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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES [abstract]  
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES

3.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICES

The Company has consistently applied the following accounting policies to all periods presented in these financial statements.

(a)    Basis of Consolidation

These financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All significant intercompany transactions, balances, revenues, and expenses have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial results of the Company from the effective date of acquisition or control and up to the effective date of disposition or loss of control. Control is achieved when the Company has power over the investee, is exposed to or has rights to variable returns from its involvement with an investee, and had the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee.

Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is the ultimate parent entity of the group. At December 31, 2022, the principal subsidiaries of the Company, their geographic locations, and the ownership interests held by the Company, were as follows:

Name

    

Location

    

Ownership

    

Principal Activity

Minera Bateas S.A.C. ("Bateas")

Peru

100%

Caylloma Mine

Compania Minera Cuzcatlan S.A. de C.V. ("Cuzcatlan")

Mexico

100%

San Jose Mine

Mansfield Minera S.A. ("Mansfield")

Argentina

100%

Lindero Mine

Roxgold SANU S.A. (“Sanu”)

Burkina Faso

90%

Yaramoko Mine

Roxgold SANGO S.A. (“Sango”)

Côte d’Ivoire

90%

Séguéla Project

(b) Business Combination

A business combination is an acquisition of assets and liabilities that constitute a business. A business is an integrated set of activities and assets that consist of inputs and processes, including operational processes that, when applied to those inputs, have the ability to create outputs that provide a return to the Company and its shareholders. A business also includes those assets and liabilities that do not necessarily have all the inputs and processes required to produce outputs, but can be integrated with the inputs and processes of the Company to create outputs.

When acquiring a set of activities or assets in the exploration and development stage, which may not have outputs, the Company considers other factors to determine whether the set of activities or assets is a business.

Acquisitions of businesses are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value, which is allocated to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on the acquisition-date fair value. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Company’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets acquired, the difference, or gain, is recognized directly in the consolidated statement of operations. The results of businesses acquired during the period are included in the financial statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Provisional fair values are finalized within 12 months of the acquisition date. Measurement period adjustments are adjustments that arise from additional information obtained during the measurement period about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date.

(c)    Non-Controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests represents equity interests in subsidiaries owned by outside parties. Non-controlling interests are recorded at their proportionate share of the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired on initial recognition. The share of net assets of subsidiaries attributable to non-controlling interests is presented as a component of equity. Their share of net income and other comprehensive income is recognized directly in equity even if the results of the non-controlling interest have a deficit balance.

The Company recognizes transactions with non-controlling interest as transactions with equity shareholders. Changes in the Company’s ownership interest in subsidiaries that do not result in loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions.

(d)    Consolidation, Functional and Presentation Currency

These financial statements are presented in United States Dollars (“$” or “US$” or “US dollars”), which is the functional currency of the Company. Reference to C$ are to Canadian dollars. All amounts in these financial statements have been rounded to the nearest thousand US dollars, unless otherwise stated.

The functional currency for each entity consolidated within the Company's financial statements is determined by the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates. The functional currency of all subsidiaries is US dollars except for those outlined in the table below.

Name of Subsidiary

Place of Incorporation

Beneficial Common Share Ownership Interest

Principal Activity

Functional Currency

Roxgold Inc.

Canada

100%

Holding

CAD

FR Gold Mining Inc.

Canada

100%

Holding

CAD

Fortuna Silver Mines Australia Pty Ltd.

Australia

100%

Corporate

AUD

LGL Exploration Côte d’Ivoire SA

Côte d’Ivoire

100%

Exploration

XOF

LGL Resources Côte d’Ivoire SA

Côte d’Ivoire

100%

Exploration

XOF

Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries that have a functional currency other than US dollar are translated into US dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the consolidated statements of financial position date and revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate over the reporting period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized in other comprehensive income.

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded in the functional currency at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange at each financial position date. Foreign exchange gains or losses on translation to the functional currency of an entity are recorded in profit or loss. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate as at the date of the initial transaction.

(e)    Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits, and money market instruments with maturities from the date of acquisition of 90 days or less, which are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are subject to insignificant changes in value. Short-term investments consist of term deposits with original maturities in excess of three months but less than twelve months. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are designated as amortized cost.

(f)    Inventories

Inventories include mineral concentrates, doré, leach pad, gold in-circuit, stockpiled ore, materials and supplies, which are valued at the lower of average production cost and estimated net realizable value. Production costs allocated to metal inventories include direct mining costs, direct labour costs, direct material costs, mine site overhead, depletion and amortization. Stockpiled ore that is not expected to be processed within the next twelve months is classified as non-current. Costs allocated to materials and supplies are based on weighted average costs and include all costs of purchase and other costs in bringing these inventories to their existing location and condition.

In the heap leaching process, ore is stacked on the leach pad and treated with a chemical solution that dissolves the gold contained within the ore. The resulting pregnant solution is further processed in a plant where the gold is recovered. The cost of leach pad inventory is based on cost of mining, crushing, and leaching, including applicable depletion and amortization, and is removed as ounces of gold are recovered at the weighted average cost per recoverable ounce of gold on the leach pad. Estimates of recoverable gold in the leach pad are calculated based on the quantities of ore placed on the leach pad (measured tonnes added to the leach pad), the estimated grade of ore placed on the leach pad (based on assay data), and an estimated recovery percentage (based on estimated recovery assumptions from metallurgical testing). The nature of the leaching process inherently limits the ability to precisely monitor inventory levels. As a result, estimates are refined based on actual results and engineering studies over a period of time. The final recovery of gold from leach pad will not be known until the leaching process is concluded at the end of the mine life.

If the carrying value exceeds the net realizable amount, a write-down is recognized. The write-down may be reversed in a subsequent period if the circumstances which caused the write-down no longer exist, to the extent that the related inventory has not been sold. Net realizable value is calculated as the estimated price at the time of sale based on prevailing metal prices less estimated future costs to convert the inventories into saleable form and estimated costs to sell.

(g)    Exploration and Evaluation Assets

Exploration expenditures on properties for which the Company does not have title or rights to are expensed when incurred. Significant payments related to the acquisition of land and mineral rights and the costs to conduct a preliminary evaluation to determine that the property has potential to develop an economic ore body are capitalized as incurred. The time between initial acquisition and a full evaluation of a property’s potential is dependent on many factors including, but not limited to, location relative to existing infrastructure, the property’s stage of development, geological controls and metal prices.

The Company capitalizes the cost of acquiring, maintaining its interest, and exploring mineral properties as exploration and evaluation assets until such time as the properties are placed into development, abandoned, sold, or considered to be impaired in value.

If a mineable ore body is discovered, exploration and evaluation costs are reclassified to mining properties. The Company uses the following criteria in its assessment:

the property has mineral reserves as referred to in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), and
when legal, permitting, and social matters have been resolved sufficiently to allow mining of the ore body.

Exploration and evaluation assets are tested for impairment when an indicator of impairment is identified and upon reclassification to mining properties.

If no mineable ore body is discovered, all previously capitalized costs are expensed in the period in which it is determined the property has no economic value.

Proceeds received from the sale of interests in exploration and evaluation assets are credited to the carrying value of the mineral properties, plant and equipment. Exploration costs that do not relate to any specific property are expensed as incurred.

(h)    Mineral Properties, and Property, Plant and Equipment

i.    Mineral Properties and Development Costs

For operating mines, all mineral property expenditures are capitalized and amortized based on a unit-of-production method considering the expected production to be obtained over the life of the mineral property. The expected production includes proven and probable reserves and for the San Jose, Caylloma and Yaramoko mines the portion of inferred resources expected to be extracted economically as part of the production cost.

Capitalized costs of producing properties are amortized on a unit-of-production basis over proven and probable reserves and the portion of inferred resources where it is considered highly probable that those resources are expected to be extracted economically.

The expected production to be obtained over the life of the mineral property is based on our life-of-mine production plans which for San Jose, Caylloma and Yaramoko include a portion of inferred resources, and therefore differ from the life-of-mine plans the Company publishes as part of our NI 43-101 compliant technical reports which are based on reserves only. The decision to use inferred resources, and the portion of inferred resources to be included varies for each operation and is based on the geological characteristics of the ore body, the quality and predictability of inferred resources, and the conversion of inferred resources into measured and indicated (“M&I”) that the Company has historically achieved in the past.

Many factors are taken into account during resource classification including; the quality of drilling and sampling, drill/sample spacing, sample preparation and analysis, geological logging and modelling, database construction, geological interpretation and modelling, statistical/geostatistical analysis, interpolation method, local estimation, engineering studies, economic parameters, and reconciliation with actual results.

Once the integrity of the data has been established, two important considerations around classification of resources are geologic continuity and possible variation of thickness and grade between samples. For our inferred resources at San Jose, Caylloma and Yaramoko we are able to achieve a significant level of confidence on the existence of mineable material as geological continuity has been established by consistent drill hole intercepts both along strike and down-dip which provides us with reasonable confidence in the location of the structures. The vast majority of the inferred resources are interpolated, estimated between existing drill hole intercepts, as opposed to extrapolated where the grades are estimated beyond the furthest sample point, adding to our confidence in the geologic continuity of the veins. Furthermore, San Jose, Caylloma and Yaramoko are not structurally complex deposits where faulting has disrupted geologic continuity.

With regards to the variation of thickness and grade between samples, the Company uses statistical means to calculate the probability that tonnage and grade content falls within a certain accuracy over a given timeframe. If the potential variation is estimated to be within ± 25% at 90% confidence globally, it is classified as an inferred resource. This is equivalent to stating that the Company has 95% confidence that greater than 75% of the inferred tonnes, grade, and metal content will ultimately be recovered by the mine and hence that the same percentage or higher will be converted from an inferred resource to an indicated resource through infill drilling as per the Company’s policy of upgrading prior to production.

As part of the process to include inferred resources into our life-of-mine production plans, the Company applies an economic cut-off to identify only the material that can be considered profitable to mine within our mine designs, and at this time we apply a conversion or “risk” factor to the mining blocks comprised of inferred resources that we include in such mine production plans. This conversion factor is based on the predictability of conversion derived from statistical estimates of confidence as described above and the support from historic conversion rates of inferred resources into M&I at each of our mines. The conversion factors used in our 2022 and 2021 life-of-mine plans were 90% at San Jose, 90% at Caylloma, and 100% at Yaramoko.  

The percentage of inferred resources included as a component of the total mineable inventory (reserve and resource) considered in the 2022 life-of-mine evaluation for each operation as of December 31, 2022, was San Jose 31% (2021: 35%), Caylloma 41% (2021: 31%), and Yaramoko 8% (2021: 11%).

The Company reviews the conversion factors including past experience in assessing the future expected conversion of inferred resources to be used in the life-of-mine plans for inclusion of inferred resources once a year in light of new geologic information and conversion data and when events or circumstances indicate that a review should be made. The Company continually monitors expected conversion and any changes in estimates that arise from this review are accounted for prospectively.

Significant estimation is involved in determining resources and in determining the percentage of resources ultimately expected to be converted to reserves, which we determine based on careful consideration of both internal and external technical and economic data. Estimation of future conversion of resources is inherently uncertain and involves significant judgment and actual outcomes may vary from these judgments and estimates and such outcomes may have a material impact on the results. Revisions to these estimates are accounted for in the period in which the change in the estimate arises.

ii.    Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and impairments. Costs directly related to construction projects are capitalized to work in progress until the asset is available for use in the manner intended by management. Assets, other than capital works in progress, are depreciated to their residual values over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Land and buildings

    

  

    

  

Land

 

Not depreciated

 

  

Mineral properties

 

Units of production

 

Declining balance

Buildings, located at the mine

 

Units of production

 

Declining balance

Buildings, others (1)

 

6-10 years

 

Straight line

Leasehold improvements (1)

 

4-8 years

 

Straight line

Plant and equipment

 

  

 

  

Processing plant

Units of production

Declining balance

Machinery and equipment (1)

 

3-12 years

 

Straight line

Furniture and other equipment (1)

 

2-12 years

 

Straight line

Transport units

 

4-5 years

 

Straight line

Capital work in progress

 

Not depreciated

 

  

(1)The lesser of useful life or life of mine.

Equipment under finance lease is initially recorded at the present value of minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or useful life.

Spare parts and components included in machinery and equipment are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the component or the related machinery and equipment.

Borrowing costs attributed to the construction of qualifying assets are capitalized to mineral properties, plant and equipment, and are included in the carrying amounts of related assets until the asset is available for use in the manner intended by management.

The sales proceeds and associated production costs incurred during commissioning of qualifying assets under capital works in progress are recognized in profit or loss.

On an annual basis, the depreciation method, useful economic life, and residual value of each component asset is reviewed with any changes recognized prospectively over its remaining useful economic life.

iii.   Stripping cost

Pre-production stripping costs are generally capitalized and amortized over the production life of the mine using the unit-of-production method.

Stripping costs incurred during the production stage are incurred in order to produce inventory or to improve access to ore which will be mined in the future. Where the costs are incurred to produce inventory, the production stripping costs are accounted for as a cost of producing those inventories. Where the costs are incurred to improve access to ore which will be mined in the future, the costs are deferred and capitalized to the statement of financial position as a stripping activity asset (included in mining interest) if the following criteria are met:

improved access to the ore body is probable;
the component of the ore body can be accurately identified; and
the costs relating to the stripping activity associated with the component can be reliably measured.

If these criteria are not met, the costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

The stripping activity asset is subsequently depleted using the units-of-production depletion method over the life of the identified component of the ore body to which access has been improved as a result of the stripping activity.

(i)    Asset Impairment

At the end of each reporting period, the Company assesses for impairment indicators and if there are such indicators, then the Company performs a test of impairment.

For the purpose of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows or cash generating units. These are typically individual mines or development projects. Brownfields exploration projects, located close to existing mine infrastructure, are assessed for impairment as part of the associated mine cash generating unit.

An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less cost of disposal (“FVLCD”) and value in use.

When the recoverable amount is assessed using pre-tax discounted cash flow techniques, the resulting estimates are based on detailed mine and/or production plans. For value in use, recent cost levels are considered, together with expected changes in costs compatible with the current condition of the business. The cash flow forecasts are based on best estimates of the expected future revenues and costs, including the future cash costs of production, sustaining capital expenditures, and reclamation and closure costs.

Where a FVLCD model is used, the cash flow forecast includes net cash flows expected to be realized from extraction, processing, and sale of mineral resources that do not currently qualify for inclusion in proven or probable reserves and the portion of resources expected to be extracted economically.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash-generating unit is increased to the revised estimate of recoverable amount but not beyond the carrying amount, net of depreciation and amortization, that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset or cash-generating unit in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized into earnings immediately.

(j)    Borrowing Costs

Interest and other financing costs incurred that are attributable to acquiring and developing exploration and development stage mining properties and constructing new facilities (“qualifying assets”), are capitalized and included in the carrying amounts of qualifying assets until those qualifying assets are capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

The capitalization of borrowing costs incurred commences on the date when the following three conditions are met:

expenditures for the qualifying asset are being incurred;
borrowing costs are being incurred; and,
activities that are necessary to prepare the qualifying asset for its intended use are being undertaken.

Borrowing costs incurred after the qualifying assets are substantially complete are expensed.

Transaction costs, including legal, upfront commitment fees and other costs of issuance, associated with debt are recorded against the debt and are amortized over the term of the credit facility using the effective interest rate method.

All other borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

(k)    Assets Held for Sale

A non-current asset is classified as held for sale when it meets the following criteria:

The non-current asset is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets; and,
the sale of the non-current asset is highly probable. For the sale to be highly probable:

o

the appropriate level of management must be committed to a plan to sell the asset;

o

an active program to locate a buyer and complete the plan must have been initiated;

o

the non-current asset or disposal group must be actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value;

o

the sale should be expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year from the date of classification as held for sale (with certain exceptions); and

o

actions required to complete the plan should indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.

Assets held for sale are not depreciated and are recorded at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell.

(l)    Income Taxes

Income tax expense consists of current and deferred tax expense.

Current tax expense is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at period end adjusted for amendments to tax payable with regards to previous years.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for deferred tax consequences attributable to unused tax loss carry forwards, unused tax credits, and differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis (“temporary differences”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply when the asset is realized, or the liability is settled.

The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in profit or loss in the period that substantive enactment occurs.

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable income will be available against which the asset can be utilized. To the extent that the Company does not consider it probable that a deferred tax asset will be recovered, the deferred tax asset is reduced.

The following temporary differences do not result in deferred tax assets or liabilities:

the initial recognition of assets or liabilities, not arising in a business combination, that does not affect accounting or taxable income;
goodwill; and
investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities where the timing of reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and reversal in the foreseeable future is not probable.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities, and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

(m)   Provisions

i.    Closure and Reclamation Provisions

Future obligations to retire an asset, including dismantling, remediation and ongoing treatment and monitoring of the site related to normal operation are initially recognized and recorded as a liability based on estimated future cash flows discounted at the risk-free rate.

The closure and reclamation provision (“CRP”) is adjusted at each reporting period for changes to the expected amount of cash flows required to discharge the liability, the timing of such cash flows and the risk-free discount rate.

The liability is accreted to full value over time through periodic charges to profit or loss.

The amount of the CRP initially recognized is capitalized as part of the related asset’s carrying value and amortized to profit or loss. The method of amortization follows that of the underlying asset. The costs related to a CRP are only capitalized to the extent that the amount meets the definition of an asset and can bring about future economic benefit. For a closed site or where the asset which generated a CRP no longer exists, there is no longer a future benefit related to the costs and as such, the amounts are expensed. Revisions in estimates or new disturbances result in an adjustment to the CRP with an offsetting adjustment to the asset, unless there is no future benefit, in which case they are expensed.

Due to uncertainties inherent in environmental remediation, the ultimate cost of future site closure and reclamation could differ from the amounts provided. The estimate of future site closure and reclamation costs is subject to change based on amendments to laws and regulations, changes in technologies, price increases and changes in interest rates, and as new information concerning the Company’s closure and reclamation obligations becomes available. Such changes are reflected prospectively in the determination of the provision.

ii.   Environmental Disturbance Restoration Provisions

During the operating life of an asset, events such as infractions of environmental laws or regulations may occur. These events are not related to the normal operation of the asset and are referred to as environmental disturbance restoration provisions (“EDRP”). The costs associated with an EDRP are accrued and charged to earnings in the period in which the event giving rise to the liability occurs. Any subsequent adjustments to an EDRP due to changes in estimates are also charged to earnings in the period of adjustment. These costs are not capitalized as part of the long-lived asset’s carrying value.

iii.  Other Provisions

Provisions are recognized when a present legal or constructive obligation exists as a result of past events, and it is probable that an outflow of resources that can be reliably estimated will be required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material the provision is discounted using an appropriate current market based pre-tax discount rate.

(n)    Common Share Capital

Shares are classified as equity. Costs directly attributable to the issuance of common shares are shown in equity as a deduction from the proceeds.

(o)    Share-Based Payments

The fair value method of accounting is used for share-based payment transactions. Under this method, the cost of stock options and other equity-settled share-based payment arrangements are recorded based on the estimated fair value at the grant date and charged to earnings over the vesting period. Where awards are forfeited because non-market based vesting conditions were not satisfied, the expense previously recognized is reversed in the period the forfeiture occurs.

Share-based payment expenses relating to cash-settled awards, including deferred share units, restricted share units, and performance share units, are accrued and expensed over the vesting period based on the quoted market value of the Company’s common shares. As these awards will be settled in cash, the expense and liability are adjusted at each reporting period for any changes in the underlying share price.

Equity settled share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or services received, except where that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which case they are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at the date the Company obtains the goods or the counter party renders the services.

i.    Stock Option Plan

The Company applies the fair value method of accounting for all stock option awards. Under this method, the Company recognizes a compensation expense for all stock options awarded to employees, based on the fair value of the options on the date of grant which is determined by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the options is expensed over the graded vesting period of the options.

ii.   Deferred Share Unit Plan

Deferred share units (“DSU”) are typically granted to non-executive directors of the Company. They are payable in cash upon resignation, retirement, removal, failure to achieve re-election, or upon a change of control of the Company. The DSU compensation liability is accounted for based on the number of DSUs outstanding and the quoted market value of the Company’s common shares at the financial position date. The year-over-year change in the DSU compensation liability is recognized in profit or loss.

iii.  Share Unit Plans

The Company’s amended and restated share unit plan (the “SU Plan”) covers all restricted share units (“RSUs”) and performance share units (“PSUs”) granted by the Company on and after March 1, 2015.

Restricted Share Units

The Company’s RSUs are settled in either cash or equity, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors at the grant date and typically vest over three years.  

For cash settled RSUs, the share-based payment expense is adjusted at each reporting period to reflect any change in the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares and the vesting of each RSU grant, with a corresponding amount recorded in Trade and Other Payables, and Other Non-Current Liabilities.

For equity-settled RSUs, the fair value is determined based on the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant, and the fair value is recognized as a share-based payment expense over the vesting period with a corresponding amount recorded in equity reserves.

Performance Share Units

The Company’s PSUs are performance-based awards for the achievement of specified performance metrics by specified deadlines and are settled in either cash or equity, as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors at the grant date and typically vest over three years.  

For cash settled PSUs, the share-based payment expense is adjusted at each reporting period to reflect any change in the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares, the vesting of each PSU grant and the expected performance factors with a corresponding amount recorded in Trade and Other Payables.

For equity-settled PSUs, the fair value is determined based on the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant and the number of PSUs expected to vest based on the performance factors.  The fair value is recognized as a share-based payment expense over the vesting period with a corresponding amount recorded in equity reserves.  

(p)    Related Party Transactions

Parties are related if one party has the ability directly, or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control. Related parties may be individuals or corporate entities, and include key management personnel of the Company. A transaction is a related party transaction when there is a transfer of resources or obligations between related parties.

(q)    Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing the net income for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

The diluted earnings per share calculation is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, adjusted for the effects of dilutive common share equivalents. This method requires that the dilutive effect of outstanding options and equity settled units issued should be calculated using the treasury stock method. This method assumes that all common share equivalents have been exercised at the beginning of the year (or at the time of issuance, if later), and that the funds obtained thereby were used to purchase common shares of the Company at the average trading price of the common shares during the year, but only if dilutive.

Dilution from convertible debentures is calculated using the if-converted method, based on the number of shares to be issued upon conversion of the convertible debentures, with a corresponding adjustment to net income for the after-tax interest expense related to the convertible debentures.

(r)    Financial Instruments

i    Classification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities

Financial assets are measured as either: amortized cost; fair value through other comprehensive income (“FVOCI”) or fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”). All non-derivative financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost. The classification of financial assets is generally based on the business model in which a financial asset is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics. Derivatives embedded in contracts where the host is a financial asset in the scope of the standard are never separated, and instead the hybrid financial instrument is assessed for classification.

A financial asset is measured at amortized cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and
its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

A debt investment is measured at FVOCI if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

it is held within a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets; and
its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

On initial recognition of an equity investment that is not held for trading, the Company may irrevocably elect to present subsequent changes in the investment’s fair value in other comprehensive income (OCI). This election is made on an investment-by-investment basis. All financial assets not classified as measured at amortized cost or FVOCI as described above are measured at FVTPL.

Components of compound financial instruments are separately classified as either financial liabilities or as equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangements and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument. The financial liability is initially recognized at fair value, net of an allocation of issuance costs, and is subsequently measured at amortized cost. The equity component is initially measured based on the residual amount, net of an allocation of issuance costs, and is not subsequently remeasured.

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recognized at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Repurchase of the Company’s own equity instruments is recognized and deducted directly in equity. No gain or loss is recognized in profit or loss on the purchase, sale, or cancellation of our own equity instruments. No gain or loss is recognized on the issue of our own equity instruments, unless the equity is issued to settle a liability.

Financial Liabilities at Amortized Cost – Financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, unless they are required to be measured at fair value through profit or loss, or the Company has opted to measure them at FVTPL. Debt and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are recognized initially at fair value, net of any transaction costs incurred, and subsequently at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

The following accounting policies apply to the subsequent measurement of financial assets:

Financial assets at FVTPL - These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Net gains and losses, including any interest or dividend income, are recognized in profit or loss.
Financial assets at amortized cost - These assets are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The amortized cost is reduced by impairment losses. Interest income, foreign exchange gains and losses and impairment are recognized in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is recognized in profit or loss.
Equity investments at FVOCI - These assets are subsequently measured at fair value. Dividends are recognized as income in profit or loss unless the dividend clearly represents a recovery of part of the cost of the investment. Gains or losses recognized on the sale of the equity investment are recognized in OCI and are never reclassified to profit or loss.

ii  Impairment of Financial Assets

An entity is required to recognize expected credit losses when financial instruments are initially recognized and to update the amount of expected credit losses recognized at each reporting date to reflect changes in the credit risk of the financial instruments.

For the Company’s trade receivables, it determines the lifetime expected losses for all of its trade receivables. The expected lifetime credit loss provision for the Company’s trade receivables is based on historical counterparty default rates and adjusted for relevant forward-looking information, when required.

iii  Hedge Accounting

The Company occasionally uses interest rate swaps to hedge against the variability in cash flows arising from changes in floating interest rate borrowings relating to its credit facility. The last interest rate swap matured on January 26, 2022.

Management qualitatively assesses that the changes in value of the hedging instrument and the hedged item will move in opposite directions and will be perfectly offset. As both counterparties to the derivative are investment grade, the effect of credit risk is considered as neither material nor dominant in the economic relationship. The portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument that is determined to be effective will be recognized directly in other comprehensive income while the amount that is determined to be ineffective, if any, will be recorded in the profit or loss during the life of the hedging relationship.

(s)    Revenue Recognition

The Company earns revenue from contracts with customers related to its concentrate and doré sales. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when a customer obtains control of the concentrate or the doré and the Company satisfies its performance obligation. The Company considers the terms of the contract in determining the transaction price, which is the amount the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for the transferring of the concentrates. The transaction price of a contract is allocated to each performance obligation based on its stand-alone selling price.

The Company satisfies its performance obligations for its concentrate sales based upon specified contract terms which are generally upon delivery to the customer at a specified warehouse or upon loading of the concentrate onto a vessel. The Company typically receives payment within one to four weeks of delivery.  

Doré sales are recognized when the Company satisfies its performance obligation and control is transferred to the customer upon payment. Final weights and assays are adjusted on final settlement which is approximately one month after delivery.

Revenue from concentrate sales is recorded based upon forward market price of the expected final sales price date. IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“IFRS 15”) does not consider provisional price adjustments associated with concentrate sales to be revenue from contracts with customers as they arise from changes in market pricing for silver, gold, lead and zinc between the delivery date and settlement date. As such, the provisional price adjustments are accounted for as derivatives and presented separately in Note 19 of these financial statements.

(t)    Segment Reporting

The Company’s operating segments are based on the reports reviewed by the senior management group that are used to make strategic decisions. The Chief Executive Officer, as chief operating decision maker, considers the business from a geographic perspective considering the performance of the Company’s business units.

A geographical segment is a distinguishable component of the entity that is engaged in providing products or services within a particular economic environment and is subject to risks and returns that are different than those of segments operating in other economic environments.

The business operations comprise the mining and processing of gold, silver-lead, zinc, and silver-gold and the sale of these products.

(u)    Adoption of New Accounting Standards, Interpretation or Amendments

The following accounting standards were adopted for the financial year ending December 31, 2022,

Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37);
Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018–2020; and
Reference to the Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3)

The adoption of these standards did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

(v)    New Accounting Standards Issued but not yet Effective

A number of new standards are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023 and earlier application is permitted; however, the Company has not early adopted any new or amended standards in preparing these financial statements.

Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2)

This amendment requires companies to provide more specific disclosures about their accounting policies and the judgments made in applying these policies that have the most significant effect on the financial statements. The new definition of significant accounting policies, now material accounting policy information, is broader in scope, capturing accounting policy information that is important to understanding the judgments made in preparing the financial statements, and those policies that require the most significant judgments and estimates by the Company. This amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from Single Transaction (Amendment to IAS 12)

This amendment clarifies the accounting for deferred tax arising from single transactions, such as business combinations and asset acquisitions, by requiring companies to recognize deferred tax for temporary differences that arise from the initial recognition of assets and liabilities in a single transaction. This amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amendment to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the following amended standard, effective January 1, 2024, and interpretations on its consolidated financial statements:

Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current (Amendments to IAS 1);