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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure of notes and other explanatory information [Abstract] |
Contingencies |
29. CONTINGENCIES |  |
The following is a summary of the contingent matters and obligations relating to the Company as at December 31, 2019.
a. | General
The Company is subject to various investigations, claims and legal and tax proceedings covering matters that arise in the ordinary course of business activities. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties and it is possible that some of these matters may be resolved unfavorably to the Company. Certain conditions may exist as of the date the financial statements are issued, which may result in a loss to the Company. In the opinion of management none of these matters are expected to have a material effect on the results of operations or financial conditions of the Company.
b. | Environment
The Company’s mining and exploration activities are subject to various laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations are continually changing and are generally becoming more restrictive. The Company conducts its operations so as to protect the public health and environment and believes its operations are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations in all material respects. The Company has made, and expects to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations, but cannot predict the full amount of such future expenditures. Estimated future reclamation costs are based on the extent of work required and the associated costs are dependent on the requirements of relevant authorities and the Company’s environmental policies. As of December 31, 2019, $188.5 million (2018 - $70.6 million) was accrued for reclamation costs relating to mineral properties. See also Note 17.
c. | Taxes
The Company operates in numerous countries around the world and accordingly it is subject to, and pays annual income taxes under the various income tax regimes in the countries in which it operates. Some of these tax regimes are defined by contractual agreements with the local government, and others are defined by the general corporate income tax laws of the country. The Company has historically filed, and continues to file, all required income tax returns and to pay the taxes reasonably determined to be due. The tax rules and regulations in many countries are highly complex and subject to interpretation. From time to time, the Company is subject to a review of its historic income tax filings and in connection with such reviews, disputes can arise with the taxing authorities over the interpretation or application of certain rules to the Company’s business conducted within the country involved.
d. | Argentina
Unanticipated or drastic changes in laws and regulations have affected our operations in the past. For example, under previous political regimes in Argentina, the government intensified the use of severe price, foreign exchange, and import controls in response to unfavourable domestic economic trends. These included informal restrictions on dividend, interest, and service payments abroad and limitations on the ability to convert ARS into USD, exposing the Company to additional risks of ARS devaluation and high domestic inflation. While some of these restrictions had begun to ease after the elections in 2015, the government introduced a new export duty in 2018 on silver and gold doré exported from Argentina (Note 29(h)). Following elections in 2019, the new government in Argentina has begun reinstituting some of the previous unfavorable economic policies, such as strict currency controls.
e. | Bolivia
In early 2009, a new constitution was enacted in Bolivia that further entrenched the government’s ability to unilaterally amend or enact laws, and which enshrined the concept that all natural resources belong to the Bolivian people. On May 28, 2014, the Bolivian government enacted the New Mining Law. Among other things, the New Mining Law established a new Bolivian mining authority to provide principal mining oversight (varying the role of COMIBOL) and set out a number of new economic and operational requirements relating to state participation in mining projects. Further, the New Mining Law provided that all pre-existing contracts were to migrate to one of several new forms of agreement within a prescribed period of time. As a result, we anticipate that our current joint venture agreement with COMIBOL relating to the San Vicente mine will be subject to such migration and possible renegotiation of key terms. The migration process has been delayed by COMIBOL and has not been completed. The primary effects on the San Vicente operation and our interest therein will not be known until such time as we have, if required to do so, renegotiated the existing contract, and the full impact may only be realized over time. We will take appropriate steps to protect and, if necessary, enforce our rights under our existing agreement with COMIBOL. There is, however, no guarantee that governmental actions, including possible expropriation or additional changes in the law, and the migration of our contract will not impact our involvement in the San Vicente operation in an adverse way and such actions could have a material adverse effect on us and our business. On June 25, 2015, the Bolivian government further enacted the New Conciliation and Arbitration Law, which endeavors to set out newly prescribed arbitral norms and procedures, including for foreign investors. However, its application is unclear and we await clarification by regulatory authorities in order to assess its impact on our business.
f. | Other Legal
We are subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of business activities. Many of these claims are from current or ex-employees, or employees of former or current owners of our operations such as the Quiruvilca-related claims in Peru, some of which involve claims of significant value, and include alleged improper dismissals, workplace illnesses, such as silicosis, and claims for additional profit-sharing and bonuses in prior years. In some cases, we may become subject to class action lawsuits. For example, in mid-2017, Tahoe, which was acquired by us in late February 2019, and certain of its former directors and officers became the subject of three purported class action lawsuits filed in the United States that center primarily around alleged misrepresentations. These U.S. class action lawsuits were later consolidated into one class action suit that is ongoing. In October 2018, Tahoe learned that a similar proposed class action lawsuit had been filed against Tahoe and its former chief executive officer in the Superior Court of Ontario. These lawsuits seek significant damages. Tahoe has disputed the allegations made in these suits, however the outcomes are not determinable at this time. Furthermore, we are in some cases the subject of claims by local communities, indigenous groups or private land owners relating to land and mineral rights, or environmental or social damage, and such claimants may seek sizeable monetary damages against us and/or the return of surface or mineral rights or revocation of permits and licenses that are valuable to us and which may impact our operations and profitability if lost. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties and it is possible that some of these matters may be resolved unfavourably to us. We establish provisions for matters that are probable and can be reasonably estimated. We also carry liability insurance coverage, however such insurance does not cover all risks to which we might be exposed and in other cases, may only partially cover losses incurred by us. In addition, we may be involved in disputes with other parties in the future that may result in litigation, which may result in a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flow and results of operations.
g. | Title
Although the Company has taken steps to verify title to properties in which it has an interest, these procedures do not guarantee the Company’s title. Property title may be subject to, among other things, unregistered prior agreements or transfers and may be affected by undetected defects. Any defects in title to our properties, or the revocation of our rights to mine, could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.
h. | Royalty and Participation Agreements
The Company has various royalty agreements on certain mineral properties entitling the counterparties to the agreements to receive payments per terms, as summarized below. Royalty liabilities incurred on acquisitions of properties are netted against the mineral property while royalties that become payable upon production are expensed at the time of sale of the production. As part of the arrangement closed with Maverix on July 11, 2016 (Note 14), Maverix acquired from the Company a portfolio of royalties, precious metals streams and payment agreements, in exchange for a 54% interest in Maverix (26% fully diluted as at December 31, 2019). The key portfolio assets included the economic equivalent of one hundred percent (100%) of the gold produced from Pan American’s operating La Colorada silver mine, less a fixed price of US$650 per ounce for the life of the mine, as well as an agreement to purchase five percent (5%) of future gold production at a fixed price of US$450 per ounce from the feasibility stage La Bolsa project. The portfolio also included, among others, a net smelter returns royalty of one percent (1%) on the Pico Machay project that is currently owned by Pan American. In the province of Chubut, Argentina, which is the location of the Company’s Navidad property, there is a provincial royalty of 3% of the “Operating Income”. Operating income is defined as revenue minus production costs (not including mining costs), treatment and transportation charges. Refer to the Navidad project section below for further details. In September 2018, the government of Argentina introduced a new export duty of 12% to be applied on the export of goods from Argentina until December 31, 2020. In general, the duty is capped at ARS 4 per USD $1 of gold doré exported, and at ARS 3 per USD $1 of silver doré exported. As a result, the Company paid approximately $3.5 million (2018 - $1.6 million) in export duties, representing an average rate for the export duty of approximately 6% (2018 - 8%). 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 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 final contract for the alternative is being discussed and pending the final resolution to this alternative, the Company continues to classify the fair value calculated at the acquisition of this alternative as a deferred credit as disclosed in Note 20. Manantial Espejo Production from the Manantial Espejo property is subject to royalties to be paid to Barrick Gold Corp. according to the following: (i) $0.60 per metric tonne of ore mined from the property and fed to process at a mill or leaching facility to a maximum of 1 million tonnes; and (ii) one-half of one percent (0.5%) of net smelter returns derived from the production of minerals from the property. In addition, the Company has negotiated a royalty equal to 3.0% of operating cash flow payable to the Province of Santa Cruz. San Vicente Pursuant to an option agreement entered into with COMIBOL, a Bolivian state mining company, with respect to the development of the San Vicente property, the Company is obligated to pay COMIBOL a participation fee of 37.5% (the “Participation Fee”) of the operation’s cash flow. Once full commercial production of San Vicente began, the Participation Fee was reduced by 75% until the Company recovered its investment in the property. The Participation Fee has now reverted back to the original percentage. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred approximately $5.1 million in COMIBOL royalties (2018 - incurred $4.8 million). A royalty is also payable to EMUSA, a former partner of the Company on the project. The royalty is a 2% net smelter return royalty (as per the Agreement) payable only after the Company has recovered its capital investment in the project and only when the average price of silver in a given financial quarter is $9.00 per ounce or greater. For the year ended December 31, 2019 the royalties paid to EMUSA amounted to approximately $0.8 million (2018 - $0.7 million). In December 2007, the Bolivian government introduced a new mining royalty that affects the San Vicente project. The royalty is applied to gross metal value of sales (before smelting and refining deductions) and the royalty percentage is a sliding scale depending on metal prices. At current metal prices, the royalty is 6% for silver metal value and 5% for zinc and copper metal value of sales. The royalty is income tax deductible. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the royalty amounted to $5.5 million (2018 - $4.4 million). Dolores Production from the Dolores mine is subject to underlying net smelter return royalties comprised of 2% on silver production and 3.25% on gold production. These royalties are payable to Royal Gold Inc. and were effective in full as of May 1, 2009, on the commencement of commercial production at the Dolores mine. The royalties to Royal Gold amounted to approximately $7.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 (2018 – $6.8 million). Escobal Some communities and non-governmental organizations ("NGOs") have been vocal and active in their opposition to mining and exploration activities in Guatemala. In July 2017, the Escobal mining license was suspended as a result of a court proceeding initiated by an NGO in Guatemala, based upon the allegation that Guatemala’s Ministry of Energy and Mines ("MEM") violated the Xinka indigenous people’s right of consultation. After several decisions and appeals on the matter, a decision of the Constitutional Court of Guatemala was rendered on September 3, 2018, determining that the Escobal mining license would remain suspended until the Guatemala MEM completes an ILO 169 consultation. The consultation process is proceeding, with the pre-consultation stage underway. Normal operations at the Escobal mine remain suspended. Legal challenges to the consultation process have been filed with the Guatemalan Supreme Court and the outcome of those challenges is unknown. The process and timing for completing the ILO 169 consultation remains uncertain. In addition, in June 2017, MSR filed its annual request to renew the Escobal mine’s export credential with the Guatemala MEM. However, the Guatemala MEM did not renew the export credential because its renewal had become contingent on the Supreme Court's reinstatement of the Escobal mining license. The export credential therefore expired in August 2017 and has not been renewed. In addition, since June 7, 2017, a group of protesters near the town of Casillas have blocked the primary highway that connects Guatemala City to San Rafael Las Flores and the Escobal mine. Tahoe's operations were reduced between June 8, 2017 and June 19, 2017 to conserve fuel, and on July 5, 2017, were ceased following the Supreme Court’s provisional decision to suspend the Escobal mining license while the case against the Guatemala MEM was heard on the merits. A second roadblock was initiated in 2018 near the community of Mataquescuintla. MSR representatives have been pursuing engagement with community leaders, government agencies, and NGOs to develop a dialogue process aimed at resolving this protracted dispute and reaching a peaceful conclusion to the roadblocks, but there is no guarantee that a positive conclusion will be reached. Navidad As a result of uncertainty over the zoning, regulatory and tax laws, the Company has suspended project development activities at Navidad. The Company remains committed to the development of Navidad and to contributing to the positive economic and social development of the province of Chubut upon the adoption of a favorable legislative framework.

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