Basis of presentation

 

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not conform in all respects to the requirements of United States generally accepted accounting principles (“US GAAP”) for annual financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements reflect all normal adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods presented. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. The year-end balance sheet data were derived from the audited financial statements and certain information and footnote disclosures required by US GAAP have been condensed or omitted.

New accounting pronouncements which may affect future reporting

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“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 selected 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 this quarter.

 

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 is therefore no effect on our accounting or reporting at the time of implementation in this quarter.  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 have elected to adopt this standard as of the current quarter.  Accordingly, the cash balances reflected in the Statement of Cash Flows have been increased by $7.6 million which has been the restricted cash balance since December 31, 2015.  In addition, we have added note 13 – Supplemental Information to 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.