Exhibit 10.3


 


PERSHING GOLD CORPORATION

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


THIS REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of February 25, 2016, is made by and between Pershing
Gold Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) and the undersigned investors (each an “Investor”
and collectively, the “Investors”).


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, in
connection with that certain Subscription Agreement on even date herewith by and between the Company and the Investors (the “Subscription
Agreement”) and the Unit Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and the Investors (the “Purchase
Agreement”), each Investor has purchased from the Company certain units (the “Units”),
each Unit consisting of (a) one share (the “Share” and collectively with all Shares issued as part of
the Units, “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Common
Stock”), and (b) a warrant (the “Warrant” and collectively with all Warrants issued as
part of the Units, “Warrants”) to purchase 0.5 of a share of Common Stock at an exercise price equal
to 110% of the market value of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the applicable closing,
for a period beginning six (6) months and one day from, and ending thirty (30) months from, the date of issuance, at a negotiated
price of $3.25 per Unit.


 


WHEREAS, to
induce the Investors to purchase the Units, the Company has agreed to grant the Investors certain rights with respect to registration
of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.


 


AGREEMENT


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
the Company and the Investors, and each of them, hereby covenant and agree as follows:


 


1.          Recitals.
The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.


 


2.          Certain
Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the
Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following respective meanings:


 


“Agent”
shall mean Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. as the agent for the Investors for certain notice
purposes under this Agreement.


 


“Agreement”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.


 


“Automatic
Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.


 




     


     


    

 


“Closing”
shall mean the closing of the sale of the Units purchased by an Investor.


 


“Closing
Date” means the date on which the Closing occurred.


 


“Commission”
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.


 


“Common Stock”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.


 


“Company”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.


 


“Delay Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of this Agreement.


 


“Effectiveness
Date” shall mean that date which is sixty (60) days following the Filing Date (in case of a no review by the Commission
staff) or one hundred eighty (180) days following the Filing Date (in the case of a review by the Commission staff).



 


“Effectiveness
Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement.


 


“End of Suspension
Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.


 


“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 


 


“Filing Date”
shall mean with respect to the Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder, that date which is forty-five (45) days following
the Final Closing Date and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required herein, the earliest practical
date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable
Securities.


 


“Final Closing
Date” means closing date of the Offering after which the Company ceases to offer for sale the Units.


 


“Investor”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.


 


“Offering”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreements.


 


“Piggyback
Registration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) of this Agreement.


 


“Prospectus”
means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated
by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the
terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments
and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to
be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.


 




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“Purchase
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble hereof.


 


“Purchase
Price” shall have the meaning set forth in the Subscription Agreements.


 


“Register,”
“registered” and “registration” each shall refer to a registration of the Registrable
Securities effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or statements or similar documents in compliance with the
Securities Act and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document by the Commission.


 


“Registrable
Securities” shall mean (a) all Shares, (b) all Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants delivered
to the Investors in connection with the Offering (assuming on such date the Warrants are exercised in full without regard to any
exercise limitations therein), and (c) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,  recapitalization
or similar event with respect to the foregoing provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities (i) when subject to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act as provided for hereunder, (ii) upon
any sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iii) at such time such securities become
eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions and without current public information pursuant to Rule 144(c)
as set forth in a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor.


 


“Registration
Statement” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Sections 3 or
4 and any additional registration statements contemplated herein, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto,
and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.


 


“Rule 415”
means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time
to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect
as such Rule.


 


“Rule 424”
means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time
to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect
as such Rule.


 


“SEC Guidance”
means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii)
the Securities Act.


 


“Securities
Act” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.


 




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“Selling
Stockholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement.


 


“Shares”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.


 


“Subscription
Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.


 


“Suspension
Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.


 


“Suspension
Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(c) of this Agreement.


 


“Warrant”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.


 


“Warrant
Shares” shall mean the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.


 


Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Subscription Agreement.


 


		3.	Automatic Registration.



 


(a)          On
or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement (the “Automatic
Registration Statement”) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Automatic Registration Statement required hereunder shall be on Form S-1 or Form S-3,
as applicable, and shall contain substantially the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as Annex A. 
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Automatic Registration Statement
to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event not later
than the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep the Automatic Registration Statement continuously effective
under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
have been sold thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement may be sold by non-affiliates of the Company without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current
public information requirement under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter
to such effect, addressed, delivered and acceptable to the affected Investor (the “Effectiveness Period”).
The maximum amount of Registrable Securities that may be included in the Automatic Registration Statement at any one time shall
be limited by Rule 415 as required by the Commission. In the event that there is a limitation by the Commission on the number of
Registrable Securities that may be included for registration at one time, the Company shall promptly so advise the Investors and
use its best efforts to file an additional Automatic Registration Statement covering such ineligible Registrable Securities, on
a pro-rata basis, within 30 days of the date such securities become eligible and cause such Automatic Registration Statement to
be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable. The Company shall immediately
notify the Holders and the Agent of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that the Company telephonically
confirms effectiveness with the Commission, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the Trading Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a
final Prospectus with the Commission under Rule 424. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, so long as the Company
is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely
filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”),
it is not required to provide notice to the Holders of effectiveness of a Registration Statement to the extent a notice of effectiveness
is public available through EDGAR.


 




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(b)          Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall have the right to delay the filing of the Registration Statement for
a period not in excess of 60 consecutive days and no more than 90 days in any consecutive 12-month period (a “Delay
Period”), if the Company is pursuing a public offering of securities and the underwriter recommends a Delay Period.


 


(c)          In
the case of an event that causes the Company to suspend the use of a Registration Statement (a “Suspension Event”),
the Company shall give written notice (a “Suspension Notice”) to the Investors to suspend sales of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement and such notice shall continue only for so long as the Suspension
Event or its effect is continuing. No Investor shall effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End
of Suspension Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Registration Statement. The Investors may recommence effecting sales
of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such effect
(an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the
Company to the Investors in the manner described above promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event and its effect.


 




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(d)          If:
(i) the Automatic Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files the Automatic Registration
Statement without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 5(a)
herein, the Company shall be deemed to have not satisfied this clause (i)), (ii) the Company fails
to file with the Commission a request for acceleration of a Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated by the
Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject
to further review, or (iii) prior to the effective date of a Registration Statement, the Company fails to file a pre-effective
amendment or otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such Registration Statement within thirty
(30) calendar days after the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for
such Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a Registration Statement registering for resale all of the
Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the Commission by the Effectiveness Date (unless the reason for such non-registration
of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities is as a result of SEC Guidance under Rule 415 or similar rule which limits
the number of Registrable Securities which may be included in a registration statement with respect to the Holders), or (v) after
the effective date of a Registration Statement, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective
as to all Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, or the Investors are otherwise not permitted to utilize
the prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days or more than an
aggregate of fifteen (15) calendar days (which need not be consecutive calendar days) during any 12-month period (any such failure
or breach being referred to as an “Event”, and for purposes of clauses
(i) and (iv), the date on which such Event occurs, and for purpose of clause (ii) the date on which such five (5) Trading Day period
is exceeded, and for purpose of clause (iii) the date which such thirty (30) calendar day period is exceeded, and for purpose of
clause (v) the date on which such ten (10) or fifteen (15) calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as
an “Event Date”), then, in addition to any other rights the Investors may have hereunder
or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event
shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Investor an amount in
cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement and Purchase Agreement. The parties agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to
an Investor under this Agreement shall be 6% of the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such Investor.  If the Company fails
to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will
pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law)
to the Investor, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest
thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro rata basis for
any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments shall be owed (i) to any affiliate
of the Company, (ii) with respect to any period during which all of the holder’s Registrable Shares may be sold by such holder
under Rule 144 without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under
Rule 144(c), or (iii) in circumstances described in Section 3(c).


 


		4.	Piggyback Registrations.



 


(a)          With
respect to any Registrable Securities not otherwise included in the Automatic Registration Statement or any other Registration
Statement as a result of any limitation imposed by the Commission under Rule 415 (the “Excluded Registrable Securities”),
whenever the Company proposes to register (including, for this purpose, a registration effected by the Company for other shareholders)
any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to (i) an Automatic Registration pursuant to Section 3
hereof or (ii) registration pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor forms thereto), and the
registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”),
the Company will give written notice to the holder of Excluded Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such a registration
and will, subject to the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof, include in such registration all Excluded Registrable Securities
with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein within twenty (20) days after the receipt
of the Company’s notice.


 




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(b)          If
a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and
the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included
in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability of the
offering, the Company will, if permitted by all applicable agreements, include in such registration a pro rata share of Excluded
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement as calculated by dividing the number of Excluded
Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Registration Statement by the number of the Company’s securities
requested to be included in such Registration Statement by all selling security holders. In such event, the holder of Excluded
Registrable Securities shall continue to have registration rights under this Agreement with respect to any Excluded Registrable
Securities not so included in such Registration Statement.


 


(c)          Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if, at any time after giving a notice of Piggyback Registration and prior to the effective date of the Registration
Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration
of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each record holder of Excluded
Registrable Securities and, following such notice, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its
obligation to register any Excluded Registrable Securities in connection with such registration, and (ii) in the case of determination
to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Excluded Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay
in registering such other securities.


 


(d)          Neither
the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of
the Company in any Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration
statements until all Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to a Registration Statement that is declared effective by the
Commission, provided that this Section shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior
to the date of this Agreement or a shelf registration statement.


 


5.          Registration
Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company will:


 


(a)          not
less than four (4) trading days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) trading day prior
to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), and subject, if appropriate, to the relevant parties’ entry into a customary
agreement to maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information provided (a “Confidentiality Agreement”)
or the Company may excise any information which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company, the Company
shall (i) furnish to one counsel on behalf of all sellers of Registrable Securities copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review
of such sellers, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the sellers of Registrable Securities, to conduct
a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the above, the Company shall not be obligated
to provide each seller of Registrable Securities advance copies of any universal shelf registration statement registering securities
in addition to those required hereunder, or any Prospectus prepared thereto. The Company shall not
file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of 67% or more
of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith on the basis that such Registration Statement, Prospectus or
amendment or supplement is materially noncompliant with the Securities Act, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection
in writing no later than three (3) trading days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement or
one (1) trading day after the Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto..


 




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(b)          prepare
and file with the Commission the Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to
cause such Registration Statement to become effective in an expeditious manner;


 


(c)          
(i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and
the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented
by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed
pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect
to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to one counsel for all sellers
of Registrable Securities true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration
Statement (provided that, the Company may either obtain a Confidentiality Agreement from Investors or excise any information contained
therein which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company), and (iv) comply in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as amended, with respect to the disposition of all Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement)
with the intended methods of disposition by each seller of Registrable Securities thereof set forth in such Registration Statement
as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.


 


(d)          if
during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case
prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Investors of not less than
the number of such Registrable Securities.


 


(e)          furnish
to each seller of Registrable Securities and to each underwriter such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
included therein (including each preliminary prospectus) as such persons reasonably may request in order to facilitate the intended
disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;


 




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(f)          use
its commercially reasonable efforts (i) to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
under the state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the sellers of Registrable Securities or, in
the case of an underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter, reasonably shall request, (ii) to prepare and file in those
jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements, and take such other actions, as may be necessary
to maintain such registration and qualification in effect at all times for the period of distribution contemplated thereby, (iii)
to notify the Holders with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose and (iv) to take such further action as may be necessary or advisable to enable the disposition of the Registrable
Securities in such jurisdictions, provided, that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to
transact business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified or to consent to general service of
process in any such jurisdiction;


 


(g)          use
its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement with any securities
exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed;


 


(h)          immediately
notify each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter under such Registration Statement, at any time when a Prospectus
relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which the Company has knowledge
as a result of which the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes any untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and promptly amend or supplement such Registration Statement to correct
any such untrue statement or omission;


 


(i)          promptly
notify each seller of Registrable Securities of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state regulatory authority
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose
and make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting
thereof at the earliest possible time;


 


(j)          if
the offering is an underwritten offering, enter into a written agreement with the managing underwriter selected in the manner herein
provided in such form and containing such provisions as are usual and customary in the securities business for such an arrangement
between such underwriter and companies of the Company’s size and investment stature, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution provisions;


 


(k)          if
the offering is an underwritten offering, at the request of any Investor, furnish to such Investor on the date that Registrable
Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale pursuant to such offering: (i) a copy of an opinion, dated such date, of
counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters, stating that such Registration
Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and that (A) to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending
the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated
under the Securities Act, (B) the Registration Statement, the related Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereof comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (except that such counsel need not express any
opinion as to financial statements or other financial, statistical, or technical information, including without limitation information
regarding mineral reserves, mineralized material or resources, contained therein) and (C) to such other effects as reasonably may
be requested by counsel for the underwriters; and (ii) a copy of a letter dated such date from the independent public accountants
retained by the Company, addressed to the underwriters, stating that they are independent registered public accountants within
the meaning of the Securities Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements of the Company included
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, and such letter shall additionally cover such other financial
matters (including information as to the period ending no more than five business days prior to the date of such letter) with respect
to such registration as such underwriters reasonably may request;


 




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(l)          the
Company shall cooperate with the Agent in effecting a filing with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA Rule
5110 in connection with its efforts to resell Registrable Securities on behalf of a Holder, and the Company shall pay the filing
fee required by such filing within two (2) Business Days of request therefor.


 


(m)          the
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain eligibility for use of Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) for the
registration of the resale of Registrable Securities;


 


(n)          take
all actions reasonably necessary to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any legend restricting
the sale or transfer of such securities) representing the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement and
to enable such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as each Investor or any underwriters may reasonably
request; and


 


(o)          take
all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.


 


6.          Obligations
of Investors. Each Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Investor, the number of Registrable
Securities owned and proposed to be sold by it, the intended method of disposition of such securities and any other information
as shall be required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and cooperate with the Company in preparing the
Registration Statement and in complying with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each Investor agrees to furnish to the Company
a completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement (a “Selling
Stockholder Questionnaire”) on a date that is not less than fifteen (15) trading days prior to the Filing. The Company
shall have no obligation to include in the Registration Statement Registrable Securities of an Investor who has failed to timely
furnish such information which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, is reasonably required to be furnished or confirmed in
order for the Registration Statement, to comply with the Securities Act.


 




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		7.	Expenses.



 


(a)          All
expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 3, 4 and 5 including, without limitation, all registration
and filing fees (including the fees of the Commission and any other regulatory body with which the Company is required to file),
any FINRA filing fees required to be made by the Agent in connection with its efforts to resell Registered Securities on behalf
of a Holder pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants
for the Company, fees and expenses (including counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or “blue
sky” laws, and fees of transfer agents and registrars are referred to herein as “Registration Expenses”.
All underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities are referred to herein as “Selling
Expenses”. The Company shall pay a one-time fee of $10,000 to the counsel who reviews
the Registration Statement on behalf of the Holders as referenced in Section 5(a) above, which shall be paid by the Company at
the time such counsel is to review such Registration Statement and in any event prior to the filing of such Registration Statement.


 


(b)          The
Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Registration Statement filed hereunder, and the Selling Expenses
in connection with each such Registration Statement shall be borne by the participating sellers in proportion to the number of
Registrable Securities sold by each or as they may otherwise agree.


 


(c)          Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall employ its counsel at the Company’s expense
to prepare any and all legal opinions necessary for the prompt removal of restrictive legends from certificates representing Registrable
Securities as, when and to the extent such legends may be removed in compliance with the Securities Act and/or Rule 144.


 


		8.	Indemnification and Contribution.



 


(a)          In
the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
the Company will indemnify and hold harmless and pay and reimburse, each Investor thereunder, each underwriter of such Registrable
Securities thereunder and each other person, if any, who controls such seller or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which each such Investor, underwriter
or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act pursuant
hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation of the Securities Act or any state securities
or “blue sky” laws and will reimburse each such Investor, each such underwriter and each such controlling person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon the Company’s reliance on an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished in writing (which may include by email) by any
such seller, any such underwriter or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement
or prospectus. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion
of any proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
The indemnity provided under this Section 8(a) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such indemnified person and shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by any of the Holders in accordance
with Section 13(a).


 




    	 	- 11 -	 



     


    

 


(b)          In
the event of a registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant hereto, each seller of such
Registrable Securities thereunder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement,
each director of the Company, each underwriter and each person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company or such officer, director, underwriter
or controlling person may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon reliance on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
any material fact contained in the registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities
Act pursuant hereto or any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and each such officer, director, underwriter
and controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided that such seller will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information pertaining to such seller, as
such, furnished in writing to the Company by such seller specifically for use in such Registration Statement or prospectus; and
provided, further, that the liability of each seller hereunder shall be limited to the proceeds received by such seller from the
sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnity provided in
this Section 8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
if such settlement is effected without the consent of such indemnified party and provided further, that the Company shall not be
liable in any such case pursuant to this Section 8 to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (or
action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission in such Registration Statement, which untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is
completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the undersigned indemnitees thereafter fail
to deliver or cause to be delivered such Registration Statement as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the
sale of the Registrable Securities to the person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof)
or expense after the Company has furnished the undersigned with the same.


 




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(c)          Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof,
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified
party other than under this Section 8 and shall only relieve it from any liability which it may have to such indemnified
party under this Section 8 if and to the extent the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such omission. In
case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the
defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable
to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided
that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall have reasonably concluded based upon written advice of its counsel that there may be reasonable defenses available to it
that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party
reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to
select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the
expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying
party as incurred.


 


(d)          In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i)
any holder of Registrable Securities exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such holder, makes
a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment
or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal)
that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 8 provides for
indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling holder
or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 8; then, and
in each such case, the Company and such holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that such holder is responsible for the portion represented
by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by the Registration Statement bears to the
public offering price of all securities offered by such Registration Statement, and the Company is responsible for the remaining
portion; provided, that, in any such case, (A) no such holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public
offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered by it pursuant to such Registration Statement and (B) no person or entity
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution
from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section, no Holder shall be required to contribute pursuant to this Section, in the aggregate, any amount
in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities
subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.


 




    	 	- 13 -	 



     


    

 


9.          Changes
in Capital Stock. If, and as often as, there is any change in the capital stock of the Company by way of a stock split, stock
dividend, combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other
means, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions hereof so that the rights and privileges granted hereby shall continue
as so changed.


 


10.         Representations
and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Investors as follows:


 


(a)          The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action
and will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or other agency of government, the Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws of the Company or any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which it or any or its properties
or assets is bound, conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under
any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of
any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries.


 


(b)          This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the rights of
creditors generally and to general equitable principles and the availability of specific performance.


 


11.         Rule
144 Requirements. The Company agrees to, for so long as any Investor owns Registrable Securities:


 


(a)          make
and keep current public information about the Company available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the
Securities Act;


 


(b)          use
its best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and


 


(c)          furnish
to any Investor upon request (i) a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule
144 and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), (ii)
a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents of the Company
as such holder may reasonably request to avail itself of any similar rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it to sell any
such securities without registration.


 


12.         Termination.
All of the Company’s obligations to register Registrable Securities under Sections 3, 4, and 5 hereof
shall terminate with respect to each Investor upon the date on which such Investor no longer holds Registrable Securities or the
date on which such Investor’s Registrable Securities are eligible for resale without volume or manner of sale restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement
under Rule 144(c), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed, delivered
and acceptable to the affected Investor.


 




    	 	- 14 -	 



     


    

 


		13.	Miscellaneous.



 


(a)          All
covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit
of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto (including without limitation transferees of any Registrable Securities),
whether so expressed or not. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without
the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.


 


(b)          All
notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, mailed by
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation
of transmission) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service: (i) if to the Company, at Pershing Gold Corporation,
1658 Cole Boulevard, Building 6, Suite 200, Lakewood, Colorado 80401, Attn: Stephen Alfers, President & CEO ; (ii) if to any
holder of Registrable Securities, to such holder at such address as may have been furnished to the Company or its counsel in writing
by such holder; or, in any case, at such other address or addresses as shall have been furnished, in writing to the Company or
its counsel (in the case of a holder of Registrable Securities) or to the holders of Registrable Securities (in the case of the
Company) in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph and (iii) if to Agent at Laidlaw &
Company (UK) Ltd., 546 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Attn: Hugh Regan, Executive Managing Director
. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective upon actual receipt by the
party or at the address of the party to whom such notice is required to be given.


 


(c)          This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts
of laws. The Company and Investors (i) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement
may be instituted exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the City of New York, New York County, State of New York,
(ii) waive any objection which the Company or Investors may have now or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding,
and (iii) irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of any such federal or state court in any such suit, action or proceeding. The
Company and Investors further agree to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit,
action or proceeding and agree that service of process upon the Company or Investors mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, to, in the case of the Company, the Company’s address, and in the case of an Investor, to such Investor’s
address as set forth on the Company’s books and records, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon
the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL
OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.


 




    	 	- 15 -	 



     


    

 


(d)          In
the event of a breach by the Company or by the Investors, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, the Investors or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including
recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each of the Investors
agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any
of the provisions of this Agreement and each of them hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance
in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.


 


(e)          This
Agreement may not be amended or modified without the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities.


 


(f)          Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver shall be effective unless and until it is in writing and signed by the
party granting the waiver.


 


(g)          This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts (including by facsimile or .pdf transmission) each of which shall be deemed
an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, once executed by a party,
may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission or sent by electronic mail of a copy of this Agreement bearing
the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.


 


(h)          If
any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability
shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any manner affect or render illegal, invalid or unenforceable any other provision
of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision were not
contained herein.


 


(i)          This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Company and the Investors relative to the subject matter hereof and supersedes
in its entirety any and all prior agreements, understandings and discussions with respect thereto.


 


(j)          The
headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience and shall not by themselves determine the interpretation of this
Agreement.


 


(k)          The
obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder
shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein
or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall
be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or
create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations
or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Holders are not
acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or transactions.
Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement,
and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The
use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained was solely in the control of the Company, not
the action or decision of any Holder, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or
requested to do so by any Holder. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between
the Company and a Holder, solely, and not between the Company and the Holders collectively and not between and among Holders


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 




    	 	- 16 -	 



     


    

 


Signature Page to the Registration Rights
Agreement


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.


 


COMPANY:


 


PERSHING GOLD CORP.


 


	By: 	 	 
	 	Name: 	 
	 	Title:	 


 


INVESTORS:


 


The Investors set forth on Exhibit A
to this Agreement have executed a Subscription Agreement with the Company which provides, among other things, that by executing
the Subscription Agreement each Investor is deemed to have executed the REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT in all respects and is bound
by its terms.


 




    	 	A-1