Pershing Gold Corporation (the “Company”), formerly named Sagebrush Gold Ltd., formerly named The Empire Sports & Entertainment Holdings Co. (“Empire”), formerly named Excel Global, Inc., was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on August 2, 2007. On February 27, 2012, the Company changed its name to Pershing Gold Corporation. The Company is a gold and precious metals exploration company pursuing exploration and development opportunities primarily in Nevada. The Company is currently focused on exploration of its Relief Canyon properties in Pershing County in northwestern Nevada. None of the Company’s properties contain proven and probable reserves, and all of the Company’s activities on all of its properties are exploratory in nature.

On September 1, 2011, the Company exited the sports and entertainment business and disposed of its Empire subsidiary pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company, Empire and Concert International Inc. (“CII”). Pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, the Company agreed to sell to CII its Empire subsidiary, including the 66.67% equity ownership interest in Capital Hoedown Inc. (“Capital Hoedown”), for $500,000. As a result, on September 1, 2011, Empire and Capital Hoedown were no longer subsidiaries of the Company.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, EXCX Funding Corp., a Nevada corporation was formed in January 2011 and held the note payable - related party (see Note 8), which was exchanged for the Company’s Series E Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants in August 2013 and was cancelled (see Note 9).

On August 30, 2011, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Gold Acquisition Corp. (“Gold Acquisition”) acquired the Relief Canyon Mine property (“Relief Canyon”) located in Pershing County, near Lovelock, Nevada, for an aggregate purchase price consisting of: (i) $12,000,000 cash and (ii) $8,000,000 in senior secured convertible promissory notes.

A wholly-owned subsidiary, Pershing Royalty Company, a Delaware corporation, was formed on May 17, 2012 to hold royalty interests in two gold exploration properties (see Note 3).

The Company is in the exploration stage and does not generate revenues to meet its operating expenses.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business over a reasonable period of time. The Company has incurred a net loss of approximately $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, $6.0 million of net cash used in operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and total accumulated deficit of approximately $95.0 million since its inception and requires capital for its contemplated operational and exploration activities to take place. The Company plans to raise additional capital to carry out its business plan. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital through future equity and debt securities issuances is unknown. Obtaining additional financing, the successful development of the Company’s contemplated plan of operations, and its transition, ultimately, to profitable operations are necessary for the Company to continue operations. The ability to successfully resolve these factors raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of the uncertainties.

6

Table of Contents

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and present the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2013. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated and net earnings are reduced by the portion of the net earnings of subsidiaries applicable to non-controlling interests. Prior periods have been restated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related footnotes to conform to this presentation and all transactions relating to the sports and entertainment business are included in discontinued operations. All adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2013, and the results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 have been included. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accounting policies and procedures employed in the preparation of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been derived from the audited financial statements of the Company for the period ended December 31, 2012, which are contained in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April 1, 2013. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 was derived from those financial statements.

On September 1, 2011, the Company exited the sports and entertainment business and sold its Empire subsidiary. The Company is engaged in gold and precious metals exploration. The Company has been in the exploration stage since September 1, 2011 and has not yet realized any revenues from its planned operations. The Company is an exploration stage company as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 915 “Development Stage Entities”.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated balance sheet, and revenues and expenses for the period then ended. Actual results may differ significantly from those estimates. Significant estimates made by management include, but are not limited to, allowance for bad debts, the useful life of property and equipment, the assumptions used to calculate fair value of options and warrants granted and derivative liability, beneficial conversion on convertible notes payable, capitalized mineral rights, asset valuations, common stock issued for services, common stock issued for conversion of notes and common stock issued in connection with an acquisition.

7

Table of Contents

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

In December 2007, ASC 810-10-65, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements” clarified that a non-controlling (minority) interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. It also requires consolidated net income to include the amounts attributable to both the parent and non-controlling interest, with disclosure on the face of the consolidated income statement of the amounts attributed to the parent and to the non-controlling interest. In accordance with ASC 810-10-45-21, those losses attributable to the parent and the non-controlling interest in subsidiary may exceed their interests in the subsidiary’s equity. The excess and any further losses attributable to the parent and the non-controlling interest shall be attributed to those interests even if that attribution results in a deficit non-controlling interest balance.

Cash and cash equivalents

Marketable securities

Fair value of financial instruments

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Mineral property acquisition and exploration costs

ASC 930-805-30-1 and 30-2 provides that in fair valuing mineral assets, an acquirer should take into account both:

·                  The value beyond proven and probable reserves (“VBPP”) to the extent that a market participant would include VBPP in determining the fair value of the assets.

·                  The effects of anticipated fluctuations in the future market price of minerals in a manner that is consistent with the expectations of market participants.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost. The cost of repairs and maintenance is expensed as incurred; major replacements and improvements are capitalized. When assets are retired or disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are included in income in the year of disposition. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the assets, generally one to twenty five years.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company accounts for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets according to the ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment”. The Company continually monitors events and changes in circumstances that could indicate that the carrying amounts of long-lived assets, including mineral rights, may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets in the exploration stage are monitored for impairment based on factors such as the Company’s continued right to explore the area, exploration reports, assays, technical reports, drill results and the Company’s continued plans to fund exploration programs on the property, and whether sufficient work has been performed to indicate that the carrying amount of the mineral property cost carried forward as an asset will not be fully recovered. The tests for long-lived assets in the exploration stage would be monitored for impairment based on factors such as current market value of the long-lived assets and results of exploration, future asset utilization, business climate, mineral prices and future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the related assets.

10

Table of Contents

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. When necessary, impaired assets are written down to estimated fair value based on the best information available. Estimated fair value is generally based on either appraised value or measured by discounting estimated future cash flows. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate discounted future cash flows. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. The Company did not record any impairment charges of its long-lived assets at September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

In accordance with ASC 350-30-65, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Others”, the Company assesses the impairment of identifiable intangibles whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors the Company considers to be important which could trigger an impairment review include the following:

1.                            Significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results;

2.                           Significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the strategy for the overall business; and

3.                           Significant negative industry or economic trends.

When the Company determines that the carrying value of intangibles may not be recoverable based upon the existence of one or more of the above indicators of impairment and the carrying value of the asset cannot be recovered from projected undiscounted cash flows, the Company records an impairment charge. The Company measures any impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in the current business model. Significant management judgment is required in determining whether an indicator of impairment exists and in projecting cash flows. The Company did not have any intangible assets as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the provision of ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Income Taxes” which requires, among other things, an asset and liability approach to calculating deferred income taxes. The asset and liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided to offset any net deferred tax assets for which management believes it is more likely than not that the net deferred asset will not be realized.

The Company follows the provision of the ASC 740-10 related to Accounting for Uncertain Income Tax Position. When tax returns are filed, there may be uncertainty about the merits of positions taken or the amount of the position that would be ultimately sustained. In accordance with the guidance of ASC 740-10, the benefit of a tax position is recognized in the financial statements in the period during which, based on all available evidence, management believes it is most likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of appeals or litigation processes, if any. Tax positions taken are not offset or aggregated with other positions.

11

Table of Contents

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement with the applicable taxing authority. The portion of the benefits associated with tax positions taken that exceeds the amount measured as described above should be reflected as a liability for uncertain tax benefits in the accompanying balance sheet along with any associated interest and penalties that would be payable to the taxing authorities upon examination. The Company believes its tax positions are all highly certain of being upheld upon examination. As such, the Company has not recorded a liability for uncertain tax benefits.

The Company has adopted ASC 740-10-25, “Definition of Settlement”, which provides guidance on how an entity should determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits and provides that a tax position can be effectively settled upon the completion and examination by a taxing authority without being legally extinguished. For tax positions considered effectively settled, an entity would recognize the full amount of tax benefit, even if the tax position is not considered more likely than not to be sustained based solely on the basis of its technical merits and the statute of limitations remains open.  The federal and state income tax returns of the Company are subject to examination by the IRS and state taxing authorities, generally for three years after they were filed.

Stock-based compensation is accounted for based on the requirements of the Share-Based Payment Topic of ASC 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation”, which requires recognition in the consolidated financial statements of the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments over the period the employee or director is required to perform the services in exchange for the award (presumptively, the vesting period). The ASC also requires measurement of the cost of employee and director services received in exchange for an award based on the grant-date fair value of the award.

Pursuant to ASC Topic 505-50, “Equity Based Payments to Non-employees”, for share-based payments to consultants and other third-parties, compensation expense is determined at the “measurement date.” The expense is recognized over the vesting period of the award. Until the measurement date is reached, the total amount of compensation expense remains uncertain. The Company initially records compensation expense based on the fair value of the award at the reporting date.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.” ASU 2013-11 provides guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits related to any disallowed portion of net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards, if they exist. ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of ASU 2013-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption. The Company does not discuss recent pronouncements that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to its financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.

12

Table of Contents

On July 22, 2011, the Company, Continental Resources Acquisition Sub Inc. (“Acquisition Sub”) and Continental Resources Group Inc. (“Continental”) entered into a Purchase Agreement and, through Acquisition Sub, completed the purchase of substantially all of the assets of Continental.

On February 12, 2013 the SEC declared the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 effective. The registration statement satisfied a condition of the liquidation of Continental. As a result of the effectiveness of the Form S-1 registration statement, Continental completed its plan of liquidation, including the distribution of 76,095,215 of the Company’s shares on a pro rata basis to Continental shareholders of record as of March 1, 2013.

Sale of Uranium Exploration Properties

On January 26, 2012, the Company and American Strategic Minerals Corp. (“Amicor”) entered into an Option Agreement whereby Amicor acquired the option to purchase all uranium properties and claims (the “Option”) from the Company for a purchase price of $10.00 in consideration for the issuance of (i) 10,000,000 shares of Amicor’s common stock and (ii) a six month promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000. Pursuant to the Option, the consideration received by the Company for the option was non-refundable.

In 2012, $930,000 of the principal amount of note was paid. Under the terms of the note, Amicor was required to pay the balance of the note upon completion of a private placement totaling $1,000,000 or more on or before July 26, 2012. The $1,000,000 private placement was not completed by that date and thus Amicor was not required to pay the final $70,000 due under the note. Accordingly, no amounts under the note receivable from Amicor are currently outstanding.

In January 2013, the Company sold the remaining 1,513,333 shares of Amicor common stock it owned in a private transaction and generated net proceeds of $151,333. Between February 2013 and May 2013, the Company sold all 25,000,000 shares of Valor Gold common stock it owned in private transactions and generated net proceeds of $1,505,000. Consequently, the Company recorded a realized gain — available for sale securities of $1,656,333 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

NOTE 5 — MINERAL PROPERTIES

Relief Canyon Properties

The Relief Canyon properties are located in Pershing County about 100 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada and at the southern end of the Humboldt Range. The Relief Canyon properties do not currently have any mineral reserves and all activities undertaken and currently proposed are exploratory in nature.

Relief Canyon Mine

Through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Gold Acquisition, the Company owns 164 unpatented lode mining claims and 120 unpatented millsites at the Relief Canyon Mine property. The property includes the Relief Canyon Mine and gold processing facilities, currently in a care and maintenance status. The Relief Canyon Mine includes three open pit mines, heap leach pads comprised of six cells, two solution ponds and a cement block constructed adsorption desorption-recovery (ADR) solution processing circuit. The ADR type process plant consists of four carbon columns, acid wash system, stripping vessel, electrolytic cells, a furnace and a retort for the production of gold doré. The process facility was completed in 2008 by Firstgold Corp and produced gold until 2009 and is currently in a care and maintenance status. The facilities are generally in good condition. Most of the Relief Canyon Mine property is burdened by a production royalty equal to 2% of net smelter returns payable to Battle Mountain Gold Exploration LLC (now owned by Royal Gold).

14

Table of Contents

PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(FORMERLY SAGEBRUSH GOLD LTD.)

(AN EXPLORATION STAGE COMPANY)

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

NOTE 5 — MINERAL PROPERTIES (continued)

Pershing Pass Property

The Pershing Pass property consists of over 700 unpatented mining claims covering approximately 12,000 acres and a mining lease covering approximately 600 acres.  The Pershing Pass property includes approximately 490 unpatented lode mining claims covering approximately 9,700 acres that we acquired from Silver Scott Mines in March 2012 and approximately 283 unpatented lode mining claims covering about 5,660 acres owned directly by a Victoria Gold Corp. subsidiary prior to our purchase. Victoria Gold has reserved a 2% net smelter return production royalty on the 221 claims that are located outside the area of interest related to the Newmont Leased property, discussed above.  The Pershing Pass property also includes 17 unpatented mining claims acquired from a third party in April 2012 subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty, 17 unpatented mining claims that the Company located in mid 2012, and approximately 635 acres of private lands that the Company leased in January 2013.  The primary term of the lease is ten years, which may be extended as long as mineral development work continues on the property. Production from the lease is subject to a 2% net smelter return royalty on all metals produced other than gold, and to a royalty on gold indexed to the gold price, ranging from 2% at gold prices of less than $500 per ounce to 3.5% at gold prices over $1,500 per ounce. Prior to one year after commercial production, the Company can repurchase up to 3% of the royalty on gold production at the rate of $600,000 for each 1%.

In September 2013, the Company entered into a lease agreement and purchase option with Wolf Pack Gold (Nevada) Corp for 19 unpatented mining claims (approximately 400 acres) in the Pershing Pass Property.  The lease grants the Company exclusive rights to conduct mineral exploration, development and mining and an exclusive option to purchase the claims. The primary term of the lease is ten years, which may be extended as long as mineral exportation, development, or mining work continues on the property. Production from the lease is subject to a 1% net smelter return royalty on precious metals and a one-half percent net smelter royalty on all other metals produced from the lease. Prior to production, and starting in September 2016, the Company is required to pay a $10,000 per year advance minimum royalty payment to Wolf Pack Gold. The advance minimum royalty remains at $10,000 per year until September 2023 when the advance royalty payment increases to $12,500 per year.  The advance royalty payment increases to $15,000 per year in September 2028 and then $20,000 per year in September 2033.  The advance minimum royalty payments are due on or before the anniversary dates of the lease agreement. If the Company decides to exercise the purchase option, which is exercisable at any time, it can acquire the 19 unpatented mining claims from Wolf Pack Gold for $250,000.

Newmont Leased Properties

On April 5, 2012, the Company purchased from Victoria Gold Corp. and Victoria Resources (US) Inc. (“VRI”) their interest in approximately 13,300 acres of mining claims and private lands adjacent to the Company’s landholdings at the Relief Canyon Mine in Pershing County, Nevada. Approximately 8,900 acres of these properties are held under leases and subleases with Newmont USA Ltd., which the Company refers to as the Newmont Leased properties. Victoria Gold has reserved a 2% net smelter return royalty from the production on 221 of the 283 unpatented mining claims that it owned directly.

Approximately 8,900 acres of the lands that the Company acquired from Victoria Gold Corporation are a leasehold interest comprised of unpatented mining claims and private lands subject to a 2006 Mineral Lease and Sublease with Newmont USA Ltd., which the Company refers to as the Newmont Leased property. The Newmont Leased property consists of 155 unpatented lode mining claims owned by Newmont comprising approximately 2,800 acres, approximately 4,900 acres of privately-owned fee minerals leased by Newmont from the owners, and 62 unpatented mining claims that were owned by Victoria within the Newmont Leased property and area of interest.

15

Table of Contents

NOTE 5 — MINERAL PROPERTIES (continued)

In order to maintain the 2006 Minerals Lease and Sublease with Newmont, the Company was required to spend approximately $1.0 million in exploration expenses in 2013. The Company has satisfied the 2013 direct drilling work commitment. Starting in 2014, the Company is required to spend $0.5 million on exploration expenditures or pay Newmont rental payments of $10 per acre per year. The rental payments will escalate by 5% per year. The Company has also satisfied the 2014 direct drilling work commitment and the majority of the 2015 commitment. Under the current terms of the 2006 Minerals Lease and Sublease and commencing in 2014, the annual rent, if the Company elects not to or fails to incur at least $0.5 million in exploration expenditures, would be approximately $0.1 million. Because the Company has satisfied the direct drilling work commitment for 2014 and 2015, it will not incur annual rental payments in 2014 or 2015. The Company will be required to expend $0.5 million in additional direct drilling expenditures in 2016 in order to avoid the annual rental payment requirement.

Pursuant to the 2006 Minerals Lease and Sublease, the Company is subject to a 3% to 5% net smelter royalty tied to the gold price in the event Newmont elects not to pursue the Venture Option and quitclaims the claims and leased lands to the Company. The 5% net smelter royalty would apply if the monthly average gold price is equal to or greater than $400 per ounce. In addition, the Company is subject to a 2.5% net smelter returns royalty payable to the lessor on approximately 800 acres of the Newmont Leased properties under the 1994 Mining Lease and a 3.5% net smelter returns royalty payable to the lessor on approximately 495 acres of the Newmont Leased properties under the 1999 Mining Lease; these royalties would offset the Newmont royalty down to 2%.

The Company has posted bonds with the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) as required by the State of Nevada in an amount equal to the maximum cost to reclaim land disturbed in its mining process. The Company posted a reclamation bond deposit of approximately $4.6 million to provide surface reclamation coverage for the Relief Canyon Mine, as required by the BLM to secure remediation costs if the project is abandoned or closed. Due to its investment in the bond and the close monitoring of the BLM Nevada State Office, the Company believes that it has adequately mitigated any liability that could be incurred by the Company to reclaim lands disturbed in its mining process.

As of September 30, 2013, based on management’s review of the carrying value of mineral rights, management determined that there is no evidence that the cost of these acquired mineral rights will not be fully recovered and accordingly, the Company has determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of mineral rights was required.

As of the date of these consolidated financial statements, the Company has not established any proven or probable reserves on its mineral properties and has incurred only acquisition and exploration costs.