3.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

These financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) and include all the assets, liabilities and expenses of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Ur-Energy USA Inc.; NFU Wyoming, LLC; Lost Creek ISR, LLC; NFUR Bootheel, LLC; Hauber Project LLC; NFUR Hauber, LLC; and Pathfinder Mines Corporation. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. Ur-Energy Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”

 

 Exploration Stage

The Company has established the existence of uranium resources for certain uranium projects, including the Lost Creek Property. The Company has not established proven or probable reserves, as defined by the SEC under Industry Guide 7, through the completion of a final or “bankable” feasibility study for any of its uranium projects, including the Lost Creek Property. Furthermore, the Company has no plans to establish proven or probable reserves for any of its uranium projects for which the Company plans on utilizing in situ recovery (“ISR”) mining, such as the Lost Creek Property or the Shirley Basin Project. As a result, and despite the fact that the Company commenced recovery of uranium at the Lost Creek Project in August 2013, the Company remains in the Exploration Stage as defined under Industry Guide 7, and will continue to remain in the Exploration Stage until such time proven or probable mineral reserves have been established.

Since the Company commenced recovery of uranium at the Lost Creek Project without having established proven and probable reserves, any uranium resources established or extracted from the Lost Creek Project should not be in any way associated with having established proven or probable mineral reserves. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable to information made public by companies that have reserves in accordance with United States standards.

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates management makes in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements relate to potential impairment in the carrying value of the Company’s long-lived assets due to depressed uranium prices or other internal or external factors, the fair value of stock-based compensation using the factors associated with the Black-Scholes calculations, estimation of the amount of recoverable uranium included in the in-process inventory, estimation of factors surrounding asset retirement obligations such as interest rates, discount rates and inflation rates, total cost and the time until the asset retirement commences and the offset of future income taxes through deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash balances and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes. Restricted cash is excluded from cash and cash equivalents and is included in other long-term assets

 

Restricted cash

 

Cash which is restricted contractually or which secures various instruments including surety bonds and letters of credit securing reclamation obligations is shown as restricted cash.

 

Inventory

 

In-process inventory represents uranium that has been extracted from the wellfield and captured in the processing plant and is currently being transformed into a saleable product. Plant inventory is U₃O₈ that is contained in yellowcake, which has been dried and packaged in drums, but not yet shipped to the conversion facility. The amount of U₃O₈ in the plant inventory is determined by weighing and assaying the amount of U₃O₈ packaged into drums at the plant. Conversion facility inventory is U₃O₈ that has been shipped to the conversion facility. The amount of U₃O₈ in the conversion facility inventory includes the amount of U₃O₈ contained in drums shipped to the conversion facility plus or minus any final weighing and assay adjustments per the terms of the uranium supplier’s agreement with the conversion facility.

 

The Company’s inventories are measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value and reflect the U₃O₈ content in various stages of the production and sales process including in-process inventory, plant inventory and conversion facility inventory. Operating supplies are expensed when purchased.

 

Mineral properties

 

Acquisition costs of mineral properties are capitalized. When production is attained, amortization is calculated on a straight-line basis. The original estimated life for the Lost Creek project was 10 years which is being used to amortize the mineral property acquisition costs.    

 

If properties are abandoned or sold, they are written off. If properties are considered to be impaired in value, the costs of the properties are written down to their estimated fair value at that time.

 

Exploration, evaluation and development costs

 

Exploration and evaluation expenses consist of labor, annual lease and maintenance fees and associated costs of the exploration geology department as well as exploration costs including drilling and analysis on properties which have not reached the permitting or operations stage.

 

Development expense relates to the Company’s Lost Creek, LC East and Shirley Basin projects, which are more advanced in terms of permitting and preliminary economic assessments. Development expenses include all costs associated with exploring, delineating and permitting within those projects, the costs associated with the construction and development of permitted mine units including wells, pumps, piping, header houses, roads and other infrastructure related to the preparation of a mine unit to begin extraction operations as well as the cost of drilling and completing disposal wells.

 

Capital assets

 

Property, plant and equipment assets, including machinery, processing equipment, enclosures, vehicles and expenditures that extend the life of such assets, are recorded at cost including acquisition and installation costs.  The enclosure costs include both the building housing and the processing equipment necessary for the extraction of uranium from impregnated water pumped in from the wellfield to the packaging of uranium yellowcake for delivery into sales.  These enclosure costs are combined as the equipment and related installation associated with the equipment is an integral part of the structure itself. The costs of self-constructed assets include direct construction costs, direct overhead and allocated interest during the construction phase. Depreciation is calculated using a declining balance method for most assets with the exception of the plant enclosure and related equipment. Depreciation on the plant enclosure and related equipment is calculated on a straight-line basis. Estimated lives for depreciation purposes range from three years for computer equipment and software to 20 years for the plant enclosure and the name plate life of the related equipment.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company assesses the possibility of impairment in the net carrying value of its long-lived assets when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable. When potential impairment is indicated, management calculates the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows relating to the asset or asset group using estimated future prices, recoverable resources, and operating, capital and reclamation costs. When the carrying value of an asset exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value, which is determined using discounted future cash flows or other measures of fair value.

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

For mining properties, various federal and state mining laws and regulations require the Company to reclaim the surface areas and restore groundwater quality to the pre-existing quality or class of use after the completion of mining. The Company records the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs an obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the assets.

 

Asset retirement obligations consist of estimated final well closures, plant closure and removal and associated reclamation and restoration costs to be incurred by the Company in the future. The estimated fair value of the asset retirement obligation is based on the current cost escalated at an inflation rate and discounted at a credit adjusted risk-free rate. This liability is capitalized as part of the cost of the related asset and amortized over its useful life. The liability accretes until the Company settles the obligation.

 

Revenue recognition

 

The recognition of revenue from the sale of U₃O₈ is in accordance with the guidelines outlined in ASC Section 605-10-25, Revenue Recognition. The Company delivers U₃O₈  to a conversion facility and receives credit for the delivery quantity, measured in pounds, less a reserve for variances in the quantity and quality of the product delivered.  Once the product is assayed, the credit is adjusted to the full amount calculated. When a delivery is approved, the Company notifies the conversion facility with instructions for a title transfer to the customer. Revenue is recognized once a title transfer of the U₃O₈  is confirmed by the conversion facility.

 

Occasionally, the Company sells delivery commitments to an independent trader. The proceeds are recorded as deferred revenue until the trader or purchaser acknowledges the deliveries had been made, at which time the portion of the sale relating to those deliveries is taken into sales revenue.  The Company sold two delivery commitments to an independent trader in 2016.  The corresponding deliveries were made in 2016 and the income recognized in that year.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

Stock-based compensation cost from the issuance of stock options and restricted share units (“RSUs”) is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the related service period. Stock-based compensation cost is charged to construction, exploration and evaluation, development, and general and administrative expense on the same basis as other compensation costs.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The Company provides a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.

 

Earnings and loss per share calculations

 

Diluted earnings per common share are calculated by including all options which are in-the-money based on the average stock price for the period as well as RSUs which were outstanding at the end of the quarter. The treasury stock method was applied to determine the dilutive number of options.  Warrants are included only if the exercise price is less than the average stock price for the quarter. In periods of loss, the diluted loss per common share is equal to the basic loss per common share due to the anti-dilutive effect of all convertible securities.

 

Classification of financial instruments

 

The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, restricted cash, deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, other liabilities and notes payable. The Company has made the following classifications for these financial instruments:

 

 

New accounting pronouncements which may affect future reporting

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).”  The amendments in ASU 2014-09 affect any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance, and creates a Topic 606 Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of the promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period.  Early application is not permitted.  We have reviewed our contracts as well as our procedures and do not anticipate any changes in the manner or timing with which we reflect our revenues.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-1, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Topic 825). The amendments in this ASU supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (that is, trading or available-for-sale) and require equity securities (including other ownership interests, such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. The amendments allow equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values to be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or upon identification of an impairment. The amendments also require enhanced disclosures about those investments. The amendments improve financial reporting by providing relevant information about an entity’s equity investments and reducing the number of items that are recognized in other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual reporting beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within the year of adoption, and calls for prospective application, with early application permitted. Accordingly, the standard is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize all leases, including operating leases, unless the lease is a short-term lease. ASU 2016-02 also requires additional disclosures regarding leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim periods and fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and early application is permitted.  Now, the only leases we hold are for equipment, office space in one location and a limited number of leases on select mineral properties.  We do not anticipate the additional disclosures to reflect those leases will have an impact on our statement of financial position, as the total future lease payments are not material.

 

New accounting pronouncements which were implemented this year

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory.  ASU 2015-11 requires that inventory within the scope of this ASU be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments apply to all inventory, measured using average cost which is how the Company measures inventory. For all entities, the guidance is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016. This is consistent with our past policies and had no financial or reporting impact when implemented during the first quarter of 2017.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation - Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (Topic 718), which involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  Under the new standard, income tax benefits and deficiencies are to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur.  An entity should also recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period.  Excess tax benefits should be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity.  Regarding forfeitures, the entity may make an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures when they occur. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 including interim periods within that reporting period.  We currently recognize no income tax expense or benefit due to significant income tax credits and net operating losses which are fully reserved under a valuation allowance. There was therefore no effect on our accounting or reporting at the time of implementation earlier this year. We have made the election to continue to recognize losses from forfeitures at inception rather than when they vest or occur.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows – Restricted Cash a consensus of the FASB Emerging Task Force (Topic 230), which addresses the presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows.  Under the new standard, restricted cash will be presented with cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows instead of being reflected as non-cash investing or financing activities.  A reconciliation of the make-up of the ending cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash balance will be required for entities who reflect restricted cash as separate items on the statement of financial position.  In addition, a description of the restrictions on the cash will be required.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within that reporting period, however early adoption is permitted.  We elected to adopt this standard as of the first quarter of 2017.  Accordingly, the cash balances reflected in the Statement of Cash Flows have been increased by $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $7.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.  In addition, we have added note 15 – Supplemental Information for the Statement of Cash Flows which reconciles the cash balances shown on the Statement of Cash Flows with the appropriate balances on the Balance Sheet.