EX-99.2 24 f40f2020ex99-2_seabridge.htm AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

Exhibit 99.2

 

SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

FOR THE YEARS ENDED

DECEMBER 31, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

 

Page 1

 

 

KPMG LLP

Bay Adelaide Centre

333 Bay Street, Suite 4600
Toronto, ON M5H 2S5 Canada

Tel 416-777-8500

Fax 416-777-8818

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Seabridge Gold Inc.:

 

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Seabridge Gold Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and its financial performance and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Page 2

 

 

Critical Audit Matters

 

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

Uncertain Tax Positions

 

As discussed in Note 3c and 17 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2019 the Company received a notice of re-assessment from the Canadian Revenue Agency (tax authority) that reduces the amount of expenditures reported, as Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. In connection with the issuance of flow-through shares which financed the CEE, the Company has indemnified investors for any disallowed renouncements of CEE. The Company has not recorded any expense related to this uncertain tax position as the Company believes it is probable its tax position will be upheld.

 

We identified the Company’s evaluation of the uncertain tax position related to CEE as a critical audit matter. This critical audit matter required a high degree of auditor judgment to evaluate the Company’s interpretation of, and compliance with, the income tax laws and the probability of the ultimate resolution of its CEE filing positions.

 

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s assessment of the uncertain tax positions including controls related to the interpretation of tax law. We involved tax professionals with specialized skills and knowledge who assisted in, evaluating the Company’s tax position by:

 

inspecting the notice and other correspondence with the tax authority,

 

evaluating conclusions obtained by the Company from external counsel,

 

evaluating the Company’s analysis and conclusions regarding its assertion, which included an assessment of the Company’s analysis of tax laws and regulations, and

 

performing an independent assessment of the Company’s uncertain tax positions based on our understanding and interpretation of tax laws and comparing it to the Company’s assessment.

 

 

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

 

Toronto, Canada

March 23, 2021

  

Page 3

 

 

KPMG LLP

Bay Adelaide Centre

333 Bay Street, Suite 4600

Toronto, ON M5H 2S5 Canada

Tel 416-777-8500

Fax 416-777-8818

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Seabirdge Gold Inc.:

 

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited Seabridge Gold Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 23, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing under the heading Internal Control over Financial Reporting in Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 


 

Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants

 

Toronto, Canada

March 23, 2021

 

Page 5

 

 

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.  Financial statements include certain amounts based on estimates and judgments. When an alternative method exists under IFRS, management has chosen a policy it deems most appropriate in the circumstances in order to ensure that the consolidated financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with IFRS.

 

The Company maintains adequate systems of internal controls.  Such systems are designed to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are properly authorized and recorded, the Company’s assets are appropriately accounted for and adequately safeguarded and that the financial information is relevant and reliable.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities for financial reporting and is ultimately responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying management’s discussion and analysis.  The Board of Directors carries out this responsibility principally through its Audit Committee.

 

The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and all of its members are non-management directors.  The Audit Committee meets periodically with management and the external auditors to discuss internal controls, auditing matters and financial reporting issues, and to satisfy itself that each party is properly discharging its responsibilities.  The Audit Committee also reviews the consolidated financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis, the external auditors’ reports, examines the fees and expenses for audit services, and considers the engagement or reappointment of the external auditors. The Audit Committee reports its findings to the Board of Directors for its consideration when approving the consolidated financial statements for issuance to the shareholders.  KPMG LLP, the external auditors, have full and free access to the Audit Committee.

 

 

Rudi P. Fronk Christopher J. Reynolds
Chairman & CEO Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
/s/ Rudi P. Fronk /s/ Christopher J. Reynolds
 
March 23, 2021 March 23, 2021

 

Page 6

 

 

SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

  Note December 31, December 31,
  2020 2019
       
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents 4               $ 17,528               $ 8,793
Short-term deposits 4                19,905                4,114
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses 5                4,970                3,274
Investment in marketable securities 6                3,826                3,032
    46,229 19,213
Non-current assets      
Convertible notes receivable 7                   529                   529
Investment in associate 6                2,611                2,361
Mineral interests 8             591,446             425,671
Right of use asset 9                   235                   271
Reclamation deposits 11                6,767                1,327
                601,588             430,159
Total assets             $ 647,817           $ 449,372
       
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity      
Current liabilities      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 10               $ 5,377               $ 4,692
Flow-through share premium 12                     2,276                     92
Lease obligations 9                     41                     46
Provision for reclamation liabilities 11                2,500                1,860
                   10,194                6,690
Non-current liabilities      
Deferred income tax liabilities 16 19,034 22,426
Lease obligations 9 207 228
Provision for reclamation liabilities 11                3,664                5,005
    22,905              27,659
Total liabilities                33,099              34,349
       
Shareholders’ equity 12 614,718 415,023
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 647,817 $ 449,372

 

Subsequent events (Notes 7, 12 and 17), commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and were signed on its behalf:

 

 

Rudi P. Fronk Richard C. Kraus
/s/ Rudi P. Fronk /s/ Richard C. Kraus
Director Director

 

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SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except common share and per common share amounts)

 

    Year ended December 31,
  Note 2020 2019
       
Corporate and administrative expenses 14 $ (16,530) $ (13,340)
Other income - flow-through shares 12 1,676 1,218
Equity loss of associate 6 (187) (200)
Interest income   114 279
Finance expense and other expense   (815) (267)
Loss before income taxes   (15,742) (12,310)
Income tax recovery 16 800 697
Loss for the year   $ (14,942) $ (11,613)
       
Other comprehensive income (loss)      
Items that will not be reclassified to net income or loss      
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net of income taxes 6 $ 688 $ 284
Comprehensive loss for the year   $ (14,254) $ (11,329)
       
Basic and diluted net loss per common share 12 $ (0.23) $ (0.19)
       
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding 12 66,369,942 62,359,725

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Page 8

 

 


SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except number of shares)

 

  Number
of Shares
Share
Capital
Warrants Stock-based
Compensation
Contributed
Surplus
Deficit Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Gain (Loss)
Total
Equity
                 
As at December 31, 2019 63,510,487 $ 494,857 $ 3,275 $ 18,820 $ 36,073 $ (135,936) $ (2,066) $ 415,023
Share issuance – Bought deal 6,710,000 148,192 - - - - - 148,192
Share issuance - Private placement 1,785,000 24,424 - - - - - 24,424
Share issuance - At-The-Market offering 1,327,046 29,116 - - - - - 29,116
Share issuance – Other 300,000 6,564 - - - - - 6,564
Share issuance - Options exercised 390,153 6,548 - (2,246) - - - 4,302
Share issuance - RSUs vested 139,600 2,351 - (2,351) - - - -
Share issuance costs - (10,151) - - - - - (10,151)
Deferred tax on share issuance costs - 2,698 - - - - - 2,698
Stock-based compensation - - - 8,804 - - - 8,804
Expired options - - - (16) 16 - - -
Other comprehensive income - - - - - - 688 688
Net loss for the year - - - - - (14,942) - (14,942)
As at December 31, 2020 74,162,286 $ 704,599 $ 3,275 $ 23,011 $ 36,089 $ (150,878) $ (1,378) $ 614,718
As at December 31, 2018 61,232,572 $ 457,073 $ 3,275 $ 16,840 $ 36,040 $ (124,323) $ (2,350) $ 386,555
Share issuance - Private placement 1,300,000 22,376 - - - - - 22,376
Share issuance - At-The-Market offering 231,084 4,063 - - - - - 4,063
Share issuance - Other 175,000 3,189 - - - - - 3,189
Share issuance - Options exercised 503,831 7,561 - (2,333) - - - 5,228
Share issuance - RSUs vested 68,000 1,051 - (1,051) - - - -
Share issuance costs - (622) - - - - - (622)
Deferred tax on share issuance costs - 166 - - - - - 166
Stock-based compensation - - - 5,397 - - - 5,397
Expired options - - - (33) 33 - - -
Other comprehensive income - - - - - - 284 284
Net loss for the year - - - - - (11,613) - (11,613)
As at December 31, 2019 63,510,487 $ 494,857 $ 3,275 $ 18,820 $ 36,073 $ (135,936) $ (2,066) $ 415,023

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

  Year ended December 31,
  2020 2019
     
Operating Activities    
Net loss $ (14,942) $ (11,613)
Adjustment for non-cash items:    
Stock-based compensation 8,804 5,397
Other income - flow-through shares (1,676) (1,218)
Income tax recovery (800) (697)
Equity loss of associate 187 200
Finance costs 110 122
Depreciation charge on right-of-use assets 36 36
Adjustment for cash items:    
Environmental rehabilitation disbursements (811) (1,325)
Changes in working capital items:    
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses (1,696) (1,664)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 266 (134)
Net cash used in operating activities (10,522) (10,896)
     
Investing Activities    
Mineral interests (158,795) (27,201)
Investment in short-term deposits (29,816) (18,133)
Redemption of short-term deposits 14,024 31,087
Investment in convertible notes receivable - (529)
Investment in associate (437) (101)
Investment in reclamation deposits (5,440) (4)
Cash proceeds from sale of investments - 110
Net cash used in investing activities (180,464) (14,771)
     
Financing Activities    
Share issuance, net of costs 195,440 26,328
Exercise of options 4,302 5,228
Payment of lease liabilities (21) (24)
Net cash from financing activities 199,721 31,532
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during the year 8,735 5,865
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year 8,793 2,928
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year $ 17,528 $ 8,793

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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SEABRIDGE GOLD INC.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

1.Reporting entity

 

Seabridge Gold Inc. is comprised of Seabridge Gold Inc. (“Seabridge” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, KSM Mining ULC, Seabridge Gold (NWT) Inc., Seabridge Gold (Yukon) Inc., Seabridge Gold Corp., SnipGold Corp. and Snowstorm Exploration (LLC), and is a company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of gold properties located in North America. The Company was incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada on September 4, 1979 and continued under the laws of Canada on October 31, 2002. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol “SEA” and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SA”. The Company is domiciled in Canada, the address of its registered office is 10th Floor, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2T5 and the address of its corporate office is 106 Front Street East, 4th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5A 1E1.

 

2.Basis of preparation

 

A.Statement of compliance

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”). These financial statements were authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 23, 2021.

 

B.Basis of consolidation

 

(i)Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries are entities over which the Company has control. Control over an entity exists when the Company is exposed or has rights to returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company. They are deconsolidated from the date on which control ceases.

 

Business acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method whereby acquired assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition with the excess of the purchase consideration over such fair value being recorded as goodwill and allocated to cash generating units. Non-controlling interest in an acquisition may be measured at either fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree’s net identifiable assets.

 

If the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase consideration, the difference is recognized immediately as a gain in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Where a business combination is achieved in stages, previously held non-controlling equity interests in the acquiree are re-measured at acquisition-date fair value and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss or other comprehensive income, as appropriate. Acquisition related costs are expensed during the period in which they are incurred, except for the cost of debt or equity instruments issued in relation to the acquisition which is included in the carrying amount of the related instrument. Certain fair values may be estimated at the acquisition date pending confirmation or completion of the valuation process. Where provisional values are used in accounting for a business combination, they may be adjusted retrospectively during the measurement period. However, the measurement period will not exceed one year from the acquisition date.

 

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(ii)Associates

 

An associate is an entity over which the Company has significant influence but not control nor joint control. Significant influence is presumed to exist where the Company has between 20% and 50% of the voting rights but can also arise where the Company has less than 20% if influence is exerted over policy decisions that affect the entity. The Company’s share of the net assets and net income or loss of associates is accounted for in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting.

 

3.Significant accounting policies

 

The significant accounting policies used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are described below.

 

A.Basis of measurement

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except certain financial instruments described in note “L”, which are measured at fair value.

 

B.Translation of foreign currencies

 

These consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian dollars, which is the Company’s, and each of its subsidiaries’, functional currency.

 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into Canadian dollars using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions or valuation where items are re-measured. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Monetary assets and liabilities of the Company denominated in a foreign currency are translated into Canadian dollars at the rate of exchange at the statement of financial position date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Exchange gains and losses are included in the determination of profit or loss for the year.

 

C.Critical accounting judgments and estimation uncertainty

 

In applying the Company’s accounting policies in conformity with IFRS, management is required to make judgments, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities. These estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

(i)Critical accounting judgments

 

The following are the critical judgments that the Company has made in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements (refer to appropriate accounting policies for details).

 

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Mineral reserves and resources

To calculate reserves and resources, the Company uses assumptions and evaluates technical, economic and geological conditions for each ore body. Measured grade of the ore and geotechnical considerations can have a significant effect on the carrying value of mineral properties and therefore the recoverability of costs. Future market prices for gold and copper and other commodities are also factored into valuation models. Changes to these factors can affect the recoverability of mineral properties and impairment.

 

Impairment of assets

When the Company has judged that an indication of impairment exists, such as a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of an investment in marketable securities or an indication that the carrying amount of the mineral interest exceeds its estimated recoverable amount, the investment value or carrying value is written down to fair value or recoverable amount and the loss is recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Also, the Company performs an impairment test if the period for which the Company has the right to explore within the project has expired during the period or will expire in the near future and is not expected to be renewed.

 

Asset retirement obligations

When the Company has judged that a constructive or legal obligation exists for reclamation and rehabilitation activities on mineral claims disturbed, an estimate of future costs is recognized as an expense on the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

(ii)Key sources of estimation uncertainty

 

Mineral properties

The recoverability of the carrying value of mineral properties and associated deferred exploration expenses is based on market conditions for minerals, underlying mineral resources associated with the properties and future costs that may be required for ultimate realization through mining operations or by sale. The Company is in an industry that is dependent on a number of factors including environmental, legal and political risks, the existence of economically recoverable reserves, the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to obtain necessary financing to complete the development, and future profitable production or the proceeds of disposition thereof.

 

Asset retirement obligations

The provision for asset retirement obligations is the best estimate of the present value of the future costs of reclaiming the environment that has been subject to disturbance through exploration activities or historical mining activities. The Company uses assumptions and evaluates technical conditions for each project that have inherent uncertainties, including changes to laws and practices and changes in the status of the site from time-to-time. The timing and cost of the rehabilitation is also subject to uncertainty. For the Closed Sites, these changes, if any, and changes in discount rates are charged directly to the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. The periodic unwinding of the discount is recognized in earnings as accretion expense included in finance costs in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Share based payments

The factors affecting stock-based compensation include estimates of when stock options and restricted share units might be exercised share price volatility and the assessment of the probability and timing of those instruments that have non-market performance vesting criteria. The timing for exercise of options is out of the Company’s control and will depend upon a variety of factors, including the market value of the Company’s shares and financial objectives of the share-based instrument holders. The Company uses historical data to determine volatility in accordance with appropriate fair value methodology. However, the future volatility is uncertain, and the model has its limitations.

 

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Deferred Income taxes

The Company has operations in Canada and the United States and files corporate tax returns in each. Deferred tax liabilities are estimated for tax that may become payable in the future. Future payments could be materially different from our estimated deferred tax liabilities. We have deferred tax assets related to non-capital losses and other deductible temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are only recognized to the degree that it shelters tax liabilities or when it is probable that there will be sufficient taxable income in the future to recover them.

 

Contingencies

The Company funds certain of its exploration expenditures, from time-to-time, with the proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares and renounces, to subscribers, the expenditures which it determines to be Canadian Exploration Expenses (“CEE”). The Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) has disputed the eligibility of certain types of expenditures within the years 2014 to 2016. The Company strongly disagrees with their position and intends to fully defend the Company’s tax filings. No provision has been recorded related to the contingent taxes if the Company does not consider it probable that there will ultimately be an amount payable.

 

D.Mineral interests

 

Mineral resource properties are carried at cost. The Company considers exploration and development costs and expenditures to have the characteristics of property and equipment and, as such, the Company capitalizes all exploration costs, which include acquisition costs, advance royalties, holding costs, field exploration and field supervisory costs and all costs associated with exploration and evaluation activities relating to specific properties as incurred, until those properties are determined to be economically viable for mineral production. General and administrative costs are only included in the measurement of exploration and evaluation costs where they are related directly to activities in a particular area of interest. The fair value of any recoveries from the disposition or optioning of a mineral property is credited to the carrying value of mineral properties.

 

Once a project has been established as commercially viable and technically feasible, related development expenditures are capitalized. This includes costs incurred in preparing the site for mining operations. Capitalization ceases when the mine is capable of operating as intended by management.

 

The actual recoverable value of capitalized expenditures for mineral properties and deferred exploration costs will be contingent upon the discovery of economically viable reserves and the Company’s financial ability at that time to fully exploit these properties or determine a suitable plan of disposition.

 

When a decision is made to proceed with development in respect of a particular area of interest, the relevant exploration and evaluation asset is tested for impairment, reclassified to development properties, and then amortized over the life of the reserves associated with the area of interest once mining operations have commenced.

 

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E.Leasing arrangements

 

Leases are recognized as a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a corresponding liability at the date at which the leased asset is available for use by the Company. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period. The ROU asset is depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis. Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognized on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less.

 

F.Impairment and reversal of impairment

 

(i)Financial assets

 

Financial assets measured at amortized cost are reviewed for impairment at each reporting date to determine whether there is any objective evidence of impairment. A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence, that can be estimated reliably, indicates that one or more events have had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset.

 

An impairment charge in respect of a financial asset measured at amortized cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate.

 

A prior period impairment charge is reviewed for possible reversal of impairment whenever an event or change in circumstance indicates the impairment may have reversed. If it has been determined that the impairment has reversed, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount to a maximum of the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment charge been recognized in prior periods. Impairment charge reversals are recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.

 

(ii)Non-financial assets

 

The carrying value of the Company's mineral interests is assessed for impairment when indicators of such impairment exist. Indicators may include the loss of the right to explore in the area; the Company deciding not to continue exploring or incur substantial additional expenditures on the project; or it is determined that the carrying amount of the project is unlikely to be recovered by its development or sale. If any indication of impairment exists, an estimate of the asset's recoverable amount is calculated to determine the extent of the impairment loss, if any. The recoverable amount is determined as the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal for the asset and the asset's value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

 

Impairment is determined on an asset by asset basis, whenever possible. If it is not possible to determine impairment on an individual asset basis, then impairment is considered on the basis of a cash generating unit (“CGU”). CGUs represent the lowest level for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash flows from other assets or other group of assets.

 

If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is impaired, and an impairment loss is charged immediately to comprehensive loss within the statement of operations and comprehensive loss so as to reduce the carrying amount to its recoverable amount.

 

Page 15

 

 

An assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such indication exists, the Company makes an estimate of the recoverable amount.

 

A previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If this is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount. The increased amount cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years. Such reversal is recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

G.Reclamation liabilities

 

Provisions for environmental restoration are recognized when: (i) the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past exploration, development or production events; (ii) it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; (iii) and the amount can be reliably estimated. Provisions do not include obligations which are expected to arise from future disturbance.

 

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation incorporating risks specific to the obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money. When estimates of obligations are revised, the present value of the changes in obligations is recorded in the period by a change in the obligation amount and a corresponding adjustment to the mineral interest asset.

 

The amortization or ‘unwinding’ of the discount applied in establishing the net present value of provisions due to the passage of time is charged to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss in each accounting period.

 

The ultimate cost of environmental remediation is uncertain and cost estimates can vary in response to many factors including changes to the relevant legal requirements, the emergence of new restoration techniques or experience at other mine sites. The expected timing of expenditure can also change, for example in response to changes in ore reserves or production rates. As a result, there could be significant adjustments to the provisions for restoration and environmental cleanup, which would affect future financial results.

 

Funds on deposit with third parties provided as security for future reclamation costs are included in reclamation deposits on the statement of financial position.

 

H.Income taxes

 

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Current and deferred tax are recognized in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to a business combination or items recognized directly in equity. Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

 

Deferred tax is recognized using the asset and liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

 

Page 16

 

 

Deferred tax is measured at the rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, based on the laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. Deferred tax is not recognized for the following temporary differences; the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities to the extent that it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future where the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled by the parent. In addition, deferred tax is not recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill which is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

A deferred tax asset is recognized only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.

 

The Company has certain non-monetary assets and liabilities for which the tax reporting currency is different from its functional currency. Any translation gains or losses on the remeasurement of these items at current exchange rates versus historic exchange rates that give rise to a temporary difference is recorded as a deferred tax asset or liability.

 

I.Stock-based compensation (options and restricted share units)

 

The Company applies the fair value method for stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments. The fair value of options is valued using the Black Scholes option-pricing model and other models for the two-tiered options and restricted share units as may be appropriate. The grant date fair value of stock-based payment awards granted to employees is recognized as an employee expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, over the period that the employees unconditionally become entitled to the awards. The amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the number of awards for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met, such that the amount ultimately recognized as an expense is based on the number of awards that meet the related service and non-market performance conditions at the vesting date (Note 12). The Company reviews estimated forfeitures of options on an ongoing basis.

 

J.Flow-through shares

 

The Company finances a portion of its exploration activities through the issuance of flow-through common shares. The tax deductibility of qualifying expenditures is transferred to the investor purchasing the shares. Consideration for the transferred deductibility of the qualifying expenditures is often paid through a premium price over the market price of the Company’s shares. The Company reports this premium as a liability on the statement of financial position and the balance is reported as share capital. At each reporting period, and as qualifying expenditures have been incurred, the liability is reduced on a proportionate basis and income is recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

K.Net profit (loss) per common share

 

Basic profit (loss) per common share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The Company uses the treasury stock method for calculating diluted earnings per share which assumes that stock options and RSUs with an exercise price lower than the average quoted market price were exercised at the later of the beginning of the year, or time of issue. Stock options with an exercise price greater than the average quoted market price of the common shares and RSUs are not included in the calculation of diluted profit (loss) per share as the effect is anti-dilutive.

 

Page 17

 

 

L.Financial instruments

 

The Company recognizes financial assets and financial liabilities on the date the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instruments. A financial asset is derecognized either when the Company has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset or when cash flows expire. A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, canceled or expired. Certain financial instruments are recorded at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position. Refer to note 13 on fair value measurements.

 

Non-derivative financial instruments

Non-derivative financial instruments are recognized initially at fair value plus attributable transaction costs, where applicable for financial instruments not classified as fair value through profit or loss. Subsequent to initial recognition, non-derivative financial instruments are classified and measured as described below.

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and are measured at fair value. Cash equivalents are short-term deposits with maturities of up to 90 days at the date of purchase. Short-term deposits consist of investments with maturities from 91 days to one year at the date of purchase. Convertible notes receivable are recorded at fair value through profit or loss.

 

Financial assets at amortized cost

Trade and other receivables and are classified as and measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment losses, if any.

 

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

The Company’s investments in equity marketable securities are designated as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and are recorded at fair value on the trade date with directly attributable transaction costs included in the recorded amount. Subsequent changes in fair value are recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are accounted for at amortized cost, using the effective interest rate method.

 

M.Accounting pronouncements

 

New and amended standards and interpretations issued and effective:

 

Adoption of Definition of a Business (Amendments to IFRS 3)

 

The Company has adopted the amendments to IFRS 3 for the first time in the current year. The amendments clarify that while businesses usually have outputs, outputs are not required for an integrated set of activities and assets to qualify as a business. To be considered a business an acquired set of activities and assets must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The amendments remove the assessment of whether market participants are capable of replacing any missing inputs or processes and continuing to produce outputs. The amendments also introduce additional guidance that helps to determine whether a substantive process has been acquired.

 

Page 18

 

 

The amendments introduce an optional concentration test that permits a simplified assessment of whether an acquired set of activities and assets is not a business. Under the optional concentration test, the acquired set of activities and assets is not a business if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar assets. The amendments are applied prospectively to all business combinations and asset acquisitions for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2020. The amendments were applied to the Company's acquisition of 3 Aces gold project and Snowfield property, where the Company concluded that the acquired set of activities and assets was not a business. Refer to Note 8 for further details.

 

New accounting standards issued but not yet effective:

 

Amendments to IAS 16 - Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use

 

The IASB issued an amendment to IAS 16, Property, Plant and Equipment to prohibit the deducting from property, plant and equipment amounts received from selling items produced while preparing an asset for its intended use. Instead, sales proceeds and its related costs must be recognized in profit or loss. The amendment will require companies to distinguish between costs associated with producing and selling items before the item of property, plant and equipment is available for use and costs associated with making the item of property, plant and equipment available for its intended use. The amendment is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, with earlier application permitted. The amendments apply retrospectively, but only to assets brought to the location and condition necessary for them to be capable of operating in the manner intended on or after the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements in which the Company first applies the amendments. The Company does not expect the adoption of this pronouncement to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Other pronouncements have been issued by the IASB that are not mandatory for the current period and have not been early adopted. These pronouncements are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

4.Cash and cash equivalents and short-term deposits

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Cash and cash equivalents 17,528 8,793
Short-term deposits 19,905 4,114
  37,433 12,907

 

All of the cash and cash equivalents are held in a Canadian Schedule I bank. Short-term deposits consist of Canadian Schedule I bank guaranteed deposits and are cashable in whole or in part with interest at any time to maturity.

 

5.Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
HST 2,793 2,212
Prepaid expenses and other receivables 2,177 1,062
  4,970 3,274

 

Page 19

 

 

6.Investments

 

($000s) January 1, 2020 Disposition Fair value
through other comprehensive
loss
Loss of
associates
Additions December 31,
2020
             
Current assets:            
Investment in marketable securities 3,032 - 794 - - 3,826
             
Non-current assets:            
Investment in associate 2,361 - - (187) 437 2,611

 

($000s) January 1, 2019 Disposition Fair value
through other
comprehensive
loss
Loss of
associates
Additions December
31, 2019
             
Current assets:            
Investment in marketable securities 2,858 (110) 284 - - 3,032
             
Non-current assets:            
Investment in associate 2,460 - - (200) 101 2,361

 

The Company holds common shares of several mining companies that were received as consideration for optioned mineral properties and other short-term investments, including one gold exchange traded receipt. These financial assets are recorded at fair value of $3.8 million (December 31, 2019 - $3.0 million) in the consolidated statements of financial position. At December 31, 2020, the Company revalued its holdings in its investments and recorded a fair value increase of $0.8 million on the statement of comprehensive loss. During 2019, the Company disposed its holdings in one investment with a fair value of $0.1 million.

 

Investment in associate relates to Paramount Gold Nevada Corp (“Paramount”). As at December 31, 2020, the Company holds 7.42% (December 31, 2019 – 8.16%) interest in Paramount for which it accounts using the equity method on the basis that the Company has the ability to exert significant influence through its representation on Paramount’s board of directors. During 2020, the Company recorded its proportionate share of Paramount’s net loss of $0.2 million (2019 – $0.2 million) within equity loss of associate on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As at December 31, 2020, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Paramount was $2.6 million (December 31, 2019 - $2.4 million).

 

In June 2020, the Company participated in a non-brokered registered direct offering and purchased 288,460 common shares of Paramount at US$1.04 per common share for a total of $0.4 million.

 

Page 20

 

 

7.Convertible Notes Receivable

 

In September 2019, the Company participated in a private placement to purchase US$410,000, at face value, of secured convertible notes issued by Paramount. Each convertible note had an issue price of US$975 per US$1,000 face value with a four-year maturity. The Company purchased 410 convertible notes for a total of $0.5 million (US$399,750). The convertible notes bear interest at a rate of 7.5% per annum, payable semi-annually. At any time after the issuance of the convertible notes, the Company can convert all or any portion of the outstanding amount into common shares of Paramount at a price of US$1.00 per common share. The convertible notes receivable are recorded at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). The fair value of the convertible notes receivable is determined by using the Binomial Option Pricing model.

 

During 2020, the Company received 25,794 common shares of Paramount for payment of interest on the secured convertible notes accrued between September 2019 and June 2020. Subsequent to December 31, 2020, the Company received 14,236 common shares of Paramount for payment of interest on the secured convertible notes accrued and receivable as at December 31, 2020.

 

8.Mineral Interests

 

Mineral interest expenditures on projects are considered as exploration and evaluation and their related costs consist of the following:

 

($000s)

Balance

January 1,
2020

Acquisitions
2020
Expenditures
2020

Balance

December 31,
2020

KSM 296,509 127,530 20,128 444,167
Courageous Lake 75,721 - 801 76,522
Iskut 32,215 - 5,734 37,949
Snowstorm 20,455 - 4,469 24,924
3 Aces - 6,564 549 7,113
Grassy Mountain 771 - - 771
  425,671 134,094 31,681 591,446

 

 

 

($000s)

Balance

January 1,
2019

Acquisitions
2019
Expenditures
2019

Balance

December 31,
2019

KSM 276,586 2,662 17,261 296,509
Courageous Lake 73,647 - 2,074 75,721
Iskut 29,031 - 3,184 32,215
Snowstorm 15,269 528 4,658 20,455
Grassy Mountain 771 -  - 771
  395,304 3,190 27,177 425,671

 

Continued exploration of the Company’s mineral properties is subject to certain lease payments, project holding costs, rental fees and filing fees.

 

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a)KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell)

 

In 2001, the Company purchased a 100% interest in contiguous claim blocks in the Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia. The vendor maintains a 1% net smelter royalty interest on the project, subject to maximum aggregate royalty payments of $4.5 million. The Company is obligated to purchase the net smelter royalty interest for the price of $4.5 million in the event that a positive feasibility study demonstrates a 10% or higher internal rate of return after tax and financing costs.

 

In July 2009, the Company agreed to acquire various mineral claims immediately adjacent to the KSM property for further exploration and possible mine infrastructure use. The acquired claims were subject to a 4.5% net smelter royalty. In January 2019, the Company issued 100,000 common shares at $17.30 per common share, for total fair value of $1.7 million, to the holder of the net smelter return royalty on the claims and fully extinguished the royalties on those claims. The total fair value of the common shares was recorded to the mineral interest at KSM project.

 

In 2011 and 2012, the Company completed agreements granting a third party an option to acquire a 2% net smelter royalty on all gold and silver production sales from KSM for a payment equal to the lesser of $160 million or US$200 million. The option is exercisable for a period of 60 days following the announcement of receipt of all material approvals and permits, full project financing and certain other conditions for the KSM Project.

 

During 2019, as part of a cooperative and benefit agreement between the Company and the Tahltan Nation, the Company issued 50,000 common shares with a fair value of $18.63 per common share, for a total fair value of $0.9 million.

 

In December 2020, the company purchased the Snowfield property from Pretium Resources Inc. The Snowfield property, located in the same valley that hosts KSM's Mitchell deposit, was purchased for US$100 million ($127.5 million) in cash, a 1.5% net smelter royalty on Snowfield property production, and a conditional payment of US$20 million, payable following the earlier of (i) commencement of commercial production from Snowfield property, and (ii) announcement by the Company of a bankable feasibility study which includes production of reserves from the Snowfield property. US$15 million of the conditional payment can be credited against future royalty payments.

 

b)Courageous Lake

 

In 2002, the Company purchased a 100% interest in the Courageous Lake gold project from Newmont Canada Limited and Total Resources (Canada) Limited for US$2.5 million. The Courageous Lake gold project consists of mining leases located in Northwest Territories of Canada.

 

c)Iskut

 

On June 21, 2016, the Company purchased 100% of the common shares of SnipGold Corp. which owns the Iskut Project, located in northwestern British Columbia.

 

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d)Snowstorm

 

In 2017, the Company purchased 100% of the common shares of Snowstorm Exploration LLC which owns the Snowstorm Project, located in northern Nevada. On the acquisition date, the Company issued 700,000 common shares, with a fair value of $14.39 per share and 500,000 common share purchase warrants with a fair value of $6.55 per common share purchase warrant for a combined fair value of $13.3 million. The common share purchase warrants are exercisable for four years from the date of acquisition, at $15.65 per share. In addition, the Company has agreed to make a conditional cash payment of US$2.5 million if exploration activities at the Snowstorm Project result in defining a minimum of five million ounces of gold resources compliant with National Instrument 43-101 and a further cash payment of US$5.0 million on the delineation of an additional five million ounces of gold resources.

  

In 2019, the Company purchased the Goldstorm Project in northern Nevada from Mountain View Gold Corp. in exchange for 25,000 common shares of the Company at a fair value of $21.11 per common share for a total fair value of $0.5 million.

 

e)3 Aces

 

In 2020, the Company acquired a 100% interest in the 3 Aces gold project in the Yukon, Canada from Golden Predator Mining Corp through the issuance of 300,000 common shares valued at $6.6 million. Should the project attain certain milestones, including the confirmation of a National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource of 2.5 million ounces of gold and upon confirmation of an aggregate mineral resource of 5 million ounces of gold, the Company will potentially pay an additional $2.25 million.

 

f)Grassy Mountain

 

In 2013, the Company sold 100% of interest in the Grassy Mountain Project with a net book value of $771,000 retained within mineral properties, related to the option to either receive, at the discretion of the Company, a 10% net profits interest royalty or a $10 million cash payment. Settlement is due four months after the later of: the day that the Company receives a feasibility study on the project; and the day that the Company is notified that permitting and bonding for the mine is in place. The current owner of the Grassy Mountain Project is Paramount who completed a feasibility study in 2020 but they have not notified the Company that permitting and bonding for the mine is in place.

 

Page 23

 

 

9.Leases

 

($000s)

Balance

January 1,
2020

Additions Depreciation

Balance

December 31,
2020

Right of use assets 271 - (36) 235

 

($000s)

Balance

December 31,
2018

Adoption of IFRS
16 on January 1,
2019
Depreciation

Balance

December 31,
2019

Right of use assets -

307

(36) 271

  

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Current 41 46
Non-current  207  228
Total discounted lease liability  248  274

 

10.Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Trade payables 2,466 2,191
Trade and other payables due to related parties 57 61
Non-trade payables and accrued expenses (a) 2,854 2,440
  5,377 4,692

 

(a)During 2016, upon the completion of an audit of the application by tax authorities of the British Columbia Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (“BCMETC”) program, the Company was reassessed $3.6 million, including accrued interest, for expenditures that the tax authority has categorized as not qualifying for the BCMETC program. The Company recorded a $3.6 million provision within non-trade payables and accrued expenses on the consolidated statements of financial position as at December 31, 2016. In 2017 the Company filed an objection to the reassessment with the appeals division of the tax authorities and paid one-half of the accrued balance while the objection is reviewed. In early 2019, the Company received a decision from the appeals division that the Company’s objection was denied, and the Company filed a notice of appeal with the British Columbia Supreme Court. The Attorney General of Canada replied to the facts and arguments in the Company’s Notice of Appeal and stated its position that the Company’s expenditures did not qualify for the BCMETC program. As at December 31, 2020, the Company is in the discovery process with the Department of Justice and will continue to move the appeal process forward as expeditiously as possible. The Company intends to continue to fully defend its position. As at December 31, 2020, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has withheld $2.0 million of HST credits due to the Company that would fully cover the residual balance, including interest, should the Company be unsuccessful in its challenge.

 

Page 24

 

 

11.Provision for reclamation liabilities

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Beginning of the period  6,865  8,069
Disbursements  (811)  (1,325)
Accretion  110  121
End of the period  6,164  6,865
     
Provision for reclamation liabilities - current  2,500  1,860
Provision for reclamation liabilities - long-term  3,664  5,005
  6,164 6,865

 

The estimate of the provision for reclamation obligations, as at December 31, 2020, was calculated using the estimated discounted cash flows of future reclamation costs of $6.2 million (December 31, 2019 - $6.9 million) and the expected timing of cash flow payments required to settle the obligations between 2021 and 2026. As at December 31, 2020, the undiscounted future cash outflows are estimated at $6.2 million (December 31, 2019 – $7.0 million) primarily over the next two years. The discount rate used to calculate the present value of the reclamation obligations was 0.2% at December 31, 2020 (1.7% - December 31, 2019). Offsetting the increase in the present value of the liability, for the decreasing discount rate, is a comparable decrease in reported and anticipated inflation rates.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, reclamation disbursements amounted to $0.8 million (2019 - $1.3 million).

 

In 2020, the Company placed $5.2 million on deposit with a financial institution pledged as security for the Fish Habitat Offsetting Plan obligation at KSM. As at December 31, 2020, the Company has placed a total of $6.8 million (December 31, 2019 - $1.3 million) on deposit with financial institutions or with government regulators that are pledged as security against reclamation liabilities.

 

12.Shareholders’ equity

 

The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of preferred shares and common shares with no par value. No preferred shares have been issued or were outstanding at December 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

 

The Company manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it, based on the funds available to the Company, in order to support the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. The Board of Directors does not establish quantitative return on capital criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Company's management to sustain future development of the business.

 

The properties in which the Company currently has an interest are in the exploration stage, as such the Company is dependent on external financing to fund its activities. In order to carry out the planned exploration and pay for administrative costs, the Company will spend its existing working capital and raise additional amounts as needed.

 

Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company, is reasonable. There were no changes in the Company's approach to capital management during 2020. The Company considers its capital to be share capital, stock-based compensation, warrants, contributed surplus and deficit. The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

 

Page 25

 

 

a)Equity financings

 

During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with two securities dealers, for an At-The-Market offering program, entitling the Company, at its discretion, and from time to time, to sell up to US$40 million in value of common shares of the Company. During 2020, the Company issued 1,327,046 shares, at an average selling price of $21.94 per share, for net proceeds of $28.5 million under Company’s At-The-Market offering. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company issued 231,084 shares, at an average selling price of $17.58 per share, for net proceeds of $4.0 million under the offering.

 

Subsequent to the year end, the Company entered into a new agreement with two securities dealers, for an At-The-Market offering program, entitling the Company, at its discretion, and from time to time, to sell up to US$75 million in value of common shares of the Company. This program can be in effect until the Company’s current US$775 million Shelf Registration Statement expires in January 2023. Subsequent to the year end, the Company issued 290,170 shares, at an average selling price of $23.78 per share, for net proceeds of $6.8 million under Company’s At-The-Market offering.

 

On December 4, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to sell, on a bought deal basis, 6,100,000 common shares of the Company, at US$17.25 per common share, for gross proceeds of US$105.0 million. As part of the agreement, the Company granted an option to the underwriters to sell up to an additional 610,000 common shares of the Company, at a price of US$17.25 per common share, for gross proceeds of US$10.5 million. The financing closed on December 9, 2020, and the underwriters fully exercised their option to purchase the additional common shares. In aggregate, 6,710,000 common shares were issued, at a price of US$17.25 per common share, for gross proceeds of US$115.7 million.

 

In June 2020, the Company issued 345,000 flow-through common shares at $32.94 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $11.4 million. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2020. In accordance with draft legislation released on December 16, 2020 in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, a 12-month extension has been proposed to the normal timelines in which the qualifying exploration expenditures should be incurred. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $3.9 million premium was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position. During 2020, the Company incurred $4.7 million of qualifying exploration expenditures and $1.6 million of the premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

In April 2020, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 1.2 million common shares, at a price of $11.75 per common share, for gross proceeds of $14.1 million. As part of the private placement agreement, the Company granted an option to increase the size of the private placement by an additional 240,000 common shares exercisable until May 15, 2020. The 240,000 options were fully exercised on May 6, 2020 at a price of $11.75 per share, for gross proceeds of $2.8 million.

 

During the third quarter 2019, the Company issued 100,000 flow-through common shares at $24.64 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of $2.5 million. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2019. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $0.5 million premium was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position. During 2019, the Company incurred $2.0 million of qualifying exploration expenditures and $0.4 million of the premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. During 2020, the Company incurred another $0.5 million of qualifying exploration expenditures and the remaining $0.1 million premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

Page 26

 

 

In August 2019, the Company closed a private placement of 1.2 million common shares, at a price of $17.02 per common share, for gross proceeds of $20.4 million.

 

In December 2018, the Company issued 250,000 flow-through common shares at $20.50 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $5.1 million. Proceeds of this financing were used to fund the 2019 KSM and Iskut programs. The Company committed to renounce its ability to deduct qualifying exploration expenditures for the equivalent value of the gross proceeds of the flow-through financing and transfer the deductibility to the purchasers of the flow-through shares. The effective date of the renouncement was December 31, 2018. At the time of issuance of the flow-through shares, $0.8 million premium was recognized as a liability on the consolidated statements of financial position with the balance recorded as share capital. During 2019, $5.1 million of qualifying exploration expenditures were incurred and the entire $0.8 million premium was recognized through other income on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.

 

b)Warrants

 

As part of the acquisition agreement of Snowstorm Exploration LLC in June 2017, the Company issued 500,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable for four years at $15.65 per share, which are still outstanding as at December 31, 2020.

 

c)Stock options and Restricted share units

 

The Company provides compensation to directors and employees in the form of stock options and Restricted Share Units (“RSU”s).

 

Pursuant to the Share Option Plan, the Board of Directors has the authority to grant options, and to establish the exercise price and life of the option at the time each option is granted, at a price not less than the closing price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on the date of the grant of such option and for a period not exceeding five years. All exercised options are settled in equity.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s RSU Plan, the Board of Directors has the authority to grant RSUs, and to establish terms of the RSUs including the vesting criteria and the life of the RSU. The life of the RSU is not to exceed two years.

 

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Stock option and RSU transactions were as follows:

 

  Options RSUs Total
  Number of Options  Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) Amortized Value of options ($000s) Number of RSUs Amortized Value of RSUs ($000s) Stock-based Compensation ($000s)
Outstanding January 1, 2020 3,003,150 12.32 18,546 139,600 274 18,820
Granted - - - 135,450 487 487
Exercised option or vested RSU

(390,153)

11.03

(2,246)

(139,600)

(2,351)

(4,597)

Expired (1,309) 6.30 (16) - - (16)
Amortized value of stock-based compensation  -  -  6,240

-

 2,077

8,317

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

 2,611,691

12.51

22,524

135,450

 487

23,011

             
Exercisable at December 31, 2020 2,608,357          

 

  Options RSUs Total
  Number of Options  Weighted Average Exercise Price ($) Amortized Value of options ($000s) Number of RSUs Amortized Value of RSUs ($000s) Stock-based Compensation ($000s)
Outstanding January 1, 2019 3,458,805 11.95 16,657 68,000 183 16,840
Granted 50,000 17.72 168 139,600 274 442
Exercised option or vested RSU

(503,831)

 10.38

 (2,333)

 (68,000)

 (1,051)

 (3,384)

Expired (1,824) 6.30 (33) - - (33)
Amortized value of stock-based compensation  -  -  4,087  -

868

4,955

Outstanding at December 31, 2019

 3,003,150

12.32

18,546

139,600

 274

18,820

             
Exercisable at December 31, 2019 911,816          

 

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The outstanding share options at December 31, 2020 expire at various dates between February 2021 and June 2024. A summary of options outstanding, their remaining life and exercise prices as at December 31, 2020 is as follows:

 

  Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable
Exercise price Number Remaining Number
  outstanding contractual life Exercisable
$13.52  100,000 3 months  100,000
$9.00 425,000 4 months 425,000
$17.16 50,000 5 months 50,000
$17.14  50,000 5 months  50,000
$10.45  755,833 1 year 755,833
$13.14 560,002 2 years 560,002
$16.94 50,000 2 years 10 months 50,000
$15.46 568,000 3 years 564,666
$17.72 50,000 3 years 6 months 50,000
$6.30  2,856 2 months 2,856
  2,611,691   2,608,357

 

During the year ended December 31, 2020, 390,153 options were exercised (year ended December 31, 2019, 503,831) for proceeds of $4.3 million (year ended December 31, 2019, $5.2 million) and 139,600 RSUs vested (year ended December 31, 2019, 68,000). In total, 529,753 common shares were issued (year ended December 31, 2019, 571,831). The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $24.03 (year ended December 31, 2019 – $17.70).

 

On June 25, 2020, shareholders resolved to approve that 425,000 options that were granted to the directors of the Company in 2015 and due to expire in April 2020, be extended for one year. These options vested in December 2020 upon the acquisition of the Snowfield property. The $4.4 million fair value of the extension was charged to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss at that time, matching the revised estimated service period.

 

In December 2018, 568,000 five-year options with an exercise price of $15.46, to purchase common shares of the Company, with a grant-date fair value of $4.3 million, were granted. Of these, 408,000 options were granted to board members that were subject to shareholder approval. 150,000 options were granted to members of senior management. The remaining 10,000 options were granted to a member of management and vest over a three-year period. At the end of the second quarter of 2019, shareholders approved the 408,000 options granted to the board members, and the fair value was re-estimated, at the time, resulting in an additional $0.4 million fair value to be recognized over the estimated service period. During the second quarter of 2019, the shareholders also approved the grant of 50,000 five-year options to a new board member, with an exercise price of $17.72 and fair value of $0.4 million. The options granted to board members and senior management vested in December 2020 upon the acquisition of the Snowfield property and $1.6 million of the fair value of these options, not previously expensed, was charged to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss on an accelerated basis to match the change in the estimate of the service period.

 

In October 2018, 50,000 five-year options with an exercise price of $16.94, to purchase common shares of the Company, with a grant-date fair value of $0.4 million, were granted to a new Board member. These options also vested in December 2020 upon the acquisition of the Snowfield property and $0.1 million of the fair value of these options, not previously expensed, was charged to the statement of operations and comprehensive loss on an accelerated basis, to match the change in the estimated service period.

 

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During 2020, the Company did not grant any new options. The fair value of the options granted in 2019 was estimated on the dates of grant using a Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

  2019
Dividend yield  Nil
Expected volatility 54%
Risk-free rate of return  1.40%
Expected life of options  5 year

 

In December 2020, the Board granted 135,450 RSUs. Of these, 28,000 RSUs were granted to the board members, 80,300 RSUs were granted to members of senior management, and the remaining 27,150 RSUs were granted to other employees of the Company. The fair value of the grants, of $3.4 million, was estimated as at the grant date will be amortized over the expected service period of the grants. The expected service period of approximately four months from the date of the grant was dependent on certain corporate objectives being met. As at December 31, 2020, $0.5 million of the fair value of the grants was amortized.

 

In December 2019, the Board granted 139,600 RSUs. Of these, 32,500 RSUs were granted to the board members, 74,200 RSUs were granted to members of senior management, and the remaining 32,900 RSUs were granted to other employees of the Company. The fair value of the grants, of $2.4 million, was estimated as at the grant date to be amortized over the expected service period of the grants. The expected service period of approximately six months from the date of the grant was dependent on certain corporate objectives being met. During the second quarter 2020, all 139,600 RSUs were vested. Of the $2.4 million total fair value of the RSUs, $0.3 million was amortized in December 2019, and the remaining $2.1 million was amortized during first half of 2020.

 

Subsequent to December 31, 2020, 354,668 options were exercised for proceeds of $3.9 million.

 

d)Basic and diluted net loss per common share

 

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, basic and diluted net loss per common share are computed by dividing the net loss for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year. The potential effect of stock options, RSUs and warrants has been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share as the effect would be anti-dilutive. At December 31, 2020, there was a total of 2,611,691 stock options and 135,450 RSUs outstanding (December 31, 2019 – 3,003,150 and 139,600 respectively).

 

13.Fair value of financial assets and liabilities

 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy establishes three levels to classify the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.

 

Level 1: Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2: Inputs are quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (for example, interest rate and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, forward pricing curves used to value currency and commodity contracts, volatility measurements used to value option contracts and observable credit default swap spreads to adjust for credit risk where appropriate), or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data or other means.

 

Level 3: Inputs are unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).

 

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The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits, accounts receivable, marketable securities, convertible notes receivable and accounts payable. Other than investments and convertible notes receivable, the carrying values approximate their fair values due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments and are classified as a Level 1 measurement. The Company’s equity investments are measured at fair value based on quoted market prices and are classified as a level 1 measurement. The convertible notes receivable are measured at fair value and are classified as a level 3 measurement.

 

The Company's financial risk exposures and the impact on the Company's financial instruments are summarized below:

 

Credit Risk

The Company's credit risk is primarily attributable to short-term deposits, convertible notes receivable, and receivables included in amounts receivable and prepaid expenses. The Company has no significant concentration of credit risk arising from operations. The short-term deposits consist of Canadian Schedule I bank guaranteed notes, with terms up to one year but are cashable in whole or in part with interest at any time to maturity, for which management believes the risk of loss to be remote. Management believes that the risk of loss with respect to financial instruments included in amounts receivable and prepaid expenses to be remote.

 

Liquidity Risk

The Company's approach to managing liquidity risk is to ensure that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities when due. As at December 31, 2020, the Company had a cash and cash equivalents of $17.5 million and short-term deposits of $19.9 million (2019 - $8.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively) for settlement of current financial liabilities of $5.4 million (2019 - $4.7 million). The short-term deposits consist of Canadian Schedule I bank guaranteed deposits and are cashable in whole or in part with interest at any time to maturity. The Company's financial liabilities primarily have contractual maturities of 30 days and are subject to normal trade terms. The Company’s ability to fund its operations and capital expenditures and other obligations as they become due is dependent upon market conditions.

 

As the Company does not generate cash inflows from operations, the Company is dependent upon external sources of financing to fund its exploration projects and on-going activities. If required, the Company will seek additional sources of cash to cover its proposed exploration and development programs at its key projects, in the form of equity financings and from the sale of non-core assets. Refer to note 12 for details on equity financings.

 

Market Risk

 

(a) Interest Rate Risk

The Company has no interest-bearing debt. The Company's current policy is to invest excess cash in Canadian bank guaranteed notes (short-term deposits). The short-term deposits can be cashed in at any time and can be reinvested if interest rates rise.

 

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(b) Foreign Currency Risk

The Company's functional currency is the Canadian dollar and major purchases are transacted in Canadian and US dollars. The Company funds certain operations, exploration and administrative expenses in the United States on a cash call basis using US dollar cash on hand or converted from its Canadian dollar cash. Management believes the foreign exchange risk derived from currency conversions is not significant to its operations and therefore does not hedge its foreign exchange risk. As at December 31, 2020, $10.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and $0.5 million of accounts payable and accrued liabilities are denominated in US dollars.

 

(c) Investment Risk

The Company has investments in other publicly listed exploration companies which are included in investments. These shares were received as option payments on certain exploration properties the Company owns or has sold. In addition, the Company holds $3.6 million in a gold exchange traded receipt that is recorded on the consolidated statements of financial position in investments. The risk on these investments is significant due to the nature of the investment but the amounts are not significant to the Company.

 

14.Corporate and administrative expenses

 

($000s) 2020 2019
Employee compensation 4,815 4,635
Stock-based compensation 8,804 5,397
Professional fees 1,106 1,105
Other general and administrative 1,805 2,203
  16,530 13,340

 

15.Related party disclosures

 

Compensation to key management personnel of the Company:

 

($000s) 2020 2019
Compensation of directors:    
Directors fees 713 408
Stock-based compensation 1,609 1,011
  2,322 1,419
     
Compensation of key management personnel:    
Salaries and consulting fees 5,269 4,892
Stock-based compensation 5,637 3,506
  10,906 8,398
  13,228 9,817

 

During year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no payments to related parties other than compensation paid to key management personnel. These transactions were in the normal course of operations and were measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.

 

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16.Income taxes

 

($000s) 2020 2019
     
Deferred tax recovery (800) (697)
  (800) (697)

 

Tax expense (recovery) recognized in other comprehensive income or directly in equity

 

($000s) 2020 2019
     
Financing costs - recognized in statement of equity (2,698) (166)
Unrealized gain or loss on marketable securities - recognized in OCI 106 -
  (2,592) (166)

 

In 2020, the Company recognized income tax recovery of $0.8 million (2019 - income tax recovery of $0.7 million) primarily related to deferred tax recovery arising from the losses in the current year, partially offset by a deferred tax expense arising due to the renouncement of expenditures related to 2019 and 2020 flow-through shares which are capitalized for accounting purposes.

 

(a)Rate Reconciliation

 

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount that would have resulted by applying the combined Canadian Federal, Ontario, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Yukon statutory income tax rates of 26.58% (2019 - 26.60%).

 

($000s) 2020 2019
Loss before income taxes (15,742) (12,310)
  26.58% 26.60%
Tax expense calculated    
Using statutory rates (4,184) (3,274)
Non-deductible items 1,897 1,113
Difference in foreign tax rates 10 11
Change in deferred tax rates 1,217 (89)
Movement in tax benefits not recognized (1,078) (395)
Impact of true-up of prior year balances 27 -
Renouncement of flow-through expenditures 1,357 1,904
Other (46) 33
Income tax recovery (800) (697)

 

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(b)Deferred Income Tax

 

The following table summarizes the significant components of deferred income tax assets and liabilities:

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Deferred income tax assets:    
Property and equipment 258 68
Provision for reclamation liabilities 822 70
Financing costs 2,480 622
Non-capital loss carryforwards 28,664 25,347
     
Deferred income tax liabilities:    
Mineral interests (51,258) (48,533)
Net deferred income tax liabilities (19,034) (22,426)

 

(c)Unrecognized Deferred Tax Assets

 

The company has not recognized deferred income tax assets in respect of the following tax effected deductible temporary differences:

 

($000s) December 31,
2020
December 31,
2019
Marketable securities 167 227
Loss carryforwards 742 869
Investment tax credits 1,481 1,481
Foreign tax credits 268 268
Mineral properties 153 200
Provision for reclamation liabilities 241 1,183

 

Deferred tax has not been recognized on the deductible temporary difference of $3.5 million (2019 - $3.7 million) relating to investments in subsidiaries as these amounts will not be distributed in the foreseeable future.

 

The tax losses not recognized expire as per the amount and years noted below. The deductible temporary differences do not expire under the current tax legislation. Deferred tax assets have not been recognized in respect of these items because it is not probable that future taxable profit would be available against which the Company can utilize the benefits there from.

 

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(d)Income Tax Attributes

 

As at December 31, 2020, the Company had the following income tax attributes to carry forward.

 

  ($000s) Expiry date
Canadian non-capital losses 107,611 2040
Canadian capital losses 2,571 Indefinite
Canadian tax basis of mineral interest 363,263 Indefinite
     
US non-capital losses 384 2040
US capital losses 1,641 2024
US tax basis of mineral interest 12,329 Indefinite

 

17.Commitments and contingencies

 

  Payments due by years
($000s) Total 2021 2022-23 2024-25 2026-27
Mineral interests 10,975 1,098 2,877 3,497 3,503
Flow-through share expenditures 6,699 6,699  -  -  -
  17,674 7,797 2,877 3,497 3,503

 

As reported in the Company’s prior year financial statements, in 2019 the Company received a notice from the CRA that it proposed to reduce the amount of expenditures reported, as Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. The Company has funded certain of its exploration expenditures, from time-to-time, with the proceeds from the issuance of flow-through shares and renounced, to subscribers, the expenditures which it determined to be CEE. The notice disputes the eligibility of certain types of expenditures previously audited and approved as CEE by the CRA. The Company strongly disagrees with the notice and responded to the CRA auditors with additional information for their consideration. In 2020, the CRA auditors responded to the Company’s submission and, although accepting additional expenditures as CEE, reiterated that their position remains largely unchanged and subsequently issued reassessments to the Company reflecting the additional CEE expenditures accepted and $2.3 million of Part Xll.6 tax owing. The Company has been made aware that the CRA has reassessed certain investors who subscribed for flow-through shares in 2013 and will reassess other investors with reduced CEE deductions. The Company’s and investors’ reassessments will be appealed to the courts. The Company has indemnified the investors that subscribed for the flow-through shares. The potential tax indemnification to the investors is estimated to be $11.0 million, plus $2.2 million potential interest. No provision has been recorded related to the tax, potential interest, nor the potential indemnity as the Company and its advisors do not consider it probable that there will ultimately be an amount payable. Subsequent to the year end, $2.4 million was deposited with the Receiver General, on behalf of certain investors in return for their agreement to object to their respective assessments and agreement to repay the Company with any and all recoveries upon the successful resolution of the Company’s successful appeal.

 

 

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