SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of consolidation

i.  Principles of consolidation

The significant mining properties and entities of Kinross are listed below.  All operating activities involve gold mining and exploration.  Each of the significant entities has a December 31 year end.

			As at
			December 31,		December 31,
Entity	Property/ Segment	Location	2017		2016
Subsidiaries:
(Consolidated)
Fairbanks Gold Mining, Inc.	Fort Knox	USA	100	%	100	%
Kinross Brasil Mineração S.A. (“KBM”)	Paracatu	Brazil	100	%	100	%
Compania Minera Maricunga	Maricunga and Lobo Marte / Maricunga and Corporate and Other	Chile	100	%	100	%
Compania Minera Mantos de Oro	La Coipa / Corporate and Other	Chile	100	%	100	%
Echo Bay Minerals Company	Kettle River - Buckhorn	USA	100	%	100	%
Chukotka Mining and Geological Company	Kupol	Russian Federation	100	%	100	%
Northern Gold LLC	Dvoinoye/ Kupol	Russian Federation	100	%	100	%
Selene Holdings LP (b)	White Gold/ Corporate and Other	Canada	—	(b)	100	%
Tasiast Mauritanie Ltd. S.A.	Tasiast	Mauritania	100	%	100	%
Chirano Gold Mines Ltd. (Ghana) (a)	Chirano	Ghana	90	%	90	%
KG Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc.	Bald Mountain	USA	100	%	100	%
Round Mountain Gold Corporation / KG Mining (Round Mountain) Inc.	Round Mountain	USA	100	%	100	%
Investment in associate:
(Equity accounted)
Compania Minera Casale (c)	Cerro Casale/ Corporate and Other	Chile	—	(c)	25	%
Interest in joint ventures:
(Equity accounted)
Sociedad Contractual Minera Puren	Puren/ Corporate and Other	Chile	65	%	65	%
Bald Mountain Exploration LLC	Bald Mountain Exploration Joint Venture/ Bald Mountain	USA	50	%	50	%

(a) The Company holds a 90% interest in the Chirano Gold Mine with the Government of Ghana having the right to the remaining 10% interest.

(b) On June 14, 2017, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Selene Holdings LP and the White Gold exploration project in the Yukon Territory to White Gold Corp.  See Note 6 ii.

(c) On June 9, 2017, the Company completed the sale of its interest in Compania Minera Casale and the Cerro Casale project in Chile to Goldcorp Inc.  See Note 6 i.

(a)Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company.  Control exists when an investor is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with an investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee.  Subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date control is obtained until the date control ceases.  Where the Company’s interest in a subsidiary is less than 100%, the Company recognizes non-controlling interests.  All intercompany balances, transactions, income, expenses, profits and losses, including unrealized gains and losses have been eliminated on consolidation.

(b)Joint Arrangements

The Company conducts a portion of its business through joint arrangements where the parties are bound by contractual arrangements establishing joint control and requiring unanimous consent of each of the parties regarding those activities that significantly affect the returns of the arrangement.  The Company’s interest in a joint arrangement is classified as either a joint operation or a joint venture depending on its rights and obligations in the arrangement.  In a joint operation, the Company has rights to its share of the assets, and obligations for its share of the liabilities, of the joint arrangement, while in a joint venture, the Company has rights to its share of the net assets of the joint arrangement.  For a joint operation, the Company recognizes in the consolidated financial statements, its share of the assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses of the joint arrangement, while for a joint venture, the Company recognizes its investment in the joint arrangement using the equity method of accounting in the consolidated financial statements.

(c)Associates

Associates are entities, including unincorporated entities such as partnerships, over which the Company has significant influence and that are neither subsidiaries nor interests in joint arrangements.  Significant influence is the ability to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee without having control or joint control over those policies.  In general, significant influence is presumed to exist when the Company has between 20% and 50% of voting power.  Significant influence may also be evidenced by factors such as the Company’s representation on the board of directors, participation in policy-making of the investee, material transactions with the investee, interchange of managerial personnel, or the provision of essential technical information.  Associates are equity accounted for from the effective date of commencement of significant influence to the date that the Company ceases to have significant influence.

Results of associates are equity accounted for using the results of their most recent annual financial statements or interim financial statements, as applicable.  Losses from associates are recognized in the consolidated financial statements until the interest in the associate is written down to nil.  Thereafter, losses are recognized only to the extent that the Company is committed to providing financial support to such associates.

The carrying value of the investment in an associate represents the cost of the investment, including goodwill, a share of the post-acquisition retained earnings and losses, accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and any impairment losses.  At the end of each reporting period, the Company assesses whether there is any objective evidence that its investments in associates are impaired.

Functional and presentation currency

ii.  Functional and presentation currency

The functional and presentation currency of the Company is the United States dollar.

Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the United States dollar as follows:

· Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates of exchange on the consolidated balance sheet date;

· Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates prevailing at each transaction date;

· Revenue and expenses are translated at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction, except depreciation, depletion and amortization, which are translated at the rates of exchange applicable to the related assets, and share-based compensation expense, which is translated at the rates of exchange applicable on the date of grant of the share-based compensation; and

· Exchange gains and losses on translation are included in earnings.

When the gain or loss on certain non-monetary items, such as long-term investments classified as available-for-sale, is recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”), the translation differences are also recognized in OCI.

Cash and cash equivalents

iii.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition.

Restricted cash is cash held in banks that is not available for general corporate use.

Short-term investments

iv.  Short-term investments

Short-term investments include short-term money market instruments with terms to maturity at the date of acquisition of between three and twelve months.  The carrying value of short-term investments is equal to cost and accrued interest.

Long-term investments

v.  Long-term investments

Investments in entities that are not subsidiaries, joint operations, joint ventures or investments in associates are designated as available-for-sale investments.  These investments are measured at fair value on acquisition and at each reporting date.  Any unrealized holding gains and losses related to these investments are excluded from net earnings and are included in OCI until an investment is sold and gains or losses are realized, or there is objective evidence that the investment is impaired.  When there is evidence that an investment is impaired, the cumulative loss that was previously recognized in OCI is reclassified from AOCI to the consolidated statement of operations.

Inventories

vi.  Inventories

Inventories consisting of metal in circuit ore, metal in-process and finished metal are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value (“NRV”).  NRV is calculated as the difference between the estimated gold prices based on prevailing and long-term metal prices and estimated costs to complete production into a saleable form and estimated costs to sell.

Metal in circuit is comprised of ore in stockpiles and ore on heap leach pads.  Ore in stockpiles is coarse ore that has been extracted from the mine and is available for further processing.  Costs are added to stockpiles based on the current mining cost per tonne and removed at the average cost per tonne.  Costs are added to ore on the heap leach pads based on current mining costs and removed from the heap leach pads as ounces are recovered, based on the average cost per recoverable ounce of gold on the leach pad.  Ore in stockpiles not expected to be processed in the next twelve months is classified as long-term.

The quantities of recoverable gold placed on the leach pads are reconciled by comparing the grades of ore placed on the leach pads to the quantities of gold actually recovered (metallurgical balancing); however, the nature of the leaching process inherently limits the ability to precisely monitor inventory levels.  As a result, the metallurgical balancing process is constantly monitored and the engineering estimates are refined based on actual results over time.  Variances between actual and estimated quantities resulting from changes in assumptions and estimates that do not result in write downs to NRV are accounted for on a prospective basis.  The ultimate actual recovery of gold from a leach pad will not be known until the leaching process has concluded.  In the event that the Company determines, based on engineering estimates, that a quantity of gold contained in ore on leach pads is to be recovered over a period exceeding twelve months, that portion is classified as long-term.

In-process inventories represent materials that are in the process of being converted to a saleable product.

Materials and supplies are valued at the lower of average cost and NRV.

Write downs of inventory are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the current period.  The Company reverses inventory write downs in the event that there is a subsequent increase in NRV.

Borrowing costs

vii.  Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs are generally expensed as incurred except where they relate to the financing of qualifying assets that require a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use.  Qualifying assets include the cost of developing mining properties and constructing new facilities.  Borrowing costs related to qualifying assets are capitalized up to the date when the asset is ready for its intended use.

Where funds are borrowed specifically to finance a project, the amount capitalized represents the actual borrowing costs incurred net of any investment income earned on the investment of those borrowings.  Where the funds used to finance a project form part of general borrowings, the amount capitalized is calculated using a weighted average of rates applicable to relevant general borrowings of the Company during the period.

Business combinations

viii.  Business combinations

A business combination is a transaction or other event in which control over one or more businesses is obtained.  A business is an integrated set of activities and assets that is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs or other economic benefits.  A business consists of inputs and processes applied to those inputs that have the ability to create outputs that provide a return to the Company and its shareholders.  A business need not include all of the inputs and processes that were used by the acquiree to produce outputs if the business can be integrated with the inputs and processes of the Company to continue to produce outputs.  If the integrated set of activities and assets is in the exploration and development stage, and thus, may not have outputs, the Company considers other factors to determine whether the set of activities and assets is a business.  Those factors include, but are not limited to, whether the set of activities and assets:

· has begun planned principal activities;

· has employees, intellectual property and other inputs and processes that could be applied to those inputs;

· is pursuing a plan to produce outputs; and

· will be able to obtain access to customers that will purchase the outputs.

Not all of the above factors need to be present for a particular integrated set of activities and assets in the development stage to qualify as a business.

Business acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method whereby acquired assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition with the excess of the purchase consideration over such fair value being recorded as goodwill and allocated to cash generating units (“CGUs”).  Non-controlling interest in an acquisition may be measured at either fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree’s net identifiable assets.

If the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase consideration, the difference is recognized immediately as a gain in the consolidated statement of operations.

Where a business combination is achieved in stages, previously held equity interests in the acquiree are re-measured at their acquisition-date fair value and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

Acquisition related costs are expensed during the period in which they are incurred, except for the cost of debt or equity instruments issued in relation to the acquisition which is included in the carrying amount of the related instrument.

Certain fair values may be estimated at the acquisition date pending confirmation or completion of the valuation process.  Where provisional values are used in accounting for a business combination, they are adjusted retrospectively in subsequent periods.  However, the measurement period will not exceed one year from the acquisition date.

If the assets acquired are not a business, the transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition.

Goodwill

ix.  Goodwill

Business acquisitions are accounted for using the acquisition method whereby acquired assets and liabilities are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition with the excess of the acquisition amount over such fair value being recorded as goodwill and allocated to CGUs.  CGUs are the smallest identifiable group of assets, liabilities and associated goodwill that generate cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.  Each individual mineral property that is an operating or development stage mine is typically a CGU.

Goodwill arises principally because of the following factors:  (1) the going concern value of the Company’s capacity to sustain and grow by replacing and augmenting mineral reserves through completely new discoveries; (2) the ability to capture buyer-specific synergies arising upon a transaction; (3) the optionality (real option value associated with the portfolio of acquired mines as well as each individual mine) to develop additional higher-cost mineral reserves, to intensify efforts to develop the more promising acquired properties and to reduce efforts at developing the less promising acquired properties in the future  (this optionality may result from changes in the overall economics of an individual mine or a portfolio of mines, largely driven by changes in the gold price); and (4) the requirement to record a deferred tax liability for the difference between the assigned values and the tax bases of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

Exploration and evaluation ("E&E") costs

x.  Exploration and evaluation (“E&E”) costs

Exploration and evaluation costs are those costs required to find a mineral property and determine commercial viability.  E&E costs include costs to establish an initial mineral resource and determine whether inferred mineral resources can be upgraded to measured and indicated mineral resources and whether measured and indicated mineral resources can be converted to proven and probable reserves.

E&E costs consist of:

· gathering exploration data through topographical and geological studies;

· exploratory drilling, trenching and sampling;

· determining the volume and grade of the resource;

· test work on geology, metallurgy, mining, geotechnical and environmental; and

· conducting engineering, marketing and financial studies.

Project costs in relation to these activities are expensed as incurred until such time as the Company expects that mineral resources will be converted to mineral reserves within a reasonable period.  Thereafter, costs for the project are capitalized prospectively as capitalized exploration and evaluation costs in property, plant and equipment.

The Company also recognizes E&E costs as assets when acquired as part of a business combination, or asset purchase.  These assets are recognized at fair value.  Acquired E&E costs consist of:

· fair value of the estimated potential ounces, and

· exploration properties.

Acquired or capitalized E&E costs for a project are classified as such until the project demonstrates technical feasibility and commercial viability.  Upon demonstrating technical feasibility and commercial viability, and subject to an impairment analysis, capitalized E&E costs are transferred to capitalized development costs within property, plant and equipment.  Technical feasibility and commercial viability generally coincides with the establishment of proven and probable mineral reserves; however, this determination may be impacted by management’s assessment of certain modifying factors including: legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.

Property, plant and equipment

xi.  Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and carried net of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization and accumulated impairment losses.  The initial cost of an asset comprises its purchase price or construction cost, any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset into operation, the estimate of reclamation and remediation and, for qualifying assets, capitalized borrowing costs.

Costs to acquire mineral properties are capitalized and represent the property’s fair value at the time it was acquired, either as an individual asset purchase or as part of a business combination.

Interest expense attributable to the cost of developing mining properties and to constructing new facilities is capitalized until assets are ready for their intended use.

Acquired or capitalized exploration and evaluation costs may be included within mineral interests in development and operating properties or pre-development properties depending upon the nature of the property to which the costs relate.  Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.  However, expenditures on major maintenance rebuilds or overhauls are capitalized when it is probable that the expenditures will extend the productive capacity or useful life of an asset.

(a)Asset categories

The Company categorizes property, plant and equipment based on the type of asset and/or the stage of operation or development of the property.

Land, plant and equipment includes land, mobile and stationary equipment, and refining and processing facilities for all properties regardless of their stage of development or operation.

Mineral interests consist of:

· Development and operating properties, which include capitalized development and stripping costs, cost of assets under construction, exploration and evaluation costs and mineral interests for those properties currently in operation, for which development has commenced, or for which proven and probable reserves have been declared; and

· Pre-development properties, which include exploration and evaluation costs and mineral interests for those properties for which development has not commenced.

(b)Depreciation, depletion and amortization

For plant and other facilities, stripping costs, reclamation and remediation costs, production stage mineral interests and plant expansion costs, the Company uses the units-of-production (“UOP”) method for determining depreciation, depletion and amortization.  The expected useful lives used in the UOP calculations are determined based on the facts and circumstances associated with the mineral interest.  The Company evaluates the proven and probable reserves at least on an annual basis and adjusts the UOP calculation to correspond with the changes in reserves.  The expected useful life used in determining UOP does not exceed the estimated life of the ore body based on recoverable ounces to be mined from estimated proven and probable reserves.  Any changes in estimates of useful lives are accounted for prospectively from the date of the change.

Stripping and other costs incurred in a pit expansion are capitalized and amortized using the UOP method based on recoverable ounces to be mined from estimated proven and probable reserves contained in the pit expansion.

Land is not depreciated.

Mobile and other equipment are depreciated, net of residual value, using the straight-line method, over the estimated useful life of the asset.  Useful lives for mobile and other equipment range from 2 to 10 years, but do not exceed the related estimated mine life based on proven and probable reserves.

The Company reviews useful lives and estimated residual values of its property, plant and equipment annually.

Acquired or capitalized exploration and evaluation costs and assets under construction are not depreciated.  These assets are depreciated when they are ready for use.

(c)Derecognition

The carrying amount of an item of property, plant and equipment is derecognized on disposal of the asset or when no future economic benefits are expected to accrue to the Company from its continued use.  Any gain or loss arising on derecognition is included in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the asset is derecognized.  The gain or loss is determined as the difference between the carrying value and the net proceeds on the sale of the assets, if any, at the time of disposal.

Valuation of goodwill and long-lived assets

xii.  Valuation of Goodwill and Long-lived Assets

Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis as at December 31, and at any other time if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recoverable amount of a CGU has been reduced below its carrying amount.

The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is reviewed each reporting period to determine whether there is any indication of impairment or reversal of impairment.  If any such indication exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.  In addition, capitalized exploration and evaluation costs are assessed for impairment upon demonstrating the technical feasibility and commercial viability of a project.  For such non-current assets, the recoverable amount is determined for an individual asset unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are independent of those generated from other assets or groups of assets, in which case, the individual assets are grouped together into CGUs for impairment testing purposes.

If the carrying amount of the CGU or asset exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment is considered to exist and an impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations to reduce the carrying value to its recoverable amount.

For property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets, a previously recognized impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. The reversal is limited to the carrying value that would have been determined, net of any applicable depreciation, had no impairment charge been recognized in prior years.

The recoverable amount of a CGU or asset is the higher of its fair value less cost of disposal and its value in use.

Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties.  Fair value for mineral assets is generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset, including any expansion prospects, and its eventual disposal, using assumptions that an independent market participant may take into account.  These cash flows are discounted by an appropriate discount rate to arrive at a net present value or net asset value (“NAV”) of the asset.

Value in use is determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in its present form and its eventual disposal.  Value in use is determined by applying assumptions specific to the Company’s continued use of the asset and does not take into account assumptions of significant future enhancements of an asset’s performance or capacity to which the Company is not committed.

Estimates of expected future cash flows reflect estimates of future revenues, cash costs of production and capital expenditures contained in the Company’s long-term life of mine (“LOM”) plans, which are updated for each CGU on an annual basis.  The Company’s LOM plans are based on detailed research, analysis and modeling to maximize the NAV of each CGU.  As such, these plans consider the optimal level of investment, overall production levels and sequence of extraction taking into account all relevant characteristics of the ore body, including waste to ore ratios, ore grades, haul distances, chemical and metallurgical properties impacting process recoveries, capacities of available extraction, haulage and processing equipment, and other factors.  Therefore, the LOM plan is an appropriate basis for forecasting production output in each future year and the related production costs and capital expenditures.  The LOM plans have been determined using cash flow projections from financial budgets approved by senior management covering a 9 year to 25 year period.

Projected future revenues reflect the forecast future production levels at each of the Company’s CGUs as detailed in the LOM plans.  These forecasts may include the production of mineralized material that does not currently qualify for inclusion in mineral reserve or mineral resource classification.  This is consistent with the methodology used to measure value beyond proven and probable reserves when allocating the purchase price of a business combination to acquired mining assets.  The fair value arrived at as described above, is the Company’s estimate of fair value for accounting purposes and is not a “preliminary assessment” as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects”.

Projected future revenues also reflect the Company’s estimates of future metals prices, which are determined based on current prices, forward prices and forecasts of future prices prepared by industry analysts.  These estimates often differ from current price levels, but the methodology used is consistent with how a market participant would assess future long-term metals prices.  For the 2017 annual analysis, estimated 2018, 2019 and long-term prices of gold and silver of $1,300 per ounce and $19.00 per ounce, respectively, were used.  For the 2016 annual analysis, estimated 2017, 2018 and long-term gold prices of $1,200, $1,250 and $1,250 per ounce, respectively, and estimated 2017, 2018 and long-term silver prices of $18.50, $18.70 and $20.00 per ounce, respectively, were used.

The Company’s estimates of future cash costs of production and capital expenditures are based on the LOM plans for each CGU.  Costs incurred in currencies other than the US dollar are translated to US dollar equivalents based on long-term forecasts of foreign exchange rates, on a currency by currency basis, obtained from independent sources of economic data.  Oil prices are a significant component of cash costs of production and are estimated based on the current price, forward prices, and forecasts of future prices from third party sources.  For the 2017 annual analysis, an estimated short-term and long-term oil price of $55 per barrel was used.  For the 2016 annual analysis, an estimated short-term and long-term oil price of $60 per barrel was used.

The discount rate applied to present value the net future cash flows is based on a real weighted average cost of capital by country to account for geopolitical risk.  For the 2017 annual analysis, real discount rates of between 4.35% and 7.10% were used for the CGUs tested. For the CGUs tested in the 2016 annual analysis, real discount rates of between 5.05% and 5.18% were used.

Since public gold companies typically trade at a market capitalization that is based on a multiple of their underlying NAV, a market participant would generally apply a NAV multiple when estimating the fair value of a gold mining property.  Consequently, where applicable, the Company estimates the fair value of each CGU by applying a market NAV multiple to the NAV of each CGU.

When selecting NAV multiples to arrive at fair value, the Company considered the trading prices and NAV estimates of comparable gold mining companies as at December 31, 2017 in respect of the fair value determinations at that date, which ranged from 0.8 to 1.6.  NAV multiples observed at December 31, 2016 were in the range of 0.7 to 1.5.  The selected ranges of multiples applied to each CGU, which may be different from the ranges noted above, took into consideration, among other factors: expected production growth in the near term; average cash costs over the life of the mine; potential remaining mine life; and stage of development of the asset.

Financial instruments and hedging activity

xiii.  Financial instruments and hedging activity

(a)Financial instrument classification and measurement

Financial instruments are measured on initial recognition at fair value, plus, in the case of financial instruments other than those classified as “fair value through profit and loss”, directly attributable transaction costs.  Measurement of financial assets in subsequent periods depends on whether the financial instrument has been classified as fair value through profit and loss, “available-for-sale”, “held-to-maturity”, or “loans and receivables”.  Measurement of financial liabilities subsequent to initial recognition depends on whether they are classified as fair value through profit and loss or “other financial liabilities”.

Financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss include financial assets and financial liabilities that are held for trading or designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit and loss.  These financial instruments are measured at fair value with changes in fair values recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.  Financial assets classified as available-for-sale are measured at fair value, with changes in fair values recognized in OCI, except when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired, at which point the cumulative loss that had been previously recognized in OCI is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.  Financial assets classified as held-to-maturity and loans and receivables are measured subsequent to initial recognition at amortized cost using the effective interest method.  Financial liabilities, other than financial liabilities classified as fair value through profit and loss, are measured in subsequent periods at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments are designated as fair value through profit and loss and are measured at fair value.  Trade receivables and certain other assets are designated as loans and receivables.  Long-term investments in equity securities, where the Company cannot exert significant influence, are classified as available-for sale.  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and long-term debt are classified as other financial liabilities.

Derivative assets and liabilities include derivative financial instruments that do not qualify as hedges, or are not designated as hedges, and are classified as fair value through profit and loss.

(b)Hedges

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking hedge transactions.  This process includes linking all derivatives to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions.  Hedge effectiveness is assessed based on the degree to which the cash flows from the derivative contracts are expected to offset the cash flows of the underlying position or transaction being hedged.  At the time of inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, the Company assesses whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.

Derivative contracts that have been designated as cash flow hedges have been entered into in order to effectively establish prices for future production of metals, to hedge exposure to exchange rate fluctuations of foreign currency denominated settlement of capital and operating expenditures, to establish prices for future purchases of energy or to hedge exposure to interest rate fluctuations.  Unrealized gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in OCI, net of tax, and are only included in earnings when the underlying hedged transaction, identified at the contract inception, is completed.  Any ineffective portion of a hedge relationship is recognized immediately in the consolidated statement of operations.  The Company matches the realized gains or losses on contracts designated as cash flow hedges with the hedged expenditures at the maturity of the contracts.

When derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges have been terminated or cease to be effective prior to maturity and no longer qualify for hedge accounting, any gains or losses recorded in OCI up until the time the contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, remain in OCI.  Amounts recorded in OCI are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the underlying hedged transaction is completed.  Gains or losses arising subsequent to the derivative contracts not qualifying for hedge accounting are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which they occur.

For hedges that do not qualify for hedge accounting, gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the current period.

(c)Impairment of financial assets

The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of    financial assets is impaired.  In the case of investments classified as available-for-sale, an evaluation is made as to whether a decline in fair value is significant or prolonged based on an analysis of indicators such as market price of the investment and significant adverse changes in the technological, market, economic or legal environment in which the investee operates.

If an available-for-sale financial asset is impaired, an amount equal to the difference between its carrying value and its current fair value is transferred from AOCI and recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.  Reversals of impairment charges in respect of equity instruments classified as available-for-sale are not recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

Share-based payments

xiv.  Share-based payments

The Company has a number of equity-settled and cash-settled share-based compensation plans under which the Company issues either equity instruments or makes cash payments based on the value of the underlying equity instrument of the Company.  The Company’s share-based compensation plans are comprised of the following:

Share Option Plan:  Stock options are generally equity-settled.  The fair value of stock options at the grant date is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  Compensation expense is recognized over the stock option vesting period based on the number of options estimated to vest.  Management estimates the number of awards likely to vest at the time of a grant and at each reporting date up to the vesting date.  Annually, the estimated forfeiture rate is adjusted for actual forfeitures in the period.  On exercise of the vested options, the shares are issued from treasury.

Restricted Share Plan: Restricted share units (“RSUs”) and Restricted performance share units (“RPSUs”) are granted under the Restricted Share Plan.  Both RSUs and RPSUs are generally equity-settled and awarded to certain employees as a percentage of long-term incentive awards.

(a)RSUs are recorded at fair value based on the market value of the shares at the grant date.  The Company’s compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period based on the number of units estimated to vest.  Management estimates the number of awards likely to vest on grant and at each reporting date up to the vesting date.  Annually, the estimated forfeiture rate is adjusted for actual forfeitures in the period.  On vesting of RSUs, shares are generally issued from treasury.

(b)RPSUs are subject to certain vesting requirements based on performance criteria over the vesting period established by the Company.  RPSUs are recorded at fair value as follows:  The portion of the RPSUs related to market conditions are recorded at fair value based on the application of a Monte Carlo pricing model at the date of grant and the portion related to non-market conditions is fair valued based on the market value of the shares at the date of grant.  The Company’s compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period based on the number of units estimated to vest.  Management estimates the number of awards likely to vest on grant and at each reporting date up to the vesting date.  Annually, the estimated forfeiture rate is adjusted for actual forfeitures in the period.  On vesting of RPSUs, shares are generally issued from treasury.

Deferred Share Unit Plan:  Deferred share units (“DSUs”) are cash-settled and accounted for as a liability at fair value which is based on the market value of the shares at the grant date.  The fair value of the liability is re-measured each period based on the current market value of the underlying stock at period end and any changes in the liability are recorded as compensation expense each period.

Employee Share Purchase Plan:  The Company’s contribution to the employee Share Purchase Plan (“SPP”) is recorded as compensation expense on a payroll cycle basis as the employer’s obligation to contribute is incurred.  The cost of the common shares purchased under the SPP are either based on the weighted average closing price of the last twenty trading sessions prior to the end of the period for shares issued from treasury, or are based on the price paid for common shares purchased in the open market.

Metal sales

xv.  Metal sales

Metal sales includes sales of refined gold and silver and doré, which are generally physically delivered to customers in the period in which they are produced, with their sales price based on prevailing spot market metal prices.  Revenue from metal sales is recognized when all the following conditions have been satisfied:

· The significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred;

· Neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership, nor effective control over the goods sold, has been retained;

· The amount of revenue can be measured reliably;

· It is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Company; and

· The costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

These conditions are generally met when the sales price is fixed and title has passed to the customer.

Provision for reclamation and remediation

xvi.  Provision for reclamation and remediation

The Company records a liability and corresponding asset for the present value of the estimated costs of legal and constructive obligations for future site reclamation and closure where the liability is more likely than not to exist and a reasonable estimate can be made of the obligation.  The estimated present value of the obligation is reassessed on an annual basis or when new material information becomes available.  Increases or decreases to the obligation usually arise due to changes in legal or regulatory requirements, the extent of environmental remediation required, methods of reclamation, cost estimates, or discount rates.  Changes to the provision for reclamation and remediation obligations related to operating mines, which are not the result of current production of inventory, are recorded with an offsetting change to the related asset.  For properties where mining activities have ceased or are in reclamation, changes are charged directly to earnings.  The present value is determined based on current market assessments of the time value of money using discount rates specific to the country in which the reclamation site is located and is determined as the risk-free rate of borrowing approximated by the yield on sovereign debt for that country, with a maturity approximating the end of mine life.  The periodic unwinding of the discount is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations as a finance expense.

Income tax

xvii.  Income tax

The income tax expense or benefit for the period consists of two components: current and deferred.  Income tax expense is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations except to the extent it relates to a business combination or items recognized directly in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable profit or loss for the year.  Current tax is calculated using tax rates and laws that were enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date in each of the jurisdictions and includes any adjustments for taxes payable or recovery in respect of prior periods.

Deferred tax is recognized in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit.  Deferred tax is calculated based on the expected manner of realization or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates that are expected to apply in the year of realization or settlement based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences.  Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures except where the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax assets are recognized for all deductible temporary differences, carryforward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses to the extent it is probable future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilized.  The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax liabilities are not recognized on temporary differences that arise from goodwill which is not deductible for tax purposes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognized in respect of temporary differences that arise on initial recognition of assets and liabilities acquired other than in a business combination.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Corporation has the legal right and intent to offset.

Earnings (loss) per share

xviii.  Earnings (loss) per share

Earnings (loss) per share calculations are based on the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents issued and outstanding during the period.  Basic earnings (loss) per share amounts are calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share amounts are calculated by dividing net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders for the period by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the treasury method.  The treasury method, which assumes that outstanding stock options, warrants, RSUs and RPSUs with an average exercise price below the market price of the underlying shares, are exercised and the assumed proceeds are used to repurchase common shares of the Company at the average market price of the common shares for the period.