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Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates  
Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

2. Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Vista and its subsidiaries, all of which are 100%-owned subsidiaries, either directly or indirectly through a subsidiary, and under Vista’s control. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions are: gain recognition; asset impairments; capitalization of development costs; valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; uncertain tax positions; the fair value and accounting treatment of stock-based compensation; and the provision for environmental liabilities. Management based its estimates on historical experience, evaluation of pertinent circumstances, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results will likely differ from amounts estimated in these consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and government securities with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency transactions denominated in currency other than the functional currency are recorded at the approximate rate of exchange at the transaction date and any gains/(losses) resulting therefrom are recorded in other expense. For each of the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, net foreign currency gains/(losses) were insignificant.

Mineral Properties

Mineral property acquisition costs, including directly related costs, are capitalized when incurred. After acquisition of a mineral property, associated exploration and evaluation costs are expensed as incurred until mineral reserves reported in accordance with Item 1300 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are established and the Company deems development activities to have commenced. Drilling and related costs are capitalized for an ore body where proven and probable mineral reserves exist, and the activities are directed at obtaining additional information about the ore body or converting measured, indicated, and inferred mineral resources to proven and probable mineral reserves. All other drilling and related costs are expensed as incurred.

Capitalized costs associated with a mineral property will be amortized using the units-of-production method over the estimated life of mineral reserves once sustainable production is achieved. If mineral properties are sold or abandoned, any unamortized costs will be charged to expense in that period.

The recoverability of the carrying values of our mineral properties is dependent upon economic reserves being discovered or developed on the properties, permitting, financing, start-up, and profitable commercial production from, or the sale/lease of, or other strategic transactions related to these properties. Development and/or start-up of mineral properties will depend on, among other things, management’s ability to raise sufficient capital for these purposes. Proceeds received from option or conveyance agreements for unproved properties are ascribed to recovery of the carrying value of the related project until the carrying value reaches zero. Thereafter, any additional proceeds received are recognized as a contract liability (deferred option gain) until control has transferred to the buyer and substantial obligations of the Company have been met, or the related contract terminates. Gains on disposal and grant of royalty interests are recognized in operating income when the Company has completed its significant obligations.

We assess the carrying value of mineral properties for impairment whenever information or circumstances indicate the potential for impairment. Such evaluations compare estimated future net cash flows with our carrying costs and future obligations on an undiscounted basis. If it is determined that the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the property, a write-down to the estimated fair value will then be reported in our Consolidated Statement of Income/(Loss) for the period.

Impairment

Carrying values of long-lived assets, other than mineral properties, are evaluated for impairment when information becomes available that indicates the carrying value may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the fair value is less than the carrying value an impairment charge equal to the difference between the fair value and the carrying value will be recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss).

Stock-Based Compensation

Under our stock option, long-term incentive, and deferred share unit plans, the Company can grant stock incentive options, restricted share units, and deferred share units to executives, employees, consultants, and non-employee directors as applicable. Compensation expense for such grants is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) as a component of exploration, property evaluation and holding costs and corporate administration, with a corresponding increase to Common Shares in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of option grants is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of restricted and deferred share units is based on the closing price of our Common Shares on the grant date, or, in certain cases, amounts determined by a Brownian motion pricing model. The expense is based on the fair value of the grant on the grant date and is recognized over the vesting period specified for each grant. Forfeitures of unvested awards for all stock-based compensation result in expense reversal upon forfeiture.

Accounting for Income Taxes

We account for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Changes in enacted tax rates are recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to net amounts estimated to be more likely than not of being realized.

The Company evaluates its income tax positions and recognizes a liability for uncertain tax positions that are not more likely than not to be sustained by tax authorities. If the Company were to determine that uncertain tax positions meet the criteria for recognition, an estimated liability and related interest and penalties would be recognized as income tax expense.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable, and certain other current assets and liabilities. Due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments, carrying amounts approximate fair value.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts presented have been reclassified within the Operating Income (Expense) section of the Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss) to conform with the current period presentation, including a prior year reclassification from Exploration, property evaluation and holding costs to Corporate Administration. There was no change to the Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, and Statement of Cash Flows from the reclassification.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In 2024, we adopted ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. Management has evaluated the Company’s operations and concluded it has one reportable operating segment which will now require expanded disclosure. Adoption was made retroactively with segment disclosure included for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. This standard has not changed the processing, recording, or presentation of financial data, other than providing a table with disclosure of more detailed expense categories for the Company’s single operating segment.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 requires all public entities to disclose disaggregated information about purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, intangible asset amortization, and depletion for each income statement line item that contains those expenses. The amendments in ASU 2024-03 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. ASU 2024-03 allows for early adoption and requires either prospective adoption to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of ASU 2024-03 or retrospective adoption for any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.