2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENTLY ISSUED AND RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Our most critical accounting estimates relate to our assumptions regarding future gold, silver, copper, and other metal prices and the estimates of reserves, production and recoveries of third‑party mine operators.  We rely on reserve estimates reported by the operators on the properties in which we have stream and royalty interests.  These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the potential impairments of long‑lived assets and the ability to realize income tax benefits associated with deferred tax assets.  These estimates and assumptions also affect the rate at which we recognize revenue or charge depreciation, depletion and amortization to earnings.  On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates and assumptions; however, actual amounts could differ from these estimates and assumptions.  Differences between estimates and actual amounts could differ significantly and are recorded in the period that the actual amounts are known.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Royal Gold, Inc., its wholly‑owned subsidiaries and an entity over which control is achieved through means other than voting right (see Note 3).  The Company follows the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) guidance for identification and reporting for entities over which control is achieved through means other than voting rights.  All intercompany accounts, transactions, income and expenses, and profits or losses have been eliminated on consolidation.

Cash and Equivalents

Cash and equivalents consist of all cash balances and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.  Cash and equivalents were primarily held in cash deposit accounts as of June 30, 2017 and 2016.

Stream and Royalty Interests

Stream and royalty interests include acquired stream and royalty interests in production, development and exploration stage properties. The costs of acquired stream and royalty interests are capitalized as tangible assets as such interests do not meet the definition of a financial asset under the ASC guidance.

Acquisition costs of production stage stream and royalty interests are depleted using the units of production method over the life of the mineral property (as sales occur under stream interests or royalty payments are recognized), which are estimated using proven and probable reserves as provided by the operator.  Acquisition costs of stream and royalty interests on development stage mineral properties, which are not yet in production, are not amortized until the property begins production.  Acquisition costs of stream or royalty interests on exploration stage mineral properties, where there are no proven and probable reserves, are not amortized.  At such time as the associated exploration stage mineral interests are converted to proven and probable reserves, the cost basis is amortized over the remaining life of the mineral property, using proven and probable reserves.  The carrying values of exploration stage mineral interests are evaluated for impairment at such time as information becomes available indicating that the production will not occur in the future. Exploration costs are expensed when incurred.

Available‑for‑sale Securities

Investments in securities that management does not have the intent to sell in the near term and that have readily determinable fair values are classified as available‑for‑sale securities.  Unrealized gains and losses on these investments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity, except that declines in market value judged to be other than temporary are recognized in determining net income.  When investments are sold, the realized gains and losses on these investments, determined using the specific identification method, are included in determining net income.

The Company’s policy for determining whether declines in fair value of available‑for‑sale securities are other than temporary includes a quarterly analysis of the investments and a review by management of all investments for which the cost exceeds the fair value.  Any temporary declines in fair value are recorded as a charge to other comprehensive income (loss).  This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, and management’s ability and intent to hold the securities until fair value recovers.  If such impairment is determined by the Company to be other‑than‑temporary, the investment’s cost basis is written down to fair value and recorded in net income during the period the Company determines such impairment to be other‑than‑temporary.  The new cost basis is not changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value.  The carrying value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 was $3.7 million and $0, respectively, and is included in Other assets on our consolidated balance sheets.   During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, the Company sold its available-for-sale securities, resulting in a realized gain of approximately $2.3 million.

Asset Impairment

We evaluate long‑lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable.  The recoverability of the carrying value of stream and royalty interests in production and development stage mineral properties is evaluated based upon estimated future undiscounted net cash flows from each stream and royalty interest using estimates of proven and probable reserves and other relevant information received from the operators.  We evaluate the recoverability of the carrying value of royalty interests in exploration stage mineral properties in the event of significant decreases in the price of gold, silver, copper, and other metals, and whenever new information regarding the mineral properties is obtained from the operator indicating that production will not likely occur or may be reduced in the future, thus potentially affecting the future recoverability of our stream or royalty interests.  Impairments in the carrying value of each property are measured and recorded to the extent that the carrying value in each property exceeds its estimated fair value, which is generally calculated using estimated future discounted cash flows.

Estimates of gold, silver, copper, and other metal prices, operators’ estimates of proven and probable reserves or mineralized material related to our stream or royalty properties, and operators’ estimates of operating and capital costs are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which may affect the recoverability of our investment in these stream and royalty interests in mineral properties. It is possible that changes could occur to these estimates, which could adversely affect the net cash flows expected to be generated from these stream and royalty interests.  Refer to Note 4 for discussion and the results of our impairment assessments for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized pursuant to guidance in ASC 605 and based upon amounts contractually due pursuant to the underlying streaming or royalty agreement.  Specifically, revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of the underlying stream or royalty agreements subject to (i) the pervasive evidence of the existence of the arrangements; (ii) the risks and rewards having been transferred; (iii) the stream or royalty being fixed or determinable; and (iv) the collectability being reasonably assured.  For our streaming agreements, we recognize revenue when the metal is sold.

Metal Sales

Gold, silver and copper received under our metal streaming agreements are taken into inventory, and then sold primarily using average spot rate gold, silver and copper forward contracts.  The sales price for these average spot rate forward contracts is determined by the average daily gold, silver or copper spot prices during the term of the contract, typically a consecutive number of trading days between 10 days and three months (depending on the frequency of deliveries under the respective streaming agreement and our sales policy in effect at the time) commencing shortly after receipt and purchase of the metal.  Revenue from gold, silver and copper sales is recognized on the date of the settlement, which is also the date that title to the metal passes to the purchaser.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales is specific to our stream agreements and is the result of our purchase of gold, silver and copper for a cash payment.  The cash payment for gold from Mount Milligan is the lesser of $435 per ounce or the prevailing market price of gold when purchased, while the cash payment for our other streams is a set contractual percentage of the gold, silver or copper spot price near the date of metal delivery.

Production taxes

Certain royalty payments are subject to production taxes (or mining proceeds taxes), which are recognized at the time of revenue recognition. Production taxes are not income taxes and are included within the costs and expenses section in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Exploration Costs

Exploration costs are specific to the Peak Gold LLC joint venture (“Peak Gold JV”) for the exploration and advancement of the Peak Gold Project, as discussed further in Note 3.  Costs associated with the Peak Gold JV for the exploration and advancement of the Peak Gold Project are expensed when incurred.

Stock‑Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock‑based compensation in accordance with the guidance of ASC 718.  The Company recognizes all share‑based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, stock‑settled stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”), restricted stock and performance shares, in its financial statements based upon their fair values.

Reportable Segments and Geographical Information

The Company manages its business under two reportable segments, consisting of the acquisition and management of stream interests and the acquisition and management of royalty interests. Royal Gold’s long‑lived assets (stream and royalty interests, net) as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 are geographically distributed as shown in the following table:

 

The Company’s revenue, cost of sales and net revenue by reportable segment for our fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are geographically distributed as show in the following tables:

 

 

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the guidance of ASC 740.  The Company’s annual tax rate is based on income, statutory tax rates in effect and tax planning opportunities available to us in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates.  Significant judgment is required in determining the annual tax expense, current tax assets and liabilities, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and our future taxable income, both as a whole and in various tax jurisdictions, for purposes of assessing our ability to realize future benefit from our deferred tax assets.  Actual income taxes could vary from these estimates due to future changes in income tax law, significant changes in the jurisdictions in which we operate or unpredicted results from the final determination of each year’s liability by taxing authorities.

The Company’s deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between the reported amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and such amounts measured by tax laws and regulations.  In evaluating the realizability of the deferred tax assets, management considers both positive and negative evidence that may exist, such as earnings history, reversal of taxable temporary differences, forecasted operating earnings and available tax planning strategies in each tax jurisdiction.  A valuation allowance may be established to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is considered more likely than not to be realized through the generation of future taxable income and other tax planning strategies.

The Company has asserted the indefinite reinvestment of certain foreign subsidiary earnings as determined by management’s judgment about and intentions concerning the future operations of the Company.  As a result, the Company does not record a U.S. deferred tax liability for the excess of the book basis over the tax basis of its investments in foreign corporations to the extent that the basis difference results from earnings that meet the indefinite reversal criteria.  Refer to Note 10 for further discussion on our assertion.

The Company’s operations may involve dealing with uncertainties and judgments in the application of complex tax regulations in multiple jurisdictions.  The final taxes paid are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations with taxing authorities in various jurisdictions and resolution of disputes arising from federal, state, and international tax audits.  The Company recognizes potential liabilities and records tax liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues in the United States and other tax jurisdictions based on its estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due.  The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of a tax audit; however, due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution could result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the tax liabilities.  These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period which they are determined. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

In addition to net income, comprehensive income (loss) includes changes in equity during a period associated with cumulative unrealized changes in the fair value of marketable securities held for sale, net of tax effects.

Earnings per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to Royal Gold common stockholders by the weighted average number of outstanding common shares for the period, considering the effect of participating securities. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts that may require issuance of common shares were converted.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each fiscal year.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain income tax amounts in the prior period consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of cash flows have been reclassified to conform with the presentation in the current period consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of cash flows.  The reclassifications had no effect on reported net income (loss).    

 

Recently Issued and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Issued

 

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU guidance clarifying the definition of a business and providing additional guidance for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses.  The new guidance is effective for the Company July 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted.  The new guidance is required to be applied on a prospective basis.  The Company is evaluating the new guidance. 

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU guidance to simplify several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation with actual forfeitures as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows.  The new guidance is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.  We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and footnote disclosures. 

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU guidance for the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers.  This ASU superseded virtually all of the revenue recognition guidance in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  The core principle of the five–step model is that an entity will recognize revenue when it transfers control of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Entities can choose to apply the standard using either the full retrospective approach or a modified retrospective approach, and is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.

 

We plan to implement the new ASU revenue recognition guidance as of July 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method with the cumulative effect, if any, of initial adoption to be recognized in Accumulated earnings at the date of initial application.  We are in the initial stages of our evaluation of the impact of the new standard on our accounting policies, processes, and financial reporting.  Based on the evaluation performed to-date, we expect to identify similar performance obligations as compared with deliverables and separate units of account previously identified.  We will continue to assess the impact of adopting this ASU throughout the remainder of calendar 2017.

 

Recently Adopted

 

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU guidance for disclosure of uncertainties about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.  The new guidance requires management of the Company to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  The new guidance was effective, and the Company adopted this standard, effective January 1, 2017.