NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Presentation

These consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP).

References in these Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to $ refer to United States currency and C$ to Canadian currency. Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for per share amounts.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with US GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions related to: estimates of gold and copper production that are the basis for future cash flow estimates utilized in impairment calculations; estimates of fair value for asset impairments (including impairments of mineral properties and investments); valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; environmental, reclamation and closure obligations; reserves for contingencies and litigation; and the fair value and accounting treatment of financial instruments including marketable equity securities and derivative instruments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results will differ from these amounts estimated in these financial statements.

Principles of consolidation

The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries include NOVAGOLD Canada Inc., Copper Canyon Resources Inc., NOVAGOLD U.S. Holdings Inc., NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska Inc., NOVAGOLD USA Inc., and AGC Resources Inc. All inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

The functional currency for the Company's Canadian operations is the Canadian dollar and the functional currency for the Company's U.S. operations is the U.S. dollar. Therefore, gains and losses on U.S. dollar denominated transactions and the effect of translating U.S. dollar denominated balances of Canadian operations are recorded in net loss.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash balances and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes. Restricted cash is excluded from cash and cash equivalents and is included in other long-term assets. 

Term Deposits

The Company's term deposits are recorded at cost. Term deposits are held at two Chartered Canadian banks with original maturities of 12 months or less. The term deposits are not traded in an active market.

Investment in affiliates

Investments in unconsolidated ventures over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for under the equity method and include the Company's investments in the Donlin Gold and Galore Creek projects. The Company identified Donlin Gold LLC and the Galore Creek Partnership as Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) as these entities are dependent on funding from their owners. All funding, ownership, voting rights and power to exercise control is shared equally on a 50/50 basis between the owners of each VIE. Therefore, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of either VIE. The Company's maximum exposure to loss is its investment in Donlin Gold LLC and Galore Creek Partnership.

The equity method is a basis of accounting for investments whereby the investment is initially recorded at cost and the carrying value is adjusted thereafter to include the investor's pro rata share of post-acquisition earnings or losses of the investee, as computed by the consolidation method. Cash funding increases the carrying value of the investment. Profit distributions received or receivable from an investee reduce the carrying value of the investment.

Donlin Gold LLC and the Galore Creek Partnership are non-publicly traded equity investees owning exploration and development projects. Therefore, the Company assesses whether there has been a potential impairment triggering event for other-than-temporary impairment by testing the underlying assets of the equity investee for recoverability and assessing whether there has been a change in the development plan or strategy for the project. If the Company determines that the underlying assets are recoverable and no other potential impairment conditions are identified, then the investment in the equity investee is carried at cost. If the underlying assets are not recoverable, the Company will record an impairment charge equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the investee and its fair value.

Mineral properties

Mineral property expenditures are expensed as incurred except for expenditures associated with the acquisition of mineral property assets through a business combination or asset acquisition.

The Company reviews and evaluates its mineral properties for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. An impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted estimated future cash flows.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, recognizing certain temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of the Company's liabilities and assets and the related income tax basis for such liabilities and assets. This method generates either a net deferred income tax liability or asset for the Company, as measured by the statutory tax rates in effect. The Company derives its deferred income tax charge or benefit by recording the change in either the net deferred income tax liability or asset balance for the year.

The Company's deferred income tax assets include certain future tax benefits. The Company records a valuation allowance against any portion of those deferred income tax assets when it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized.

Share-based payments

The Company operates a stock option plan and a performance share unit (PSU) plan under which the Company receives services from employees as consideration for equity instruments (options or shares) of the Company. The Company records share-based compensation awards exchanged for employee services at fair value on the date of the grant and expenses the awards in the consolidated statement of loss over the requisite employee service period. Share-based compensation expense includes an estimate for forfeitures. The fair values of stock options are determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair values of PSUs are determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The Company's estimates may be impacted by certain variables including, but not limited to, stock price volatility, employee stock option exercise behaviors, additional stock option grants, estimates of forfeitures, the Company's performance and the Company's performance in relation to its peers. 

The Company operates a deferred share unit (DSU) plan under which the Company receives services from its directors as consideration for equity instruments (shares) of the Company. Each DSU entitles the Company's directors to receive one common share of the Company when they retire from the Company. The fair value of the DSUs is measured at the date of the grant in amounts ranging from 50% to 100% of the directors' annual retainers at the election of the directors. The fair value is recognized in the consolidated statement of loss over the related service period.

Net income (loss) per common share

Basic and diluted income (loss) per share are presented for Net income (loss). Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing Net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares for the period. Diluted income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts that may require the issuance of common shares in the future were converted. Diluted income per share is computed by increasing the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares to include the additional common shares that would be outstanding after conversion and adjusting net income for changes that would result from the conversion. Only those securities or other contracts that result in a reduction in earnings per share are included in the calculation.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern

In August 2014, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) guidance was issued that explicitly requires management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern, and to provide related footnote disclosures in certain circumstances. The Company elected early adoption of the new standard applied prospectively. Application of the new guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Discontinued Operations

In April 2014, ASC guidance was issued related to Discontinued Operations which changed the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modified related disclosure requirements. The updated guidance requires an entity to only classify dispositions as discontinued operations due to a major strategic shift or a major effect on an entity's operations in the financial statements. The updated guidance will also require additional disclosures relating to discontinued operations. The Company elected early adoption of the new standard. Application of the new guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Foreign Currency Matters

In March 2013, ASC guidance was issued related to Foreign Currency Matters to clarify the treatment of cumulative translation adjustments when a parent sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The updated guidance also resolves the diversity in practice for the treatment of business combinations achieved in stages in a foreign entity. Application of the new guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In November 2011, ASC guidance was issued related to disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The new guidance requires disclosures to allow investors to better compare financial statements prepared under US GAAP with financial statements prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the IASB (IFRS). In January 2013, an update was issued to further clarify that the disclosure requirements are limited to derivatives, repurchase agreements, and securities lending transactions to the extent that they are (i) offset in the financial statements or (ii) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Application of the new guidance had no impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  

Consolidation – Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis

In February 2015, ASC guidance was issued to amend current consolidation guidance. The amendments affect both the variable interest entity and voting interest entity consolidation models. The need to assess an entity under a different consolidation model may change previous consolidation conclusions. The new guidance is effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning December 1, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance.