Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

VISTA GOLD CORP.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in U.S. dollars and in thousands, except share amounts and per ounce amounts)

1. Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Vista Gold Corp. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Vista,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) operate in the gold mining industry. We are focused on evaluation, acquisition, exploration and advancement of gold exploration and potential development projects, which may lead to gold production or value adding strategic transactions such as earn-in right agreements, option agreements, leases to third parties, joint venture arrangements with other mining companies, or outright sales of assets for cash and/or other consideration. We look for opportunities to improve the value of our gold projects through exploration drilling and/or technical studies focused on optimizing previous engineering work. We do not currently generate cash flows from mining operations.

The Company’s flagship asset is its 100% owned Mt Todd gold project (“Mt Todd” or the “Project”) in Northern Territory, Australia.  Mt Todd is the largest undeveloped gold project in Australia. We have invested substantial amounts to evaluate, engineer, permit and de-risk the Project. We believe these efforts have added to the underlying value of the Project and demonstrate strong development potential. In September 2019, Vista announced the positive results of an updated preliminary feasibility study (the “2019 PFS”) for Mt Todd. Process improvements reflected in the 2019 PFS include improved estimated gold recovery and increased estimated gold production at Mt Todd.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company held 6.2 million common shares of Midas Gold Corp. (“Midas Gold Shares”), a non-core project in Mexico subject to a third-party option agreement, royalty interests in the United States and Indonesia, mill equipment not in use and listed for sale, and miscellaneous holdings of third-party equity securities.

The interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (“interim statements”) of the Company are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments and disclosures necessary for a fair presentation of these interim statements have been included. The results reported in these interim statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be reported for the entire year. These interim statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities on Form 10-K (the “2019 Financial Statements”). The year-end balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements and, in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q, certain information and footnote disclosures required by United States generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. 

References to $ are to United States dollars and A$ are to Australian dollars.