

5. SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS IN APPLYING ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Judgements that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are as follows:


a)	Capitalization of evaluation costs

The Company has determined that evaluation costs capitalized during the year relating to the operating mines and certain other exploration interests have potential future economic benefits and are potentially economically recoverable, subject to the impairment analysis as discussed in Note 13. In making this judgement, the Company has assessed various sources of information including but not limited to the geologic and metallurgic information, history of conversion of mineral deposits to proven and probable mineral reserves, scoping and feasibility studies, proximity to existing ore bodies, operating management expertise and required environmental, operating and other permits.


b)	Commencement of commercial production

During the determination of whether a mine has reached an operating level that is consistent with the use intended by management, costs incurred are capitalized as mineral property, plant and equipment and any consideration from commissioning sales are offset against costs capitalized. The Company defines commencement of commercial production as the date that a mine has achieved a sustainable level of production based on a percentage of design capacity along with various qualitative factors including but not limited to the achievement of mechanical completion, continuous nominated level of production, the working effectiveness of the plant and equipment at or near expected levels and whether there is a sustainable level of production input available including power, water and diesel.


c)	Assets’ carrying values and impairment charges

In determining carrying values and impairment charges the Company looks at recoverable amounts, defined as the higher of value in use or FVLCTS in the case of non-financial assets, and at objective evidence that identifies significant or prolonged decline of fair value on financial assets classified as available-for-sale indicating impairment. These determinations and their individual assumptions require that management make a decision based on the best available information at each reporting period.


d)	Functional currency

The functional currency for the Company and its subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which each operates. The Company has determined that its functional currency and that of its subsidiaries is the USD. The determination of functional currency may require certain judgements to determine the primary economic environment. The Company reconsiders the functional currency used when there is a change in events and conditions which determined the primary economic environment.


e)	Business combinations

Determination of whether a set of assets acquired and liabilities assumed constitute a business may require the Company to make certain judgments, taking into account all facts and circumstances. A business consists of inputs, including non-current assets and processes, including operational processes, that when applied to those inputs have the ability to create outputs that provide a return to the Company and its shareholders.


f)	Determination of control of subsidiaries and joint arrangements

Determination of whether the Company has control of subsidiaries or joint control of joint arrangements requires an assessment of the activities of the investee that significantly affect the investee's returns, including strategic, operational and financing decision-making, appointment, remuneration and termination of the key management personnel and when decisions related to those activities are under the control of the Company or require unanimous consent from the investors. Based on assessment of the relevant facts and circumstances, primarily, the Company's limited board representation and restricted influence over operating, strategic and financing decisions, the Company concluded that it does not control Maverix and as a result classified it as an investment in associate subject to significant influence (Note 14).


g)	Deferral of stripping costs

In determining whether stripping costs incurred during the production phase of a mining property relate to mineral reserves that will be mined in a future period and therefore should be capitalized, the Company treats the costs of removal of the waste material during a mine’s production phase as deferred, where it gives rise to future benefits. These capitalized costs are subsequently amortized on a unit of production basis over the reserves that directly benefit from the specific stripping activity. As at December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of Dolores and La Arena capitalized stripping costs was $57.5 million and $19.9 million, respectively (2018 - $57.0 million and $nil, respectively).


h)	Replacement convertible debenture

As part of the 2009 Aquiline transaction, the Company issued a replacement convertible debenture that allowed the holder to convert the debenture into either 363,854 Pan American shares ("Common Shares") or a silver stream contract with Aquiline Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The holder subsequently selected the silver stream contract related to certain production from the Navidad project. The silver stream contract is classified and accounted for as a deferred credit. In determining the appropriate classification of the silver stream contract as a deferred credit, the Company evaluated the economics underlying the contract as of the date the Company assumed the obligation. As at December 31, 2019, the carrying amount of the deferred credit arising from the Aquiline acquisition was $20.8 million (2018 - $20.8 million).