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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of presentation
These consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Liquidity
As of December 31, 2022, the Company had available unrestricted cash on hand of $142.0 million and net working capital of $140.4 million which is expected to provide it with the necessary liquidity to fund its operating and investing requirements and future obligations as they become due within the next twelve months from the date of this filing.    
The Company generated revenue in 2022 from processing gold and silver ore previously placed on leach pads prior to ceasing mining operations in November 2021 that partially offset the cash used in its operations and investing activities. Since the Company completed processing of gold and silver ore as of December 31, 2022, the Company does not expect to generate net positive cash from operations for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Company will be dependent on its unrestricted cash and other sources of cash to fund its business. As discussed in Note 14 – Stockholders’ Equity, the Company raised gross proceeds of $194.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2022 through the following equity financings:
On March 14, 2022, the Company entered into subscription agreements with American Multi-Cinema, Inc. (“AMC”) and 2176423 Ontario Limited, an entity affiliated with Eric Sprott, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell an aggregate of 46,816,480 units at a purchase price of $1.193 per unit for total gross proceeds, before deduction of fees and expenses, of $55.9 million.
On March 15, 2022, the Company implemented an ATM pursuant to which the Company    registered the offer and sale from time to time of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $500.0 million of gross proceeds.
Under the ATM Program, which was completed on March 25, 2022, the Company sold 89,553,584 shares of common stock for gross proceeds, before commissions and offering expenses, of $138.6 million.
On November 28, 2022, the Company reduced the outstanding principal amount of Subordinated Notes (as defined in Note 10 Debt, Net) by $11,139,707 in exchange for (i) payment of $5,569,854 and (ii) issuance of 500,000 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock.
Also, as discussed in Note 10 – Debt, Net, as a result of the equity financings above, the Company reached an agreement with Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP (the “Lender”) with respect to the Credit Agreement among Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation, as borrower, Autar Gold Corporation, MUDS, MUDS Holdco Inc., Allied VGH LLC, Hycroft Resources and Development, LLC, Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector) Inc., and Sprott Resources Lending Corp. (“Sprott Credit Agreement”), which required the Company to prepay principal under the facility in the amount of $10.0 million following the Company’s receipt of the $55.9 million cash proceeds discussed above. The Company also made additional prepayments of $13.9 million in March 2022 and $1.1 million in November 2022.
In addition to the above equity financings, the Company will continue to evaluate alternatives to raise additional capital necessary to fund the future exploration and development of the Hycroft Mine and will continue to explore other strategic initiatives to enhance stockholder value.
Historically, the Company has been dependent on various forms of debt and equity financing to fund its business. While the Company has been successful in the past raising funds through equity and debt financings, no assurance can be given that additional financing will be available to it in amounts sufficient to meet the Company’s needs or on terms acceptable to the Company. In the event that funds are not available, the Company may be required to materially change its business plan.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to: the useful lives of long-lived assets; estimates of mineral resources; estimates of life-of-mine production timing, volumes, costs and prices; future mining and future processing plans; environmental reclamation and closure costs and timing; deferred taxes and related valuation allowances; estimates of the fair value of liability classified warrants, and estimates of fair value for long-lived assets and financial instruments. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable at the time the estimate is made. Actual results may differ from amounts estimated in these consolidated financial statements, and such differences could be material. Accordingly, amounts presented in these consolidated financial statements are not indicative of results that may be expected for future periods.
Reclassification of prior year presentation
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported results of operations. An adjustment has been made to the Consolidated Statement of Operations to separately disclose Write-down of non-current ore on leach pads and Write-down of materials and supplies inventories. This change in classification does not affect the previously reported Write-down of inventories. An additional adjustment has been made to the table presented in Note 5 – Plant and Equipment, Net to separately disclose leach pad assets depreciated under the units of production method from leach pad assets depreciated under the straight-line method using the estimated service life of the leach pad asset. This change in classification does not affect previously reported Plant and equipment, net amounts.
Cash and cash equivalents
During 2022, the Company invested in the AAAm rated U.S. Government Money Market Funds that are readily convertible to cash and, as such, the Company has included them in Cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022, cash consisted of the Company’s cash and money market fund balances. The Company has not experienced any losses on cash balances and believes that no significant risk of loss exists with respect to its cash.
Restricted cash
The Restricted cash balance is primarily held as collateral for surety bonds that the Company uses to fulfill financial assurance obligations related to reclamation activity (see Note 13 Asset Retirement Obligation for further detail). Additionally, interest received on cash collateral balances is restricted as to its use and is included as an increase to Restricted
cash with a corresponding recognition of Interest income when earned. Restricted cash is excluded from cash and is listed separately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the Company held $34.0 million and $34.3 million in restricted cash, respectively. See Note 6 Restricted Cash for additional information.
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable consists of amounts due from customers for gold and silver sales. The Company evaluates the customers’ credit risk, payment history and financial condition to determine whether an allowance for doubtful accounts is necessary. The Company collected the outstanding Accounts receivable balance during the first three months of 2023.
Inventories and Ore on Leach Pads
Materials and supplies
Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost or net realizable value. Cost includes applicable taxes and freight. The Company monitors its materials and supplies for turnover and obsolescence and records losses for excess and obsolete inventory, as appropriate.
Production inventories
The Company’s production-related inventories include: (i) Ore on leach pads; (ii) in-process inventories; and (iii) doré, off-site carbon and slag finished goods. Production-related inventories are carried at the lower of average cost or net realizable value per estimated recoverable gold ounce, which is computed for each category of production-related inventories at each reporting period. As of December 31, 2022, the Company completed processing of gold and silver ore previously placed on leach pads prior to ceasing mining operations in November 2021 and, as such, production-related inventories were Nil.
Net realizable value represents the estimated future gold revenue of production-related inventories after adjusting for silver by-product revenue and deductions for further processing, refining, and selling costs. The estimated future revenue is calculated using sales prices based on the London Bullion Market Association’s (“LBMA”) quoted period-end gold prices. Estimates for silver revenue by-products credits is based on LBMA quoted period-end silver prices and deductions for estimated costs to complete reflect the Company’s historical experience and expected processing, refining and selling plans. Actual net realizable values for gold sales may be different from such estimates. Changes to inputs and estimates resulting from changes in facts and circumstances are recognized as a change in management estimate on a prospective basis.
Ore on leach pads
Ore on leach pads represents ore that has been mined and placed on leach pads where a solution is applied to dissolve the contained gold and silver. Costs are added to Ore on leach pads based on current mining costs, including reagents, leaching supplies, and applicable Depreciation and amortization relating to mining operations. As gold-bearing materials are further processed, costs are transferred from Ore on leach pads to in-process inventories at an average cost per estimated recoverable ounce of gold.
Although the quantities of recoverable metal placed on the leach pads are reconciled by comparing the grades of ore placed on pads to the quantities of metal actually recovered (metallurgical balancing), the nature of the leaching process inherently limits the ability to precisely monitor inventory levels. As a result, the metallurgical balancing process is constantly monitored, and estimates are refined based on actual results over time and changes in future estimates.
In-process inventories
In-process inventories represent gold-bearing concentrated materials that are in the process of being converted to a saleable product using a Merrill-Crowe plant or carbon-in-column processing method. As gold ounces are recovered from in-process inventories, costs, including conversion costs are transferred to precious metals inventory at an average cost per ounce of gold.
Precious metals inventory
Precious metals inventory consists of doré and off-site carbon containing both gold and silver, which is ready for off-site shipment or at a third-party refiner before being sold to a third party. As gold ounces are sold, costs are recognized in Production costs and Depreciation and amortization in the Consolidated Statements of Operations at an average cost per gold ounce sold.
Plant and equipment, net
Expenditures for new facilities and equipment, and expenditures that extend the useful lives or increase the capacity of existing facilities or equipment are capitalized and recorded at cost. Such costs are depreciated using either the straight-line method over the estimated productive lives of such assets or the units-of-production method (when actively operating). For equipment and facilities that are constructed by the Company, interest is capitalized to the cost of the underlying asset while being constructed until such asset is ready for its intended use. See Note 5 – Plant and Equipment, Net for additional information.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company’s long-lived assets consist of Note 5 – Plant and Equipment, Net. The Company reviews and evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Events that may trigger a test for recoverability include, but are not limited to, significant adverse changes to projected Revenues, costs, or future expansion plans or changes to federal and state regulations (with which the Company must comply) that may adversely impact the Company’s current or future operations. An impairment is determined to exist if the total projected future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of a long-lived asset group. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on the excess carrying value of the impaired long-lived asset group over fair value.
In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups. The Company’s estimates of future cash flows and estimates of fair value are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. See Note 5 – Plant and Equipment, Net for additional information.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company determined a triggering event had occurred as the Company completed processing of gold and silver ore previously placed on leach pads prior to ceasing mining operations and, as such, the Company does not expect to have significant revenue or cash flows from operations during 2023. In addition, the 2023 Hycroft TRS does not include estimates of mineral reserves. As a result, the Company does not have a basis for projecting future cash flows on an undiscounted basis. The Company used a market-based approach for determining fair value based on sales transactions of comparable assets. Because the Company’s estimated fair value of long-lived assets held and used exceeded their carrying value, the Company determined no impairment of long-lived assets was necessary at December 31, 2022.
Assets held for sale
The Company classifies long-lived assets or disposal groups to be sold as held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are met: (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the asset or disposal group; (2) the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets or disposal groups; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset or disposal group have been initiated; (4) the sale of the asset or disposal group is probable, and transfer of the asset or disposal group is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, except if events or circumstances beyond our control extend the period of time required to sell the asset or disposal group beyond one year; (5) the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (6) actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.
The Company initially measures a long-lived asset or disposal group that is classified as held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or fair value less any costs to sell. Any loss resulting from this measurement is recognized in the period in which the held-for-sale criteria are met. Conversely, gains are not recognized on the sale of a long-lived asset or disposal group until the date of sale. The Company assesses the fair value of a long-lived asset or disposal group less any costs to sell each reporting period it remains classified as held for sale and report any subsequent changes as an adjustment to the carrying value of the asset or disposal group, as long as the new carrying value does not exceed the carrying value of the asset at the time it was initially classified as held for sale.
Upon determining that a long-lived asset or disposal group meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, the Company ceases depreciation and reports long-lived assets and/or the assets and liabilities of the disposal group as Assets held for sale, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Contract liabilities
The Company’s Contract liabilities consist of deposits received toward the purchase of Assets held for sale. The Company records the deposits as Contract liabilities until risk of loss and title to the equipment is transferred to the buyer and the sale is considered complete.
Deferred gain on sale of royalty
The Company’s Deferred gain on sale of royalty is carried at amortized cost with reductions calculated by dividing actual gold and silver production by the estimated total life-of-mine production from mineral reserves. Any updates to mineral reserves or the estimated life-of-mine production profile would result in prospective adjustments to the amortization calculation used to reduce the carrying value of the royalty obligation. Amortization reductions to the Deferred gain on sale of royalty are recorded to Production costs which is included in Cost of sales. A portion of the Company’s Deferred gain on sale of royalty was previously classified as current based upon the estimated gold and silver expected to be produced over the next 12 months. The Deferred gain on sale of royalty and its embedded features do not meet the requirements for derivative accounting.
Asset retirement obligation
The Company’s mining and exploration activities are subject to various federal and state laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. The Company’s Asset retirement obligation (“ARO”), associated with long-lived assets are those for which there is a legal obligation to settle under existing law, statute, written or oral contract or by legal construction. The Company’s ARO relates to its operating property, the Hycroft Mine, and was recognized as a liability at fair value in the period incurred. An ARO, which is initially estimated based on discounted cash flow estimates, is accreted to full value over time using the expected timing of future payments through charges to Accretion in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As the Company’s 2023 Hycroft TRS does not include mineral reserves, the Company’s policy is to expense all asset retirement costs as incurred. In addition, once the Company establishes mineral reserves, asset retirement costs (“ARC”) will be capitalized as part of the related asset’s carrying value and depreciated on a straight-line method or units of production basis over the related long-lived asset’s useful life. The Company’s ARO is adjusted annually, or more frequently if necessary, to reflect changes in the estimated present value resulting from revisions to the timing or amount of reclamation and closure costs. Estimated mine reclamation and closure costs, may increase or decrease significantly in the future as a result of changes in regulations, mine plans, cost estimates, or other factors.
Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue for gold and silver sales when it satisfies the performance obligation of transferring finished inventory to the customer, which generally occurs when the refiner notifies the customer that gold has been credited or irrevocably pledged to their account, at which point the customer obtains the ability to direct the use and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits of ownership of the asset. The transaction amount is determined based on the agreed upon sales prices and the number of ounces delivered. Concurrently, the payment date is agreed upon, which is usually within one week of the sale date. Historically, the majority of sales have been in the form of doré bars, but the Company also sells gold and silver laden carbon and slag, a by-product. During the year ended December 31, 2022, a majority of sales were attributable to the latter. All sales are final.
Mine site period costs
Mine site period costs are costs related to care and maintenance activities at the Hycroft Mine, costs of activities that do not qualify for capitalization to production-related inventories and adjustments to production inventories that are the result of recurring or significant downtime or delays, unusually high levels of repairs, inefficient operations, overuse of processing reagents, inefficient cost-volume structures, or other costs and activities, and cannot be recorded to production-related inventories based on the threshold established by the calculation of the estimated net realizable value per ounce of gold, which incorporates estimated future processing, refining, and selling costs, as well as the value for silver by-product.
The following table summarize the components of Mine site period costs (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
20222021
Production related costs$13,328 $36,512 
Capitalized depreciation and amortization392 1,654 
Total$13,720 $38,166 
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation costs for non-employee directors and eligible employees are measured at fair value on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation costs are charged to General and administrative on the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the requisite service period. The fair value of awards is determined using the stock price on either the date of grant (if subject only to service conditions) or the date that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors establishes applicable performance targets (if subject to performance conditions). The Company records forfeitures as they occur. See Note 16 – Stock-Based Compensation for additional information.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, recognizing certain temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of the Company’s liabilities and assets and the related income tax basis for such liabilities and assets. This method generates either a net deferred income tax liability or asset for the Company, as measured by the statutory tax rates in effect at the anticipated time of reversal. The Company derives its deferred income tax provision or benefit by recording the change in either the net deferred income tax liability or asset balance for the year. See Note 17 – Income Taxes for additional information.
The Company’s deferred income tax assets include certain future tax benefits. The Company records a valuation allowance against any portion of those deferred income tax assets when it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized. Evidence evaluated includes past operating results, forecasted earnings, estimated future taxable income, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. The assumptions utilized in determining future taxable income require significant judgment and are consistent with the plans and estimates used to manage the underlying business.
As necessary, the Company also provides reserves against the benefits of uncertain tax positions taken on its tax filings. The necessity for and amount of a reserve is established by determining, based on the weight of available evidence, the amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit for each uncertain tax position. The difference, if any, between the full benefit recorded on the tax return and the amount more likely than not to be sustained is recorded as a liability on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets unless the additional tax expense that would result from the disallowance of the tax position can be offset by a net operating loss, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. In that case, the reserve is recorded as a reduction to the deferred tax asset associated with the applicable net operating loss, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward.
Fair value measurements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical unrestricted assets or liabilities. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis;
Level 2 – Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Certain financial instruments, including Cash, Restricted cash, Accounts receivable, Prepaids and other, net, and Accounts payable and accrued expenses, are carried at cost, which approximates their fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. See Note 20 – Fair Value Measurements for additional information.
Warrants
Warrant liabilities
The Company accounts for certain warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock that were issued to the SPAC sponsor and/or underwriter in a private placement and/or pursuant to a forward purchase contract (the “5-Year Private Warrants”) that are not indexed to the Company’s own stock as Warrant liabilities at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These warrants are subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date and any change in fair value is recognized as a component of Other expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company will continue to adjust the liability for changes in fair value until the earlier of the (i) exercise or expiration of the 5-Year Private Warrants or (ii) the transfer of any 5-Year Private Warrants to any person who is not a permitted transferee, at which time the warrant liability will be reclassified to Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with no subsequent remeasurement of the fair value.
Equity classified warrants
Warrants that are considered indexed to the Company’s own stock, which are not required to be recorded as a liability are measured at fair value at the date of issuance and included in Additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and do not require subsequent remeasurement of the fair value.
Projects, exploration, and development
Costs incurred for exploration, development and other project related expenses that do not qualify for capitalization are expensed within Projects, exploration, and development, which is included in Operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Projects, exploration, and development costs include expenditures for: (i) publishing technical studies; (ii) conducting geological studies; (iii) oversight and project management; and (iv) drilling, engineering, and metallurgical activities related to exploration and development.
Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
In March of 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities to Contractual Sale Restrictions (“ASU 2022-03”). For emerging growth companies, the new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. As the Company qualifies as an emerging growth company, the Company plans to take advantage of the deferred effective date afforded to emerging growth companies. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this update will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies guidance on accounting for convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity including calculating diluted earnings per share. For emerging growth companies, the new guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company early adopted ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2022, with no material impact on its consolidated financial statements or the related disclosures.
In December of 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), as part of its overall simplification initiative to reduce costs and complexity of applying accounting standards while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. Amendments include removal of certain exceptions to the general principles of ASC 740, Income Taxes and simplification in several other areas such as accounting for a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income. For emerging growth companies, the new guidance was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and the Company adopted ASU 2019-12 as of January 1, 2022, with no material impact on its consolidated financial statements or the related disclosures.
In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). ASU 2021-04 clarifies and reduces diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (e.g., warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. ASU 2021-04 provides guidance that will clarify whether an issuer should account for a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange as (i) an adjustment to equity and, if so, the related earnings per share effects, if any, or (ii) an expense and, if so, the manner and pattern of recognition. For emerging growth companies, the new guidance was effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021 and the Company adopted ASU 2021-04 as of January 1, 2022, with no material impact on its consolidated financial statements or the related disclosures.