for continued growth.
On January 4, 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company authorized grants totaling 1,055,000 performance share units to key employees of the Company. The Executive Chairman and CEO of the Company was among the recipients, with a grant of 500,000 performance share units. Vesting of the awards is conditioned upon the achievement of strategic performance objectives of the Company over three years, as described in the Comstock Mining Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, for half of the award, and achieving a per share price of $12 or greater within five years for the other half of the award.
In 2011, the Company adopted the 2011 Plan. The 2011 Plan replaced the equity plans previously adopted by the Company, including, without limitation, those adopted in 2005 and 2006.
The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that could be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2011 Plan was 1,200,000. There is no availability of shares


under the 2011 Plan. The plan provided for the grant of various types of awards, including, but not limited to, restricted stock (including performance awards), restricted stock units, stock options, and other types of stock-based awards.
On May 28, 2020, Comstock’s Board of Directors granted 315,000 common shares to non-executive board members for current and past services and 138,800 fully vested options to acquire common shares to employees under the 2011 Plan. See Note 16, Stock-Based Compensation, to the consolidated financial statements. Employees were granted 138,800 fully vested options to acquire common shares with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company's common shares on the date of the grant, or $0.56 per share, and expiring on the second anniversary of the grant.
Who are our named executive officers?

The Company’s named executive officers for 2020 were:
Name   Title
Corrado De Gasperis   Exec. Chairman & CEO
Juan Carlos Giron Jr. (1)
  President & CFO

(1)     Mr. Giron Jr. was hired to serve as the President and Chief Financial Officer effective September 1, 2019, and served in that capacity until February, 2020, when he left the Company to pursue other opportunities. On March 19, 2020, the Company entered into a severance agreement with Mr. Giron. Pursuant to the terms of the severance agreement, Mr. Giron is entitled to receive four months of severance compensation at the rate he was previously paid. All other compensation includes severance payments and amounts paid in current year for PTO not taken.
        
How do we assure that our compensation program keeps our named executive officers focused on sustainable success?

We assure that our compensation programs keep our named executive officers focused on the long-term success of the Company by making a substantial portion of their long-term pay subject to the achievement of specific, strategic, sustainable, company-wide performance objectives that enhance, strengthen and accelerate the systems performance and by granting stock-based awards with vesting criteria fully linked with those, sustainable, measurable strategic objectives. Moreover, the value of such stock-based awards will likely only increase based on the sustainable performance of the Company as compared to other investment alternatives.

How is competitiveness established?



The Committee structures executive compensation so that targeted total cash compensation and longer-term stock-based compensation opportunities are competitive with comparable positions at companies that we compete with for human capital, basically clean, renewable, growth oriented material science-based technology companies based in Nevada. When considering what is competitive for the Company, the Committee considered the complexity of starting up a new technology or enterprise, the breakthroughs required for success, the entrepreneurial and team building competencies needed, the complexities of the regulatory and political environments and the extensive interdependencies required with all stakeholders, including the people required for operating the system. The Company uses logical thinking processes The Company does not typically use analogical approaches, like benchmarking against a peer group, or otherwise, when assessing and meeting both the needs of the employee and the Company.

In setting 2020, base salaries, target total cash compensation and target total direct compensation, the Committee considered the potential value creation inherent in our stated objectives, the time period required for achieving those objectives and the associated risks.

How is compensation established for our named executive officers?

The Committee does not rely exclusively on existing market data in establishing target levels of compensation. The Committee also does not employ a rigid or formulaic process to set pay levels, but does consider market data as one of many tools to assist the Committee. In setting compensation levels, the Committee considers the following factors:

• each executive’s needs and competencies;

• each executive’s scope of responsibility and impact on the systems performance;

•
internal equity - an executive’s compensation relative to his or her peers, in the system;

• market data; and


• the CEO’s recommendations for his senior team.

Each of our named executive officers’ performance is evaluated in light of our overall natural, social and financial performance and the advancement of our strategic objectives approved by the Committee and the Board of Directors. For 2020, as in past years, the Committee structured a compensation package for our named executive officers comprised of base salary and benefits coupled with performance-based, stock grants, that we believe provided an appropriate mix of financial stability and wealth sharing.

Annual Compensation: Base Salaries

Base salary provides our named executive officers with a basic level of financial security and supports the Committee’s objectives in attracting and retaining top talent. Base salary increases for other named executive officers (other than our CEO) are recommended by our CEO and are reviewed and approved by the Committee.
Executive Officer  
2020 Annual
Base Salary
Corrado De Gasperis   $ 288,000
Juan Carlos Giron Jr.   200,000
                        
The Committee is satisfied that each of the named executive officers’ salary is reasonable and appropriate.



Benefits

The Company provides named executive officers with the same benefits provided to other Comstock employees namely, health and dental insurance (Company pays a portion of the costs).

Post Termination Payments

We believe that we should provide reasonable severance benefits if an executive’s position is eliminated in the event of a change in control or, in the absence of a change in control, in certain other circumstances. It is our belief that the interests of shareholders are best served if our senior management is focused on the performance of the Company without the distraction


and uncertainty that the lack of such protection would invite. We also believe that providing these benefits helps to facilitate the recruitment of talented executives, and that, relative to the overall value of any potential transaction, these potential benefits are appropriately sized.

The employment agreement for Mr. De Gasperis includes a severance arrangement. For additional information with respect to this arrangement, please see “Employment, Retirement and Severance Plans and Agreements.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We believe this additional information may assist you in better understanding our compensation practices and principles.

Role of the Compensation Committee and the CEO

The Committee, consisting entirely of independent Directors, is responsible for executive compensation. As part of the compensation-setting process each year, the Committee meets periodically with the CEO to review the Company’s progress toward its stated strategic objectives and receives comments from members of the Board of Directors. The CEO recommends to the Committee the compensation amounts for each of our named executive officers, other than himself.
    
While the Committee will ask for advice and recommendations from the CEO, the Committee is responsible for executive compensation and as such:

• Sets named executive officer base salaries;

• Reviews the business and financial plan and progress toward strategic goals, performance measures and action plans for our business, which are reviewed by, and subject to approval of, the entire Board of Directors;

• Reviews annual and sustainability performance against goals and objectives;



• Reviews contractual agreements and benefits, including supplemental retirement and any payments which may be earned upon termination, and makes changes as appropriate;

• Reviews incentive plan designs, ensures alignment and modifications as appropriate; and

• Reviews total compensation to ensure compensation earned by named executive officers is fair and reasonable relative to their roles and the impact on the systems performance.

The Committee is authorized to retain compensation consultants or advisors, but does not presently do so. Any such consultant or advisor selected by the Committee would only be selected if the Committee determined that such consultant or advisor is independent from our management pursuant to SEC and NYSE American standards.


Deductibility of Compensation

In determining the total compensation of each named executive officer, the Committee considers the tax deductibility of compensation. The Committee believes it is generally in the interests of the Company and our shareholders to provide compensation that is tax deductible by the Company. While the Committee intends that compensation be deductible, there may be instances where potentially non-deductible compensation is justifiably provided to reward executives consistent with our compensation philosophy for each compensation element.

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

As required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC pursuant thereto, we included a proposal for a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers for 2021, in our proxy statement for our 2020 annual meeting of shareholders. The proposal was supported by shareholders with approval in excess of 76.4% 6,824,204 votes in favor and 2,099,803 votes against.

The Committee considered the results of the advisory vote in reviewing our executive compensation program, noting the high level of shareholder support, and elected to continue the


same principles and objectives in determining the types and amounts of compensation to be paid to our named executive officers in 2020. The Committee will continue to focus on responsible executive compensation practices that attract, motivate and retain high performance executives, reward those executives for the achievement of long-term performance and support our other executive compensation objectives.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement with management and, based on such review and discussion, recommended to the Board of Directors that it be included in this Proxy Statement.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Leo M. Drozdoff, Chair
William J. Nance

April 6, 2021

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the total compensation for services provided by the person who served as our principal executive officer (CEO) during 2020, the person who served as our principal financial officer (CFO) during 2020, and the person who served as our principal accounting officer (PAO) during 2020.


SUMMARY COMPENSATION AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS TABLE

Name and Principal Position Year
Salary
($)
Option Awards Non-equity incentive Plan Compensation All other compensation
Total
($)
Corrado De Gasperis(1)
2020 $ 288,000  $ 10,032  $ 110,000  $ 25,663  $ 433,695 
CEO, PFO and PAO 2019 288,000  —  65,000  19,052  372,052 
2018 288,000  288,000 
Juan Carlos Giron Jr.(2)
2020 41,534  —  —  62,985  104,519 
President and CFO 2019 63,692  —  —  —  63,692 
_____________
(1)     Mr. De Gasperis was hired to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company effective April 21, 2010 and was appointed Executive Chairman in September 2015. Mr. De Gasperis has


also primarily served as the Principal Financial Officer since April 21, 2010 and as Principal Accounting Officer since August 30, 2019. Mr. De Gasperis’ salary was voluntarily reduced from $360,000 to $288,000 during 2016 in conjunction with the Company's efforts to reduce administrative expenses. Non-equity compensation represents performance-based, special recognitions designed to recapture, if earned, voluntarily reduced salary from 2016, All other compensation represents personal time ("PTO") not taken.
(2)     Mr. Giron Jr. was hired to serve as the President and Chief Financial Officer effective September 1, 2019, and served in that capacity until February, 2020, when he left the Company to pursue other opportunities. All other compensation includes severance payments and PTO paid in lieu of being taken.
The terms of Mr. De Gasperis’ employment agreement are described in detail in Employment, Retirement and Severance Plans and Agreements below.

Current Equity Compensation Program

In 2020, the Company adopted the 2020 Plan. For a description of the 2020 Plan, please see Item 5, Equity Compensation Plan Information, 2020 Equity Incentive Plan. The 2020 Plan replaced the equity plans previously adopted by the Company in 2011.
    In 2011, the Company adopted the 2011 Plan. For a description of the 2011 Plan, please see Item 5, Equity Compensation Plan Information, 2011 Equity Incentive Plan. The 2011 Plan replaced the equity plans previously adopted by the Company, including, without limitation, those adopted in 2005 and 2006.
Employment, Retirement and Severance Plans and Agreements

Corrado De Gasperis Employment Agreement

Mr. De Gasperis was hired to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President effective April 21, 2010. In connection with his employment, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. De Gasperis, which also provided for his election as a director upon closing of the recapitalization and the capital raise transactions in 2010.

Term. The agreement’s original term ended on April 21, 2014, but is automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless notice of termination is provided. If a “change in control” of the Company (as defined in the agreement) occurs with less than three years, then the term will be extended to three years beyond the date of the change in control.

Salary and Other Benefits. Under the agreement, Mr. De Gasperis is entitled to an annual base salary of $360,000. In 2016, Mr. De Gasperis voluntarily agreed to reduce his annual salary to $288,000. Mr. De Gasperis is entitled to participate in each of our medical, pension or other employee benefit plans generally available to employees. Mr. De Gasperis is also entitled to participate in any of our incentive or compensation plans. The agreement also requires us to


adopt a profit-sharing plan whereby 10% of net cash profits before principal payments of indebtedness and investments in fixed assets will be set aside for semi-annual payments to employees, no less than 35% of which shall be payable to Mr. De Gasperis. The profit sharing plan has not yet been established.

Equity Awards. The Company was required to adopt an equity incentive plan. The Board of Directors adopted the 2020 Plan in December 2020 and 540,000 award grants were made on December 30, 2020 to non-executive board members, in lieu of cash, for future services. There are 1,260,000 shares available for granting future awards under the 2020 Plan.
The Board of Directors previously adopted and the shareholders approved the 2011 Plan, in June 2011 and award grants were made in 2011, and thereafter. On May 28, 2020, Comstock’s Board of Directors resolved to grant certain share-based compensation payable to non-executive board members, in lieu of cash, in consideration of certain past and current service to the Company and also resolved to grant certain share-based compensation to members of management, including the chief executive officer and other key employees of the company, in consideration of service to the Company. These share-based payments were granted under the previously approved 2011 Equity Compensation Plan and vested immediately. The grant date for both the shares and the options was May 28, 2020. Any previously granted unvested shares under the 2011 Plan expired in 2016 and 2017 and there are no shares available for granting under the 2011 Plan.
Rights on Termination of Employment. If Mr. De Gasperis’ employment is terminated without “cause,” if his employment is terminated due to his “disability” or if he resigns for “good reason” (each term as defined in his agreement), subject to his executing a release in our favor, Mr. De Gasperis shall be entitled to:

• a lump sum payment of all accrued amounts due to him through the date of his termination;

• continued base salary for twelve months (or thirty-six months if the termination is during the three-year period following a change in control); and

• continuation of health and life insurance benefits for the longer of the period during which base salary is payable following termination or 18 months (unless he is entitled to participate in the health plan of a new employer).



If Mr. De Gasperis’ employment is terminated due to his death, his estate is entitled to the benefits (other than continued life insurance coverage) outlined above.

Upon a termination of Mr. De Gasperis’ employment for cause or his resignation without good reason, he shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of all amounts due to him through the date of his termination.

Non-Compete. The agreement prohibits Mr. De Gasperis from competing with us during the term of his employment and for one year thereafter.

Changes of Control. As referenced under the caption “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Stock-Based Compensation,” if a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2011 Plan) occurs, then the shares of restricted stock granted to the named executive would vest immediately and, following the date on which the named executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or following his disability, the portion of the award that would vest upon achieving the next objective shall vest at the time of termination. For purposes of the 2011 Plan, change in control occurs, generally, on the following:
• the date on which any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 40% or more of the then issued and outstanding Common Stock or voting securities of the Company (not including securities held by our employee benefit plans or related trusts or certain acquisitions by John Winfield and his affiliates);
• the date on which any person or group acquires the right to vote on any matter, by proxy or otherwise, with respect to 40% or more of the then issued and outstanding Common Stock or voting securities of the Company (not including securities held by our employee benefit plans or related trusts or certain acquisitions by John Winfield and his affiliates);
• the date, at the end of any two-year period, on which individuals, who at the beginning of such period were directors of the Company, or individuals nominated or elected by a vote of two-thirds of such directors or directors previously so elected or nominated, cease to constitute a majority of our Board;
• the date on which shareholders of the Company approve a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
•
the date on which we consummate certain reorganizations, mergers, asset sales or similar transactions.




Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table sets forth information with respect to our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of stock options under our incentive stock option plans as of December 31, 2020.

Plan Category (a) Number of Securities to Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (b) Weighted- Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, and Rights (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a))
2011 Equity Compensation Plan Approved by Shareholders(1)
138,800 $0.56 —

_____________
(1)    There are 138,800 fully vested and exercisable options outstanding under the 2011 Plan. The options were granted in May 2020, have a remaining contractual life of 1.4 years, an exercise price of $0.56 and were valued at $0.20 fair value per option on the grant date. The options vested immediately. Upon the payment of the exercise price, one share of the Company's common stock shall be issued for each option exercised. As of December 31, 2020, there are no remaining shares available for issuance under the 2011 plan.
The Company recognizes forfeitures under the 2011 and 2020 Plans as they occur.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Name
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) (1)
Stock Awards
Total(1)
William Nance(2)
$ 24,000  $ 193,500  $ 217,500 
Leo Drozdoff(2)
24,000  193,500  217,500 
Walter Marting Jr.(3)
24,000  193,500  217,500 
J. Clark Gillam(4)
18,000  25,200  43,200 
Judd Merrill(5)
6,000  143,100  149,100 
Total directors cash compensation $ 96,000  $ 748,800  $ 844,800 
_____________
(1)     No payment included interest.
(2)     Excludes $30,000 in committee chair fees accrued but not paid in 2020. Stock awards include $50,400 fair value of 90,000 common shares issued on May 28, 2020 for present and past services, and $143,100 fair value of 135,000 restricted common shares issued on December 30, 2020 and vesting evenly over 2021 through 2023.


(3)     Stock awards include $50,400 fair value of 90,000 common shares issued on May 28, 2020 for present and past services, and $143,100 fair value of 135,000 restricted common shares issued on December 30, 2020 and vesting evenly over 2021 through 2023.
(4)     Mr. Gillam resigned from the Company's Board of Directors on September 20, 2020. Stock awards include $25,200 fair value of 45,000 common shares issued on May 28, 2020 for present and past services,
(5)     Mr. Merrill was elected to the Company's Board of Directors on September 11, 2020. Stock awards include $143,100 fair value of 135,000 restricted common shares issued in December 30, 2020 and vesting evenly over 2021 through 2023.






PROPOSAL NO. 3
NON-BINDING PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

SEC rules adopted pursuant to the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, enable our shareholders to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This proposal, commonly known as “Say on Pay,” gives shareholders the opportunity to approve, reject or abstain from voting on the proposed resolution regarding our fiscal year 2021 executive compensation program. At our 2017 Annual Meeting, a majority of our shareholders voted to annually advise us on a Say on Pay proposal, and the Board of Directors determined that the Company will hold an annual shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation. This non-binding, advisory vote on the frequency of Say on Pay must be held at least once every six years.

For the reasons stated below, we are requesting your approval of the following non-binding advisory resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.”

The compensation of our named executive officers and our compensation philosophy policies are comprehensively described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the Compensation of Executive Officers sections, and the accompanying tables (including all footnotes) and narrative of this Proxy Statement.

The Compensation Committee designs our compensation policies for our named executive officers to create executive compensation arrangements that are linked both to the creation of long-term growth, shareholder value and companywide performance, and are competitive with peer companies of similar complexity and encourage stock ownership by our senior management. Based on its review of the total compensation of our named executive officers for fiscal year 2020, the Compensation Committee believes that the total compensation for each of the named executive officers is reasonable and effectively achieves the designed objectives of driving superior business and financial performance, attracting, retaining and motivating our people, aligning our executives with shareholders’ long-term interests, focusing on the long-term and creating balanced program elements that encourage aligned, systemic, sustainable performance.



Neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will be binding on us or the Board of Directors or will be construed as overruling a decision by us or the Board of Directors. Neither the approval nor the disapproval of this resolution will create or imply any change to our fiduciary duties or create or imply any additional fiduciary duties for us or the Board of Directors. However, the Compensation Committee values the opinions that our shareholders express in their votes and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions, as it deems appropriate.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING NON-BINDING ADVISORY RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

“RESOLVED, that the Company’s shareholders APPROVE, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.”



SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

A shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2022 Annual Meeting of shareholders must present such proposal to our Secretary at P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440. Unless the Company changes the date of its Annual Meeting for next year more than 30 days from this year's meeting, the deadline for submitting shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2022 proxy statement is 120 calendar days before April 6, 2022. Shareholder proposals submitted after such date will be considered untimely, and will not be considered for inclusion in the Company’s 2022 proxy statement. However, if the Company’s Annual Meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the date of this year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before the Company begins to print and send its proxy materials.

In addition, our bylaws provide that a shareholder desiring to submit a proposal to be voted on at next year’s annual meeting, including nominating persons for election as directors, may submit such proposals by delivering written notice to our Secretary. Such notice generally must be delivered within 10 business days of the date on which the Company sends to the shareholders written notice of the Company’s Annual Meeting.

The shareholder’s notice must include:
• the shareholder’s name and mailing address;

• the date, time and place of the meeting (and type) to which the notice applies;

• the nature of the matter (and for an election of director(s), the identity and qualifications of said director(s); and

• any other information required to ensure that shareholders entitled to vote on such matter have a clear understanding of the ramifications thereof.
The requirements found in our bylaws are separate from, and in addition to, the SEC requirements that a shareholder must meet to have a proposal included in our Proxy.


CERTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO PROXY MATERIALS AND
ANNUAL REPORTS

Notice and Access

We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials over the internet under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. We believe that providing our proxy materials over the internet increases the ability of our shareholders to connect with the information they need, while reducing the environmental impact associated with the printing and delivery of materials.

Electronic Access of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports

This Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are available on our website at www.comstockmining.com. Shareholders can elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet instead of receiving paper copies in the mail. Providing these documents over the Internet will reduce our printing and postage costs and the number of paper documents shareholders would otherwise receive. We will notify shareholders who consent to accessing these documents over the Internet when such documents will be available. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying us otherwise at Secretary, Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440. Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Beneficial owners whose shares are held in street name should refer to the information provided by the institution that holds such beneficial owner’s shares and follow the instructions on how to elect to access future proxy statements and annual reports over the Internet, if this option is provided by such institution. Paper copies of these documents may be requested in writing from Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440 or by telephone: (775) 847-5272 ext. 151, Attn: Zach Spencer.

“Householding” of Proxy Materials and Annual Reports for Record Owners

The SEC rules permit us, with your permission, to deliver a single proxy statement and annual report to any household at which two or more shareholders of record reside at the same address. Each shareholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card. This procedure, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information you receive and helps to reduce our expenses. Shareholders of record voting by mail can choose this option by marking the appropriate box on the proxy card included with this Proxy Statement and shareholders of record voting by telephone or over the Internet can choose this option by following the instructions provided by telephone or over the Internet, as applicable. Once given, a shareholder’s consent will remain in effect until such shareholder revokes it by notifying our Secretary as described above. If you revoke your consent, we will begin sending you individual copies of future mailings of these documents within 30 days after we receive your revocation notice. Shareholders of record who elect to participate in householding may also request a separate copy of future proxy statements and annual reports by contacting our investor relations department as described above.



Separate Copies for Beneficial Owners

Institutions that hold shares in street name for two or more beneficial owners with the same address are permitted to deliver a single proxy statement and annual report to that address. Any such beneficial owner can request a separate copy of this Proxy Statement or the Annual Report on Form 10-K by contacting our investor relations department as described above. Beneficial owners with the same address who receive more than one proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K may request delivery of a single proxy statement and Annual Report on Form 10-K by contacting our investor relations department as described above.

OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters for presentation or action at the Meeting other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement. If any other matters properly come before the Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the person or persons voting the proxies will vote them in accordance with their best judgment.

By Order of the Board of Directors


A2021-04X2021_FILINGXPRO00.JPG


A2021-04X2021_FILINGXPRO00A.JPG


A2021-04X20_FILINGXLODEX00.JPG


A2021-04X20_FILINGXLODEX00A.JPG

Comstock (AMEX:LODE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Comstock Charts.
Comstock (AMEX:LODE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024 Click Here for more Comstock Charts.