Novagold Resources Inc 10-K for FY2020
Novagold Resources Inc (NG)
About this 10-K
Novagold Resources Inc filed this 10-K on January 27, 2021, covering the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020 (FY2020).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $0
- Net loss
- $33.56M
- compared with a net loss of $27.76M a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
For the Fiscal Year Ended
OR
For the Transition Period from to
Commission File Number:
NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| | | Toronto Stock Exchange | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)
| | Accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ |
| Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
Based on the last sale price on the NYSE American of the registrant’s common shares on May 31, 2020 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) of $9.56 per share, the aggregate market value of the voting common shares held by non-affiliates was approximately $
As of January 20, 2021, the registrant had
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than April 1, 2021, in connection with the registrant’s fiscal year 2020 annual meeting of shareholders, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Unless the context otherwise requires, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “NOVAGOLD” refer to NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC., a British Columbia corporation, and its subsidiaries as of November 30, 2020.
CURRENCY
References in this report to $ refer to United States currency and C$ to Canadian currency.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO U.S. INVESTORS REGARDING ESTIMATES OF MEASURED, INDICATED AND INFERRED RESOURCES AND PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES
We are a mineral exploration company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties. As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve” and “probable mineral reserve” are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101—Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)—CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (“CIM Definition Standards”). These definitions differ from the definitions in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under SEC Industry Guide 7, a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves, and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. The terms “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in, and required to be disclosed by, NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a mineral deposit in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. The Company has no reserves, as that term is defined under SEC Industry Guide 7.
“Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.
Disclosure of “contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, SEC Industry Guide 7 normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Accordingly, information contained in this report and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain descriptions of our mineral deposits that may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to SEC Industry Guide 7 reporting and disclosure requirements.
The term “mineralized material” as used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, although permissible under SEC Industry Guide 7, does not indicate “reserves” by SEC Industry Guide 7 standards. We cannot be certain that any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 compliant “reserves”. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of the mineralized material will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that mineralized material can be economically or legally extracted.
On October 31, 2018, the SEC adopted a final rule (“New Final Rule”) that will replace SEC Industry Guide 7 with new disclosure requirements that are more closely aligned with current industry and global regulatory practices and standards, including NI 43-101. Companies must comply with the New Final Rule for the company’s first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, which for NOVAGOLD would be the fiscal year beginning December 1, 2021. While early voluntary compliance with the New Final Rule is permitted, NOVAGOLD has not elected to comply with the New Final Rule at this time.
See the “Glossary of Technical Terms” for more information regarding some of the terms used in this Cautionary Note.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning anticipated results and developments in our operations in future periods, planned exploration activities, the adequacy of our financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, operating costs, cash flow estimates, production estimates and similar statements relating to the economic viability of a project, timelines, strategic plans, including our plans and expectations relating to the Donlin Gold project, permitting and the timing thereof, market prices for precious metals, or other statements that are not statements of fact. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute “forward-looking statements” to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed.
Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “expects”, “is expected”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “estimates”, “assumes”, “intends”, “strategy”, “goals”, “objectives”, “potential”, “possible” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including those listed below, which could prove to be significantly incorrect:
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our ability to achieve production at any of our mineral exploration and development properties; |
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estimated capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns; |
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estimated metal pricing, metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs, together with other assumptions underlying our resource and reserve estimates; |
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our expected ability to develop adequate infrastructure and that the cost of doing so will be reasonable; |
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assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will be obtained and the timing of such approvals; |
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assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of our mineral deposits; |
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our expectations regarding demand for equipment, skilled labor and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; and |
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our activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks. |
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:
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uncertainty of whether there will ever be production at our mineral exploration and development properties; |
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our history of losses and expectation of future losses; |
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risks related to our ability to finance the development of our mineral properties through external financing, strategic alliances, the sale of property interests or otherwise; |
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uncertainty of estimates of capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns; |
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commodity price fluctuations; |
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risks related to market events and general economic conditions; |
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risks related to the coronavirus global health pandemic (COVID-19); |
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risks related to the third parties on which we depend for our exploration and development activities; |
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dependence on cooperation of joint venture partners in exploration and development of properties; |
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risks related to opposition to our operations at our mineral exploration and development properties from non-governmental organizations or civil society; |
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the risk that permits and governmental approvals necessary to develop and operate mines on our properties will not be available on a timely basis, subject to reasonable conditions, or at all; |
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risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of our mineral deposits; |
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uncertainties relating to the assumptions underlying our resource and reserve estimates, such as metal pricing, metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs; |
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risks related to lack of infrastructure required to develop, construct, and operate our mineral properties; |
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uncertainty related to title to our mineral properties; |
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mining and development risks, including risks related to infrastructure, accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with, or interruptions in, development, construction or production; |
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competition in the mining industry; |
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risks related to governmental regulation and permits, including environmental regulation; |
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risks related to our largest shareholder; |
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risks related to conflicts of interests of some of the directors and officers of the Company; |
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risks related to the need for reclamation activities on our properties and uncertainty of cost estimates related thereto; |
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credit, liquidity, interest rate and currency risks; |
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risks related to increases in demand for equipment, skilled labor and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties, and related cost increases; |
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our need to attract and retain qualified management and technical personnel; |
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uncertainty as to the outcome of potential litigation; |
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risks related to information technology systems; |
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risks related to the Company’s status as a “passive foreign investment company” in the United States; and |
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risks related to global climate change. |
This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and our actual achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere.
Our forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this report. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
The following technical terms defined in this section are used throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| alluvial |
A placer formed by the action of running water, as in a stream channel or alluvial fan; also said of the valuable mineral (e.g. gold or diamond) associated with an alluvial placer. |
| arsenopyrite |
An arsenic iron sulfide mineral (FeAsS). |
| assay |
A metallurgical analysis used to determine the quantity (or grade) of various metals in a sample. |
| concentrate |
A clean product recovered in flotation, which has been upgraded sufficiently for downstream processing or sale. |
| cut-off grade |
When determining economically viable mineral reserves, the lowest grade of mineralized material that can be mined and processed at a profit. |
| cyanidation |
A metallurgical technique, using a dilute cyanide solution, for extracting gold from ore by dissolving the gold into solution. |
| dike |
A tabular igneous intrusion that cuts across the bedding of the host rock. |
| doré |
A semi-pure alloy of gold and silver. |
| electrowinning |
The deposition of gold from solution to cathodes by passing electric current from anodes through gold-bearing solution. |
| flotation |
A process used for the concentration of minerals, especially within base metal systems. |
| geotechnical | Said of tasks or analysis that provide representative data of the geological rock quality in a known volume. |
| grade |
Quantity of metal or mineral per unit weight of host rock. |
| greywacke |
A variety of sandstone generally characterized by its hardness, dark color, and poorly sorted angular grains of quartz, feldspar, and small rock fragments set in a compact, clay-fine matrix. |
| host rock |
A body of rock serving as a host for other rocks or for mineral deposits. |
| hydrothermal |
Pertaining to hot aqueous solutions of magmatic origin which may transport metals and minerals in solution. |
| intrusive |
Said of igneous rock formed by the consolidation of magma intruded into other rocks. |
| mafic |
Igneous rocks composed mostly of dark, iron- and magnesium-rich minerals. |
| massive |
Said of a mineral deposit, especially of sulfides, characterized by a great concentration of mineralization in one place, as opposed to a disseminated or vein-like deposit. |
| mineral |
A naturally formed chemical element or compound having a definite chemical composition and, usually, a characteristic crystal form. |
| mineral deposit |
A mineralized body which has been physically delineated by sufficient drilling, trenching, and/or underground work, and found to contain a sufficient average grade of metal or metals to warrant further exploration and/or development expenditures. |
| mineralization |
A natural occurrence in rocks or soil of one or more yielding minerals or metals. |
| net present value (NPV) | The sum of the value on a given date of a series of future cash payments and receipts, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk. |
| ore |
Rock containing metallic or non-metallic materials that can be mined and processed at a profit. |
| placer |
An alluvial deposit of sand and gravel, which may contain valuable metals. |
| porphyry |
An igneous rock of any composition that contains conspicuous phenocrysts (large crystals or mineral grains) in a fine-grained groundmass. |
| pyrite |
An iron sulfide mineral (FeS2), the most common naturally occurring sulfide mineral. |
| pyrrhotite |
An unusual, generally weakly magnetic, iron sulfide mineral with varying iron content (Fe1-x S (x=0 to 0.2)). |
| reverse circulation (RC) |
A type of drilling using dual-walled drill pipe in which the material drilled, water and mud are circulated up the center pipe while air is blown down the outside pipe. |
| realgar |
An arsenic sulfide mineral (As4 S4). |
| reclamation |
Restoration of mined land to original contour, use, or condition where possible. |
| rhyodacite |
A volcanic, high-silica rock composed of mostly quartz and feldspar. |
| sedimentary |
Said of rock formed at the Earth’s surface from solid particles, whether mineral or organic, which have been moved from their position of origin and re-deposited, or chemically precipitated. |
| shale |
A fine-grained detrital (transported by wind, water, or ice) sedimentary rock, formed by the consolidation of clay, silt, or mud. |
| sill |
An intrusive sheet of igneous rock of roughly uniform thickness that has been forced between the bedding planes of existing rock. |
| stibnite |
An antimony sulfide mineral (Sb2S3). |
| strike |
The direction, or bearing from true north, of a vein or rock formation measured on a horizontal surface. |
| sulfide |
A compound of sulfur and some other metallic element. |
| syngenetic |
Relating to or denoting a mineral deposit or formation produced at the same time as the host rock. |
| tailings |
Uneconomic material produced by a mineral processing plant which is disposed of in a manner meeting government regulation and which may involve a permanent impoundment facility or which may involve the discharge of material to the environment in a manner regulated by the government authority. |
| vein |
A thin, sheet-like crosscutting body of hydrothermal mineralization, principally quartz. |
| waste rock |
Barren or submarginal rock that has been mined but is not of sufficient value to warrant treatment and is therefore removed ahead of the milling processes. |
Canadian NI 43-101 Definitions:
Terms defined in National Instrument (NI) 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The definitions of the terms “Mineral Reserve”, “Mineral Resource”, “Preliminary Feasibility Study”, “Pre-Feasibility Study” and “Feasibility Study” refer to the CIM Definition Standards, where they are defined. “Mining Studies” and “Qualified Person” are defined in NI 43-101, but not in CIM Definition Standards.
Advanced Property
A property that has Mineral Reserves or Mineral Resources, the potential economic viability of which is supported by a Preliminary Economic Assessment, a Pre-Feasibility Study or a Feasibility Study.
Disclosure
Any oral statement or written disclosure made by or on behalf of an issuer and intended to be, or reasonably likely to be, made available to the public in a jurisdiction of Canada, whether or not filed under securities legislation, but does not include written disclosure that is made available to the public only by reason of having been filed with a government or agency of government pursuant to a requirement of law other than securities legislation.
Early-Stage Exploration Property
A property for which the technical report being filed has no current mineral resources or mineral reserves defined and no drilling or trenching proposed.
Effective Date
With reference to a technical report, the date of the most recent scientific or technical information included in the technical report.
Exploration Information
Geological, geophysical, geochemical, sampling, drilling, trenching, analytical testing, assaying, mineralogical, metallurgical and other similar information concerning a particular property that is derived from activities undertaken to locate, investigate, define or delineate a mineral prospect or mineral deposit.
Mineral Project
Any exploration, development, or production activity, including a royalty or similar interest in these activities, in respect of diamonds, natural solid inorganic material, or natural solid fossilized organic material including base and precious metals, coal, and industrial minerals.
Preliminary Economic Assessment
A study, other than a Pre-Feasibility or Feasibility Study, that includes an economic analysis of the potential viability of Mineral Resources.
Professional Association
A self-regulatory organization of engineers, geoscientists, or both engineers and geoscientists that is given authority or recognition by statute in a jurisdiction of Canada or a foreign association that is generally accepted within the international mining community as a reputable professional association; admits individuals on the basis of their academic qualifications, experience, and ethical fitness; requires compliance with the professional standards of competence and ethics established by the organization; requires or encourages continuing professional development; and has and applies disciplinary powers, including the power to suspend or expel a member regardless of where the member practices or resides.
Qualified Person
An individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with a university degree, or equivalent accreditation, in an area of geoscience, or engineering, relating to mineral exploration or mining; has at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation, or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these, that is relevant to his or her professional degree or area of practice; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; is in good standing with a professional association; and in the case of a professional association in a foreign jurisdiction, has a membership designation that requires attainment of a position of responsibility in their profession that requires the exercise of independent judgement and requires a favourable confidential peer evaluation of the individual’s character, professional judgement, experience, and ethical fitness or requires a recommendation for membership by at least two peers, and demonstrated prominence or expertise in the field of mineral exploration or mining.
Quantity
Either tonnage or volume, depending on which term is the standard in the mining industry for the type of mineral.
SEC Industry Guide 7
The mining industry guide entitled “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations” contained in the Securities Act Industry Guides published by the SEC, as amended.
Technical Report
A report prepared and filed in accordance with NI 43-101 and Form 43-101F1 Technical Report that includes, in summary form, all material scientific and technical information in respect of the subject property as of the effective date of the technical report.
Written Disclosure
Includes any writing, picture, map, or other printed representation whether produced, stored, or disseminated on paper or electronically, including websites.
Mineral Resource
The terms “Mineral Resource”, “Inferred Mineral Resource”, “Indicated Mineral Resource”, and “Measured Mineral Resource” have the meanings ascribed to those terms by CIM, as the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council, as amended.
Mineral Reserve, Probable Mineral Reserve, and Proven Mineral Reserve
The terms “Mineral Reserve”, “Probable Mineral Reserve”, and “Proven Mineral Reserve” have the meanings ascribed to those terms by CIM, as the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council, as amended.
Mining Studies
In this Instrument, the terms “Preliminary Feasibility Study”, “Pre-Feasibility Study” and “Feasibility Study” have the meanings ascribed to those terms by CIM, as the CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council, as amended.
Independence
In this Instrument, a Qualified Person is independent of an issuer if there is no circumstance that, in the opinion of a reasonable person aware of all relevant facts, could interfere with the Qualified Person’s judgement regarding the preparation of the technical report.
CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (“CIM Definition Standards”), adopted by CIM Council on May 10, 2014:
Pre-Feasibility Study (Preliminary Feasibility Study)
A Pre-Feasibility Study is a comprehensive study of a range of options for the technical and economic viability of a mineral project that has advanced to a stage where a preferred mining method, in the case of underground mining, or the pit configuration, in the case of an open pit, is established and an effective method of mineral processing is determined. It includes a financial analysis based on reasonable assumptions on the Modifying Factors and the evaluation of any other relevant factors which are sufficient for a Qualified Person, acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of the Mineral Resource may be converted to a Mineral Reserve at the time of reporting. A Pre-Feasibility Study is at a lower confidence level than a Feasibility Study.
Feasibility Study
A Feasibility Study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development option for a mineral project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of applicable Modifying Factors together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis, that are necessary to demonstrate, at the time of reporting, that extraction is reasonably justified (economically mineable). The results of the study may reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the development of the project. The confidence level of the study will be higher than that of a Pre-Feasibility Study.
Mineral Resource
A Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth’s crust in such form, grade or quality and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.
The location, quantity, grade or quality, continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling.
Inferred Mineral Resource
An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity.
An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
Indicated Mineral Resource
An Indicated Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics, are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation.
An Indicated Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured Mineral Resource and may only be converted to a Probable Mineral Reserve.
Measured Mineral Resource
A Measured Mineral Resource is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape, and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of Modifying Factors to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit.
Geological evidence is derived from detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to confirm geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation.
A Measured Mineral Resource has a higher level of confidence than that applying to either an Indicated Mineral Resource or an Inferred Mineral Resource. It may be converted to a Proven Mineral Reserve or to a Probable Mineral Reserve.
Modifying Factors
Modifying Factors are considerations used to convert Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves. These include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social, and governmental factors.
Mineral Reserve
A Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at Pre-Feasibility or Feasibility level as appropriate that include application of Modifying Factors. Such studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified.
The reference point at which Mineral Reserves are defined, usually the point where the ore is delivered to the processing plant, must be stated. It is important that, in all situations where the reference point is different, such as for a saleable product, a clarifying statement is included to ensure that the reader is fully informed as to what is being reported.
The public disclosure of a Mineral Reserve must be demonstrated by a Pre-Feasibility Study or Feasibility Study.
Probable Mineral Reserve
A Probable Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of an Indicated, and, in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource. The confidence in the Modifying Factors applying to a Probable Mineral Reserve is lower than that applying to a Proven Mineral Reserve.
Proven Mineral Reserve (Proved Mineral Reserve)
A Proven Mineral Reserve is the economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource. A Proven Mineral Reserve implies a high degree of confidence in the Modifying Factors.
SEC Industry Guide 7 Definitions:
U.S. reporting guidelines that apply to registrants engaged or to be engaged in significant mining operations.
Exploration stage
An Exploration Stage issuer is one engaged in the search for mineral deposit (reserves) which are not in either the development or production stage.
Development stage
A Development Stage issuer is one which is engaged in the preparation of an established commercially mineable deposit (reserves) for its extraction but which is not yet in production. This stage occurs after completion of a feasibility study.
Production stage
A Production Stage issuer is actively engaged in the exploitation of a mineral deposit (reserve).
Mineralized material
Refers to material that is not included in the reserve as it does not meet all of the criteria for adequate demonstration for economic or legal extraction.
Probable (Indicated) reserve
Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling, and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.
Proven (Measured) reserve
Reserves for which (a) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling and (b) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.
Reserve
That part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves must be supported by a feasibility study done to bankable standards that demonstrates the economic extraction. (“Bankable standards” implies that the confidence attached to the costs and achievements developed in the study is sufficient for the project to be eligible for external debt financing.) A reserve includes adjustments to the in-situ tonnes and grade to include diluting materials and allowances for losses that might occur when the material is mined.
Overview
We operate in the gold mining industry, primarily focused on advancing the Donlin Gold project in Alaska. The Donlin Gold project is held by Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”), a limited liability company owned equally by wholly-owned subsidiaries of NOVAGOLD and Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”).
We do not produce gold or any other minerals, and do not currently generate operating earnings. Funding to explore our mineral properties and to operate the Company was acquired primarily through previous equity financings consisting of public offerings of our common shares and warrants and through debt financing consisting of convertible notes, and the sale of assets. We expect to continue to raise capital through additional equity and/or debt financings, through the exercise of stock options, and otherwise.
We were incorporated by memorandum of association on December 5, 1984, under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia) as 1562756 Nova Scotia Limited. On January 14, 1985, we changed our name to NovaCan Mining Resources (l985) Limited and on March 20, 1987, we changed our name to NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. On May 29, 2013, our shareholders approved the continuance of the corporation into British Columbia. Subsequently, we filed the necessary documents in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, and we continued under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) effective as of June 10, 2013. The current addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers of our offices are:
| Executive office |
Corporate office |
| 201 South Main Street, Suite 400 |
400 Burrard Street, Suite 1860 |
| Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84111 |
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 3A6 |
| Telephone (801) 639-0511 |
Toll free (866) 669-6227 |
| Facsimile (801) 649-0509 |
Facsimile (604) 669-6272 |
Corporate Structure
As of November 30, 2020, we had the following material, direct and indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries: NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc., NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc., NOVAGOLD USA, Inc., AGC Resources Inc, NOVAGOLD (Bermuda) Alaska Limited and NOVAGOLD Resources (Bermuda) Limited.
The following chart depicts the corporate structure of the Company together with the jurisdiction of incorporation of each of our material subsidiaries and related holding companies. All ownership is 100% unless otherwise indicated.
Human Capital Resources
On November 30, 2020, we had 13 full-time employees, of which four are located in Canada and nine are located in the United States. We also use consultants with specific skills to assist with various aspects of project evaluation, engineering, and corporate governance.
Company Values
Our company culture is the cornerstone of all our human capital programs. Empowering every employee to be their best, affording every employee the opportunity to make a difference, and giving every employee a chance to be heard are core Company values. Our values extend to the communities in which we work. We have adopted a Human Rights Policy focused on our commitment to having a positive influence in the communities where we operate which includes ensuring that we respect human rights.
Diversity
As of the end of fiscal year 2020, 46% of our total workforce were women. Selection of individuals for executive and other positions with the Company is guided by the Company’s policy which “prohibits discrimination in any aspect of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or age.” Our Board and management acknowledge the importance of all aspects of diversity including gender, ethnic origin, business skills and experience, because it is right to do so and because it is good for our business. When considering candidates for executive positions, the Board’s evaluation considers the broadest possible assessment of each candidate’s skills and background with the overriding objective of ensuring that we have the appropriate balance of skills, experience, and capacity that it needs to be successful. In the context of this overriding objective, we have determined not to set targets for the percentage of women, or other aspects of diversity, in executive officer positions.
Safety and Health
NOVAGOLD’s primary objective is to ensure the health and safety of its employees, partners, and contractors, and is reflected in its Health and Safety Policy. The Company has implemented COVID-19 policies at its offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, to reduce risk, our employees have been asked to work remotely, avoid all non-essential travel, adhere to good hygiene practices, and engage in physical distancing. Our focus on safety is also reflected at Donlin Gold LLC. As discussed in more detail under Recent Developments, Donlin Gold LLC has established a wide-ranging set of policies have been implemented at the Donlin Gold project site and Anchorage office designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Recent Developments
Donlin Gold FS
NOVAGOLD engaged Wood Canada Limited (Wood) to perform a detailed review of the costs used in the Donlin Gold FS (as defined in Item 2. below) to meet the Company’s reporting requirements. Based on that cost review, Wood determined that updating the Donlin Gold FS using 2020 costs and new gold price guidance results in no material change to the mineral resources or mineral reserves. Therefore, the Donlin Gold FS is considered current and supportive of the scientific and technical information summarized in this Form 10-K that was derived from that report. Wood is currently updating all sections of the Donlin Gold FS with updated costs, economic assessment, permitting information, and technical information related to permitting, generated on the Donlin Gold project since 2011. NOVAGOLD intends to file the updated Technical Report on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com during 2021. The updated Donlin Gold FS does not incorporate the latest Donlin Gold optimization work on the geologic modeling concepts or other optimization work since these assessments are still underway.
COVID-19 response and community engagement
As noted above, NOVAGOLD’s primary objective is to ensure the health and safety of its employees, partners and contractors. The Company has implemented policies at its offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them. In that regard, to reduce risk, our employees have been asked to work remotely, avoid all non-essential travel, adhere to good hygiene practices, and engage in physical distancing.
At Donlin Gold LLC, with dedicated community partners in Alaska and in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) region, who share the objective of protecting the health of Donlin Gold’s employees and contractors, a wide-ranging set of policies have been implemented at the Donlin Gold project site and Anchorage office this year designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The plan included: testing of all employees and contractors visiting the Donlin Gold project site; utilizing charters to safely deliver employees to and from camp to minimize in-region travel; screening and physical distancing measures while at camp; more frequent sanitization practices; and increased communication around hygiene and sanitization practices, as well as identification of symptoms.
Donlin Gold LLC also responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with urgently needed community support, including delivery of food and supplies to 56 villages in the Y-K region, alongside its Native Corporation partners Calista Corporation (“Calista”) and The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC), owners of the project’s subsurface and surface rights respectively. Despite this year’s challenges, Donlin Gold maintained community engagement programs related to environmental management, safety, training, educational, health and cultural initiatives.
Donlin Gold project
In 2020, Donlin Gold LLC completed an 85-hole drilling program totaling approximately 23,400 meters in both the ACMA and Lewis deposit areas. The primary objective of the program, the largest such campaign at Donlin Gold since 2008, was to validate recent geologic modeling concepts and testing for extensions of high-grade zones in both intrusive (igneous) and sedimentary rocks. Assay results received to-date from the 2020 drilling program have shown areas with higher grades observed over thinner intervals compared to those predicted by previous modeling, particularly in sedimentary rocks.
For further information, see section Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below.
Reclamation
We will generally be required to mitigate long-term environmental impacts by stabilizing, contouring, re-sloping and re-vegetating various portions of a site after mining and mineral processing operations are completed. These reclamation efforts will be conducted in accordance with detailed plans, which must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies. In addition, financial assurance acceptable to the regulatory authority with jurisdiction over reclamation must be provided in an amount that the authority determines to be sufficient to allow the authority to implement the reclamation plan in the event that the project owners fail to complete the work as provided in the plan.
Government and Environmental Regulations
Our exploration and development activities are subject to various national, state, provincial and local laws and regulations in the United States and Canada, which govern prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection of the environment, mine safety, hazardous substances, disclosure requirements and other matters. We have obtained or have pending applications for those licenses, permits or other authorizations currently required to conduct our exploration and development programs. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable mining, health, safety and environmental statutes and regulations in the United States and Canada. There are no current orders or directions relating to us with respect to the foregoing laws and regulations. For a more detailed discussion of the various government laws and regulations applicable to our operations and potential negative effects of these laws and regulations, see section Item 1A, Risk Factors, below.
Competition
We compete with other mineral resource exploration and development companies for financing, technical expertise, and the acquisition of mineral properties. Many of the companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. This competition could adversely impact our ability to finance further exploration and to obtain the financing necessary for us to develop our mineral properties.
Availability of Raw Materials and Skilled Employees
Most aspects of our business require specialized skills and knowledge. Such skills and knowledge include the areas of geology, drilling, resource estimating, metallurgy, mine planning, logistical planning, preparation of feasibility studies, permitting, engineering, construction and operation of a mine, financing, legal, accounting, investor relations, and community relations. Historically, we have found that we can locate and retain appropriate employees and consultants and we believe we will continue to be able to do so.
The raw materials we require to carry on our business are readily available through normal supply or business contracting channels in the United States and Canada. Historically, we have been able to secure the appropriate equipment and supplies required to conduct our contemplated programs. As a result, we do not believe that we will experience any shortages of required equipment or supplies in the foreseeable future.
Seasonality
Our business can be seasonal as our mineral exploration and development activities take place in southwestern Alaska. Due to the northern climate, work on the Donlin Gold project can be limited due to excessive snow cover and cold temperatures. In general, surface work often is limited to late spring through early fall, although work in some locations is more readily and efficiently completed during the winter months when the ground is frozen.
Gold Price History
The price of gold is volatile and is affected by numerous factors, all of which are beyond our control, such as the sale or purchase of gold by various central banks and financial institutions, inflation, recession, fluctuation in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, changes in global and regional gold demand, in addition to international and national political and economic conditions.
The following table presents the high, low and average afternoon fixed prices in U.S. dollars for an ounce of gold on the London Bullion Market over the past five calendar years:
| Year |
High |
Low |
Average |
|
||||
| 2016 |
$1,366 |
$1,077 |
$1,251 |
|||||
| 2017 |
$1,346 |
$1,151 |
$1,257 |
|||||
| 2018 |
$1,355 |
$1,178 |
$1,269 |
|||||
| 2019 |
$1,546 |
$1,271 |
$1,392 |
|||||
| 2020 |
$2,067 |
$1,474 |
$1,770 |
|||||
| 2021 (to January 20) |
$1,943 |
$1,833 |
$1,873 |
|||||
| Data Source: www.kitco.com | ||||||||
Available Information
We make available, free of charge, on or through our website at www.novagold.com, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These reports are also available at the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be, and are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| Item 1A. |
Risk Factors |
You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Each of these risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common shares. The risks described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks that we are not presently aware of, or that we currently believe are immaterial, may also adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. We cannot assure you that we will successfully address these risks and caution that other unknown risks may exist or may arise that may affect our business.
An investment in our securities is speculative and involves a high degree of risk due to the nature of our business and the present stage of exploration and development of our mineral properties. The following risk factors, as well as risks not currently known to us, could materially adversely affect our future business, operations and financial condition and could cause them to differ materially from the estimates described in the forward-looking statements relating to us.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have no history of commercially producing precious metals from our mineral exploration properties and there can be no assurance that we will successfully establish mining operations or profitably produce precious metals.
None of our mineral properties are in production, we have no history of commercially producing precious metals from our current portfolio of mineral properties, and we have no ongoing mining operations or revenue from mining operations. Mineral exploration and development has a high degree of risk and few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. None of our mineral properties are currently under construction. The future development of any mineral properties found to be economically feasible will require obtaining permits and financing and the construction and operation of mines, processing plants and related infrastructure. As a result, we are subject to all of the risks associated with establishing new mining operations and business enterprises, including:
| ● |
the need to obtain necessary environmental and other governmental approvals and permits, and the timing and conditions of those approvals and permits; |
| ● |
the availability and cost of funds to finance construction and development activities; |
| ● |
the timing and cost, which can be considerable, of the construction of mining and processing facilities as well as related infrastructure; |
| ● |
potential opposition from non-governmental organizations, environmental groups or local groups which may delay or prevent development activities; |
| ● |
potential increases in construction and operating costs due to changes in the cost of labor, fuel, power, materials and supplies, services, and foreign exchange rates; |
| ● |
the availability and cost of skilled labor and mining equipment; and |
| ● |
the availability and cost of appropriate smelting and/or refining arrangements. |
The costs, timing and complexities of mine construction and development are increased by the remote location of our mineral properties, with additional challenges related thereto, including access, water and power supply, and other support infrastructure. Cost estimates may increase significantly as more detailed engineering work and studies are completed on a project. New mining operations commonly experience unexpected costs, problems and delays during development, construction, and mine start-up. In addition, delays in the commencement of mineral production often occur. Accordingly, there are no assurances that our activities will result in profitable mining operations, or that we will successfully establish mining operations, or profitably produce precious metals at any of our mineral properties.
In addition, there is no assurance that our mineral exploration activities will result in any discoveries of new ore bodies. If further mineralization is discovered there is also no assurance that the mineralized material would be economical for commercial production. Discovery of mineral deposits is dependent upon a number of factors and significantly influenced by the technical skill of the exploration personnel involved. The commercial viability of a mineral deposit is also dependent upon a number of factors which are beyond our control, including the attributes of the deposit, commodity prices, government policies and regulation, and environmental protection requirements.
We have a history of net losses and expect losses to continue for the foreseeable future.
We have a history of net losses and we expect to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. None of our mineral properties have advanced to the commercial production stage and we have no history of earnings or cash flow from operations. We expect to continue to incur net losses unless and until such time the Donlin Gold project commences commercial production and generates sufficient revenues to fund continuing operations. The development of our mineral properties to achieve production will require the commitment of substantial financial resources. The amount and timing of expenditures will depend on a number of factors, including the progress of ongoing exploration and development, the results of consultants’ analyses and recommendations, the rate at which operating losses are incurred, the process of obtaining required government permits and approvals, the availability and cost of financing, the participation of our partners, and the execution of any sale or joint venture agreements with strategic partners. These factors, and others, are beyond our control. There is no assurance that we will be profitable in the future.
We have a limited property portfolio.
At present, our only material mineral property is the interest that we hold in the Donlin Gold project. Unless we acquire or develop additional mineral properties, we will be solely dependent upon this property. If no additional mineral properties are acquired by us, any adverse development affecting our operations and further development at the Donlin Gold project may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to continue the exploration, permitting, development, and construction of the Donlin Gold project, and to continue as a going concern, will depend in part on our ability to obtain suitable financing.
We have limited financial resources. We will need external financing to develop and construct the Donlin Gold project. On December 5, 2011, we announced the total capital cost estimate for the Donlin Gold project was approximately $6.7 billion including costs related to the natural gas pipeline (100% basis). These cost estimates may change materially as our studies are updated. Our failure to obtain sufficient financing could result in the delay or indefinite postponement of exploration, development, construction, or production at the Donlin Gold project. The cost and terms of such financing may significantly reduce the expected benefits from development of the Donlin Gold project and/or render such development uneconomic. There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be favorable. Our failure to obtain financing could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy and results of operations and financial condition.
We intend to fund our business plan from working capital, the proceeds of financings, and the proceeds received from the sale of our interest in the Galore Creek project. In the future, our ability to continue our exploration, permitting, development, and construction activities, if any, will depend in part on our ability to obtain suitable financing. If we raise additional funding by issuing additional equity securities or other securities that are convertible into equity securities, such financings may substantially dilute the interest of existing or future shareholders. Sales or issuances of a substantial number of securities, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common shares. With any additional sale or issuance of equity securities, investors will suffer dilution of their voting power and may experience dilution in earnings per share.
There can be no assurance that we will commence production at any of our mineral properties or generate sufficient revenues to meet our obligations as they become due or obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms, if at all. Our failure to meet our ongoing obligations on a timely basis could result in the loss or substantial dilution of our interests (as existing or as proposed to be acquired) in our mineral properties. In addition, should we incur significant losses in future periods, we may be unable to continue as a going concern, and realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in other than the normal course of business may be at amounts materially different than our estimates.
Actual capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those we have anticipated and there are no assurances that any future development activities will result in profitable mining operations.
The capital costs to take our projects into production may be significantly higher than anticipated. On December 5, 2011, we announced the initial capital cost estimate for the Donlin Gold project of approximately $6.7 billion, including costs related to the natural gas pipeline (100% basis). The previous initial capital cost estimate for the project released in April 2009 was $4.5 billion, which did not include the cost of a natural gas pipeline. Wood is currently updating all sections of the Donlin Gold FS with updated costs, economic assessment, permitting information, and technical information related to permitting, generated on the Donlin Gold project since 2011, which is anticipated to be finalized and filed during 2021. The economic assessment in the updated Donlin Gold FS may be materially different than in the 2011 study.
None of our mineral properties have an operating history upon which we can base estimates of future operating costs. Decisions about the development of these and other mineral properties will ultimately be based upon feasibility studies. Feasibility studies derive estimates of cash operating costs based upon, among other things:
| ● |
anticipated tonnage, grades and metallurgical characteristics of the ore to be mined and processed; |
| ● |
anticipated recovery rates of gold and other precious metals from the ore; |
| ● |
cash operating costs of comparable facilities and equipment; and |
| ● |
anticipated climatic conditions. |
Capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns, and other estimates contained in studies or estimates prepared by or for us may differ significantly from those anticipated by our current or future studies and estimates, and there can be no assurance that the initial capital costs incurred to construct, and the sustaining capital and operating costs incurred in operating the Donlin Gold project will not be higher than currently anticipated.
Changes in the market price of gold, which in the past has fluctuated widely, affect our financial condition.
Our profitability and long-term viability will depend, in large part, upon the market price of gold that may be produced from our Donlin Gold project. The market price of gold is volatile and is impacted by numerous factors beyond our control, including:
| ● |
global or regional consumption patterns; |
| ● |
expectations with respect to the rate of inflation; |
| ● |
the relative strength of the U.S. dollar and certain other currencies; |
| ● |
interest rates; |
| ● |
global or regional political or economic conditions, including interest rates and currency values; |
| ● |
supply and demand for jewelry and industrial products containing gold; and |
| ● |
sales or purchases by central banks and other holders, speculators, and producers of gold in response to any of the above factors. |
We cannot predict the effect of these factors on gold prices. A decrease in the market price of gold could affect our ability to finance the development of the Donlin Gold project, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the market price of gold will remain at current levels or that such prices will improve. An increase in worldwide supply, and consequent downward pressure on prices, may result over the longer term from increased production from the development of new or expansion of existing mines. There is no assurance that if commercial quantities of gold are discovered, that a profitable market may exist or continue to exist for a production decision to be made or for the ultimate sale of gold.
General economic conditions may adversely affect our growth, future profitability and ability to finance.
Some key impacts which can contribute to financial market turmoil potentially impacting the mining industry include contraction in credit markets resulting in a widening of credit risk, imposition of trade tariffs among various countries, devaluations, high volatility in global equity, commodity, foreign exchange and precious metal markets and a lack of market liquidity. The prices of gold and gold mining company equities have experienced significant volatility over the past few years.
A decrease in gold prices or tightening of credit in the financial markets or other economic conditions, including but not limited to, consumer spending, employment rates, business conditions, inflation, fuel and energy costs, consumer debt levels, lack of available credit, the state of the financial markets, interest rates and tax rates, may adversely affect our ability to finance development and construction of the Donlin Gold project. Specifically:
| ● |
global economic conditions could make other investment sectors more attractive, thereby affecting the cost and availability of financing to us and our ability to achieve our business plan; |
| ● |
the imposition of protectionist or retaliatory trade tariffs by countries may impact our ability to import materials needed to construct our projects or conduct our operations, or to export our products, at prices that are economically feasible for our operations, or at all; |
| ● |
the volatility of metal prices would impact the economic viability of our mineral properties and any future revenues, profits, losses and cash flow; |
| ● |
negative economic pressures could adversely impact demand for future production from our mineral properties; |
| ● |
construction related costs could increase and adversely affect the economics of our projects; |
| ● |
volatile energy, commodity and consumables prices and currency exchange rates would impact our future production costs; and |
| ● |
the devaluation and volatility of global stock markets would impact the valuation of our equity and other securities. |
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may affect our operations.
The Company faces risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks of communicable diseases, which could significantly disrupt its operations and may materially and adversely affect its business and financial conditions.
The Company’s business could be adversely impacted by the effects of COVID-19 or other epidemics. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s business, including its operations and the market for its securities, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, and include the duration, severity and scope of the pandemic and the actions taken to contain or treat the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the continued spread of COVID-19 could materially and negatively impact the Company’s business including without limitation, employee health, workforce productivity, insurance premiums, ability to travel, the availability of industry experts and personnel, restrictions or delays to future Donlin Gold drill programs and/or the timing to process drill and other metallurgical testing, and other factors that will depend on future developments beyond the Company’s control, which may have a material and adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that the Company's personnel will not be impacted by these pandemic diseases and ultimately see its workforce productivity reduced and incur increased medical costs or insurance premiums as a result of these health risks.
We are dependent on a third party that participates in exploration and development of our Donlin Gold project.
Our success with respect to the Donlin Gold project depends on the efforts and expertise of a third party with whom we have contracted; we hold a 50% interest and the remaining 50% interest is held by a third party that is not under our control or direction. We are dependent on that third party for the progress and development of the Donlin Gold project. The third party may also have different priorities which could impact the timing and cost of development of the Donlin Gold project. The third party may also be in default of its agreement with us, without our knowledge, which may put the mineral property and related assets at risk. The existence or occurrence of one or more of the following circumstances and events could have a material adverse impact on our ability to achieve our business plan, profitability, or the viability of our interests held with the third party, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, future cash flows, earnings, results of operations and financial condition: (i) disagreement with the third party on how to develop and operate the Donlin Gold project efficiently; (ii) inability to exert influence over certain strategic decisions made in respect of the jointly-held Donlin Gold project; (iii) inability of the third party to meet its obligations to the joint business or other parties; and (iv) litigation with the third party regarding joint business matters.
Opposition to our operations from local stakeholders or non-governmental organizations could have a material adverse effect on us.
There is an increasing level of public concern relating to the effect of mining production on its surroundings, communities, and environment. Local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), some of which oppose resource development, are often vocal critics of the mining industry. While we seek to operate in a socially responsible manner, opposition to extractive industries or our operations specifically or adverse publicity generated by local communities or NGOs related to extractive industries, or our operations specifically, could have an adverse effect on our reputation and financial condition or our relationships with the communities in which we operate. As a result of such opposition or adverse publicity, we may be unable to obtain permits necessary for our operations or to continue our operations as planned or at all. See “Recent Developments – Donlin Gold Project” above.
We require various permits to conduct our current and anticipated future operations, and delays or a failure to obtain such permits, or a failure to comply with the terms of any such permits that we have obtained, could have a material adverse impact on us.
Our current and anticipated future operations, including further exploration and development activities and commencement of production on our mineral properties, require permits from various United States federal, state, and local governmental authorities. There can be no assurance that all permits that we require for the construction of mining facilities and to conduct mining operations will be obtainable on reasonable terms, or at all. Delays or a failure to obtain such permits, or a failure to comply with the terms of any such permits that we have obtained, could have a material adverse impact on us.
The duration and success of efforts to obtain and renew permits are contingent upon many variables not within our control. Shortage of qualified and experienced personnel in the various levels of government could result in delays or inefficiencies. Backlog within the permitting agencies could affect the permitting timeline of the various projects. Other factors that could affect the permitting timeline include (i) the number of other large-scale projects currently in a more advanced stage of development which could slow down the review process and (ii) significant public response regarding a specific project. As well, it can be difficult to assess what specific permitting requirements will ultimately apply to our projects.
The figures for our mineral resources and mineral reserves are estimates based on interpretation and assumptions and may yield less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently estimated.
Unless otherwise indicated, mineralization figures presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our other filings with securities regulatory authorities, press releases and other public statements that may be made from time to time are based upon estimates made by our personnel and independent professionals. These estimates use mining terms as defined in accordance with Canadian NI 43-101 and CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended. These definitions differ from the definitions in the SEC Industry Guide 7. For further information, see Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves above. In addition, these estimates are imprecise and depend upon geologic interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unreliable. There can be no assurance that:
| ● |
these estimates will be accurate; |
| ● |
mineral reserve, mineral resource or other mineralization figures will be accurate; or |
| ● |
this mineralization could be mined, processed, or sold profitably. |
Because we have not commenced commercial production at any of our mineral properties, mineralization estimates for our properties may require adjustments, including potential downward revisions based upon further exploration or development work, actual production experience, or changes in the price of gold. In addition, the grade of ore ultimately mined, if any, may differ from that indicated by drilling results. There can be no assurance that the percentage of minerals recovered in small-scale tests will be duplicated in large-scale tests under on-site conditions or at production scale.
Mineral resource estimates for mineral properties that have not commenced production are based, in many instances, on limited and widely spaced drill hole information, which is not necessarily indicative of the conditions between and around drill holes. Accordingly, such mineral resource estimates may require revision as more drilling information becomes available or as actual production experience is gained. No assurance can be given that any part or all of our mineral resources constitute or will be converted into reserves.
The estimating of mineral reserves and mineral resources is a subjective process that relies on the judgment and experience of the persons preparing the estimates. The process relies on the quantity and quality of available data and is based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices. Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when new information becomes available. By their nature, mineral resource and reserve estimates are imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. There can be no assurances that actual results will meet the estimates contained in studies.
Estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources may have to be recalculated based on changes in metal prices, further exploration or development activity, or actual production experience. In addition, if production costs increase, recovery rates decrease, if applicable laws and regulations are adversely changed, there is no assurance that the anticipated level of recovery will be realized or that mineral reserves or mineral resources as currently reported can be mined or processed profitably. This could materially and adversely affect estimates of the volume or grade of mineralization, estimated recovery rates or other important factors that influence mineral reserve or mineral resource estimates. The extent to which mineral resources may ultimately be reclassified as mineral reserves is dependent upon the demonstration of their profitable recovery. Any material changes in mineral resource estimates and grades of mineralization will affect the economic viability of placing a mineral property into production and a mineral property’s return on capital. We cannot provide assurance that mineralization identified at our mineral properties can or will be mined or processed profitably.
The mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been determined and valued based on assumed future prices, cut-off grades and operating costs that may prove to be inaccurate. Extended declines in market prices for gold may render portions of our mineralization uneconomic and result in reduced reported mineralization. Any material reductions in estimates of mineralization, or of our ability to extract this mineralization, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to implement our business strategy, the results of operations or our financial condition.
We have established the presence of proven and probable mineral reserves at our Donlin Gold project under Canadian standards. There can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimates for our mineral projects will ultimately be reclassified as mineral reserves. There can be no assurance that subsequent testing or future studies will establish proven and probable mineral reserves at our other mineral properties, if any. The failure to establish proven and probable mineral reserves could restrict our ability to successfully implement our strategies for long-term growth and could impact future cash flows, earnings, results of operation and financial condition.
Beginning with our fiscal year ending November 30, 2022, we will be subject to, and required to disclose our mineral resources and reserves in accordance with the new SEC mining rules contained in Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (the “New SEC Rules”). While the New SEC Rules are similar to Canadian NI 43-101, they are not identical and there can be no assurance that the reserves and resources reported under Canadian NI 43-101 will be the same as the reserves and resources to be reported under the New SEC Rules.
Lack of infrastructure could delay or prevent us from developing advanced projects.
Completion of the development of the Donlin Gold project is subject to various requirements, including the availability and timing of acceptable arrangements for power, water, transportation, access, and facilities. The lack of availability on acceptable terms or the delay in the availability of any one or more of these items could prevent or delay development of the project. There can be no assurance that adequate infrastructure, including access and power supply, will be built, that it will be built in a timely manner or that the cost of such infrastructure will be reasonable or that it will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the project. If adequate infrastructure is not available in a timely manner, there can be no assurance that:
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the development of the Donlin Gold project will be commenced or completed on a timely basis, if at all; |
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the resulting operations will achieve the anticipated production volume; or |
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the construction costs and ongoing operating costs associated with the development of the Donlin Gold project will not be higher than anticipated. |
Access to the Donlin Gold project is limited and there is no infrastructure that serves the project area. An approximately 316-mile-long (509-kilometer) natural gas pipeline is needed to supply fuel to the proposed generating plant to provide power for the Donlin Gold project. The proposed pipeline would traverse generally undeveloped areas in Alaska that are difficult to access. Transportation of most of the supplies needed to construct and operate the Donlin Gold project would be accomplished by barging materials on the Kuskokwim River during the annual shipping season which typically occurs from late April to mid-October. Two ports would be needed on the Kuskokwim River, the first located in Bethel, Alaska, where ocean barges would transition materials to river barges; and the second located approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) upriver from Bethel. A 30-mile-long (48-kilometer) access road from the upriver port to the project site is needed to deliver the materials. Additionally, a 5,000-foot-long (1,500-meter) airstrip would be built to provide year-round access to the project. Terrain, geologic conditions, ground conditions, steep slopes, river levels, ice breakup, weather, climate change impacts and other natural conditions that are beyond our control along the pipeline and transportation routes present design, permitting, construction, and operational challenges for the project. Cost and schedule estimates may increase significantly as more detailed engineering work, geotechnical and geological studies are completed.
Title and other rights to our mineral properties are subject to agreements with other parties.
The subsurface mineral and surface rights at the Donlin Gold project are owned by Calista and TKC, respectively, two native corporations. Donlin Gold LLC operates on these lands pursuant to a Mining Lease with Calista and a Surface Use Agreement with TKC. The ability of Donlin Gold LLC to continue to explore and develop the Donlin Gold project depends upon its continued compliance with the terms and conditions of the Mining Lease and Surface Use Agreement. Furthermore, our ability to continue to explore and develop other mineral properties may be subject to agreements with other third parties, including agreements with Native corporations, for instance.
Our largest shareholder has significant influence on us and may also affect the market price and liquidity of our securities.
Electrum Strategic Resources L.P. (“Electrum”) and its affiliate GRAT Holdings LLC hold in the aggregate 25.52% of our issued and outstanding common shares as of January 20, 2021. Accordingly, Electrum and its affiliates will have significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations, and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and other significant corporate actions. Unless full participation of all shareholders takes place in such shareholder meetings, Electrum and its affiliates may be able to approve such matters itself. The concentration of ownership of the common shares by Electrum and its affiliates may: (i) delay or deter a change of control of the Company; (ii) deprive shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common shares as part of a sale of the Company; and (iii) affect the market price and liquidity of the common shares. In conjunction with the January 22, 2009 financing, we provided Electrum with the right to designate an observer at all meetings of the board of directors (the “Board”) and any committee thereof so long as Electrum and its affiliates hold not less than 15% of our common shares. Electrum designated Igor Levental, President of The Electrum Group LLC, an investment advisor that manages Electrum’s investments, as its observer at our Board meetings. In July 2010, Mr. Levental was appointed to our Board. In November 2011, Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, was appointed Chairman of our Board. Dr. Kaplan is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Electrum Group LLC. As long as Electrum and its affiliates maintain its shareholdings in the Company, Electrum will have significant influence in determining the members of the Board. Without the consent of Electrum, we could be prevented from entering into transactions that are otherwise beneficial to us. The interests of Electrum and its affiliates may differ from or be adverse to the interests of our other shareholders. The effect of these rights and Electrum’s influence may impact the price that investors are willing to pay for our shares. If Electrum or its affiliates sell a substantial number of our common shares in the public market, the market price of the common shares could fall. The perception among the public that these sales will occur could also contribute to a decline in the market price of our common shares.
Some of the directors and officers have conflicts of interest as a result of their involvement with other natural resource companies.
Certain of our directors and officers also serve as directors, or have significant shareholdings in, other companies involved in natural resource exploration and development or mining-related activities. To the extent that such other companies may participate in ventures in which we may participate in or in ventures which we may seek to participate in, the directors and officers may have a conflict of interest. In all cases where the directors or officers have an interest in other companies, such other companies may also compete with us for the acquisition of mineral property investments. Any decision made by any of these directors and officers involving the Company will be made in accordance with their duties and obligations to deal fairly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company. In addition, each of the directors is required to declare and refrain from voting on any matter in which these directors may have a conflict of interest in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and other applicable laws. In appropriate cases, the Company will establish a special committee of independent directors to review a matter in which several directors, or management, may have a conflict. Nonetheless, as a result of these conflicts of interest, the Company may not have an opportunity to participate in certain transactions, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, profitability, financial condition, results of operation, and prospects.
We have ongoing reclamation on some of our mineral properties and may be required to fund additional work that could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.
Land reclamation requirements are generally imposed on mineral exploration companies (as well as companies with mining operations) in order to minimize long term effects of land disturbance. Reclamation may include requirements to:
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treat ground and surface water to applicable water standards; |
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control dispersion of potentially deleterious effluents; |
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reasonably re-establish pre-disturbance landforms and vegetation; and |
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provide adequate financial assurance to ensure required reclamation of land affected by our activities. |
Exploration and other activities at the Donlin Gold project have created disturbance that must be reclaimed. Financial resources spent on reclamation might otherwise be spent on further exploration and development programs. In addition, regulatory changes could increase our obligations to perform reclamation and mine closure activities. There can be no assurance that we will not be required to fund additional reclamation work at the site that could have a material adverse effect on our financial position.
We are exposed to credit, liquidity, and interest rate risk.
Credit risk is the risk of an unexpected loss if a customer or third party to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. Our cash equivalents and term deposit investments are held through large Canadian chartered banks with high investment-grade ratings. These investments mature at various dates over the current operating period. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of our Galore Creek assets include notes receivable from a subsidiary of Newmont, a publicly traded company with investment-grade credit ratings. The notes receivable include a $75 million note receivable upon the earlier of the completion of a new Galore Creek project pre-feasibility study or July 27, 2021 and a $25 million note receivable upon the earlier of the completion of a Galore Creek project feasibility study or July 27, 2023. An additional $75 million will be receivable if, and when a Galore Creek project construction plan is approved by the owner(s). No value was assigned to the final $75 million contingent note receivable due to the uncertainty with regards to the approval of a Galore Creek project construction plan. The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any allowances for losses, represents our maximum exposure to credit risk.
Liquidity risk is the risk that we will not be able to meet our financial obligations as they come due. We manage liquidity risk through the management of our capital structure and financial leverage. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities are due within one year from the balance sheet date.
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The risk that we will realize a loss as a result of a decline in the fair value of the term deposit investments is limited because these investments have an original term of less than one year and are generally held to maturity. The promissory note owed to Barrick is variable with the U.S. prime rate. Based on the amount owing on the promissory note as of November 30, 2020, and assuming all other variables remain constant, a 1% change in the U.S. prime rate would result in an increase/decrease of $1.1 million in the interest accrued on the promissory note per annum. For more detail with respect to the promissory note, see section Item 2, Donlin Gold Project, Alaska, below.
Risks Related to Our Industry
Mining is inherently risky and subject to conditions or events some of which are beyond our control, and which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Mining involves various types of risks, including:
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environmental hazards; |
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industrial accidents; |
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metallurgical and other processing problems; |
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unusual or unexpected geologic formations and conditions; |
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structural cave-ins or slides; |
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flooding; |
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fires; |
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power outages; |
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labor disruptions; |
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explosions; |
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landslides and avalanches; |
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mechanical equipment and facility performance problems; |
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availability of materials and equipment; |
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metals losses; and |
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periodic interruptions due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions. |
These risks could result in damage to, or destruction of, mineral properties, production facilities or other properties; personal injury or death, including to employees; environmental damage; delays in construction or mining operations; increased production costs; asset write downs; monetary losses; and possible legal liability. We may not be able to obtain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums or at all. Insurance against certain environmental risks, including potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from mineral production, is not generally available to us or to other companies within the mining industry. We may suffer a material adverse impact on our business if we incur losses related to any significant events that are not covered by our insurance policies.
Exploration, construction, and production activities may be limited or delayed by inclement weather and shortened exploration, construction and operating seasons. For example, Donlin Gold proposes to transport the bulk of the supplies required to operate the Donlin Gold project to the site from ports in the United States and Canada. This would require the supplies to be transported by barge on the Kuskokwim River which is free of ice and open for barge traffic for a limited period each year. Delays in the ice breakup or early freeze-up, low flow levels and water depths, or other conditions affecting the Kuskokwim River could delay or prevent Donlin Gold from transporting supplies to the site. Any such interference with the delivery of needed supplies to the Donlin Gold project could adversely affect the construction or operation of the project and/or the costs associated with these activities which, in turn, would adversely affect our business.
We are subject to significant governmental regulation.
Our operations, exploration and development activities in the United States, are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations governing various matters, including:
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environmental protection; |
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management and use of toxic substances and explosives; |
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management of tailings and other wastes generated by our operations; |
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management of natural resources; |
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exploration and development of mines, production and post-closure reclamation; |
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exports; |
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price controls; |
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taxation and mining royalties; |
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regulations concerning business dealings with native groups; |
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availability and use of water resources; |
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labor standards and occupational health and safety, including mine safety; and |
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preservation of historic and cultural resources. |
Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in civil or criminal fines or penalties or enforcement actions, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities enjoining, curtailing or closing operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions, any of which could result in us incurring significant expenditures. We may also be required to compensate private parties suffering loss or damage by reason of a breach of such laws, regulations or permitting requirements. It is also possible that future laws and regulations, or a more stringent enforcement of current laws and regulations by governmental authorities, could cause additional expense, capital expenditures, restrictions on or suspensions of our operations and delays in the exploration and development of our mineral properties.
Our activities are subject to environmental laws and regulations that may increase our costs of doing business and restrict our operations.
Our exploration, potential development and production activities in the United States are subject to regulation by governmental agencies under various environmental laws. To the extent that we conduct exploration activities or undertake new mining activities in other foreign countries, we will also be subject to environmental laws and regulations in those jurisdictions. These laws address emissions into the air, discharges into water, management of waste, management of hazardous substances, use of water, protection of natural resources, antiquities and endangered species, and reclamation of lands disturbed by mining operations. Environmental legislation and regulations continue to evolve, and the trend has been toward stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and increasing responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations may require significant capital outlays on our behalf and may cause material changes or delays in our intended activities. There can be no assurance that future changes in environmental regulations will not adversely affect our business, and it is possible that future changes in these laws or regulations could have a significant adverse impact on some portion of our business, causing us to re-evaluate those activities at that time.
Environmental hazards may exist on our mineral properties that are unknown to us at the present time, and that have been caused by previous owners or operators or that may have occurred naturally. We may be liable for remediating such damage.
Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in enforcement actions thereunder, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities, causing operations to cease or to be curtailed, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions.
Our insurance will not cover all of the potential risks associated with mining operations.
Our business is subject to a number of risks and hazards generally including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labor disputes, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope failures, cave-ins, changes in the regulatory environment and natural phenomena, such as inclement weather conditions, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. Such occurrences could result in damage to mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury or death, environmental damage to our properties or the property of others, delays in construction or mining, monetary losses, and possible legal liability.
Although we maintain insurance to protect against certain risks in such amounts as we consider reasonable, our insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with a mining company’s operations. We may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available or may not be adequate to cover any resulting liability. Moreover, insurance against risks such as loss of title to mineral property, environmental pollution, or other hazards, as a result of exploration and production is not generally available to us or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. We might also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against or which we may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause us to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and results of operations.
Title and other rights to our mineral properties cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims and other defects.
We cannot guarantee that title to our mineral properties will not be challenged. We may not have, or may not be able to obtain, all necessary surface rights to develop a mineral property. Title insurance is generally not available for mineral properties and our ability to ensure that we have obtained secure claim to individual mineral properties or mining concessions may be severely constrained. Our mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. We have not conducted surveys of all the mineral properties in which we hold direct or indirect interests. A successful challenge to the precise area and location of these mineral properties could result in us being unable to operate on our mineral properties as permitted or being unable to enforce our rights with respect to our mineral properties. This could result in us not being compensated for our prior investment relating to the mineral property.
Rising metal prices encourage mining exploration, development, and construction activity, which in the past has increased demand for and cost of contract mining services and equipment.
Increases in metal prices tend to encourage increases in mining exploration, development, and construction activities. During past expansions, demand for and the cost of contract exploration, development and construction services and equipment have increased as well. Increased demand for and cost of services and equipment could cause project costs to increase materially, resulting in delays if services or equipment cannot be obtained in a timely manner due to inadequate availability, and increased potential for scheduling difficulties and cost increases due to the need to coordinate the availability of services or equipment, any of which could materially increase project exploration, development, or construction costs, result in project delays, or both. There can be no assurance that increased costs may not adversely affect our development of our mineral properties in the future.
We may experience difficulty attracting and retaining qualified management and technical personnel to meet our business objectives, and the failure to manage our business effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
We are dependent on the services of key executives including our President and Chief Executive Officer and other highly skilled and experienced executives and personnel focused on managing our interests and the advancement of the Donlin Gold project, in addition to the identification of new opportunities for growth and funding. Due to our relatively small size, the loss of these persons or our inability to attract and retain additional highly skilled employees required for the development of our activities may have a material adverse effect on our business or future operations.
We may be subject to legal proceedings.
Due to the nature of our business, we may be subject to a variety of regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits, and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. The results of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, including the effects of discovery of new evidence or advancement of new legal theories, the difficulty of predicting decisions of judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can be no assurances that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business.
General Risk Factors
The Company is dependent upon information technology systems, which are subject to disruption, damage, failure, and risks associated with implementation and integration.
The Company’s information technology systems used in its operations are subject to disruption, damage, or failure from a variety of sources, including, without limitation, computer viruses, security breaches, cyberattacks, natural disasters and defects in design. Cybersecurity incidents are evolving and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data or machines and equipment, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information, the corruption of data or the disabling, misuse or malfunction of machines and equipment. Various measures have been implemented to manage the Company’s risks related to information technology systems and network disruptions. However, given the unpredictability of the timing, nature and scope of information or operational technology disruptions, the Company could potentially be subject to the compromising of confidential or otherwise protected information, destruction or corruption of data, security breaches, other manipulation or improper use of our systems and networks or financial losses from remedial actions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on cash flows, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company could also be adversely affected by system or network disruptions if new or upgraded information technology systems are defective, not installed properly or not properly integrated into operations. Various measures have been implemented to manage the risks related to the system implementation and modification, but system modification failures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, and results of operations.
We believe we were a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) in 2020 which could have negative tax consequences for U.S. investors.
U.S. holders of our common shares should be aware that we believe that for U.S. federal income tax purposes we were classified as a PFIC for our fiscal year ended November 30, 2020 and that we may continue to be classified as a PFIC in future years. The determination of whether the Company is a PFIC is a factual determination dependent on a number of factors and cannot be made until the close of the applicable tax year. Accordingly, no assurances can be given regarding the Company’s PFIC status for the current year or any future year. If the Company is a PFIC at any time during a U.S. holder’s holding period, then certain potentially adverse tax consequences could apply to such U.S. holder’s acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares. For more information, please see the discussion in Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders” below.
Global climate change is an international concern and could impact our ability to conduct future operations.
Global climate change is an international issue and receives an enormous amount of publicity. We would expect that the imposition of international treaties or U.S. or Canadian federal, state, provincial, or local laws or regulations pertaining to mandatory reductions in energy consumption or emissions of greenhouse gasses could affect the feasibility of mining projects and increase operating costs.
The Donlin Gold project is not directly threatened by current predictions of sea level rise as it is located inland at elevations from 100 meters to 450 meters above sea level. However, changes in sea levels could affect ocean and river transportation and shipping facilities, which would be used to transport supplies, equipment and personnel to the Donlin Gold project and products from the project to world markets. The Donlin Gold project proposes to deliver the vast majority of construction and operations equipment, supplies, consumables, and other required materials to the project site via the Kuskokwim River when it is ice-free. Historically, the Kuskokwim River has been ice-free from late April until mid-October and models based on historic weather and river flow records predict that there would be sufficient flow in the river to allow the transportation of the required materials to the project site annually. If climate changes alter the ice-free season or flow patterns of the Kuskokwim River, the current supply logistics plan for the project may need to be modified.
Climate changes also could affect the availability of water required to sustain operations at the Donlin Gold project. Also, management of water is an essential component of the project’s operating plans. Climate change could require modifications to the project’s water management plan, which may require additional capital investments or increase operating costs, if precipitation increases relative to historic records.
Extreme weather events (such as increased frequency or intensity of storms, increased snowpack, prolonged drought, and associated fire danger) have the potential to disrupt operations. Where appropriate the Donlin Gold project has developed contingency plans for managing extreme weather conditions; however, extended disruptions to supply lines due to extreme weather could result in interruption of activities at the project site, delay or increase the cost of construction of the project, or otherwise adversely affect our business.
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Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
| Item 2. |
Properties |
The following descriptions summarize selected information about our 50% interest in the Donlin Gold project located in Alaska, USA. The Donlin Gold project is without known reserves, as defined under SEC Industry Guide 7. Except for subsequent events or as otherwise noted, the disclosure in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of a scientific or technical nature for the Donlin Gold project is based on “Donlin Creek Gold Project Alaska, USA, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study” (“Donlin Gold FS”) for the Donlin Gold project in southwestern Alaska, USA, prepared by AMEC Americas Limited, now known as Wood Canada Limited (Wood), effective date November 18, 2011 and amended and filed on January 15, 2012. NOVAGOLD engaged Wood to perform a detailed review of the capital and operating costs used in the Donlin Gold FS. Based on the review Wood determined that updating costs using 2020 information will result in no material change to the mineral resources or mineral reserves of the Donlin Gold project. Therefore, the Donlin Gold FS is considered current and supportive of the scientific and technical information summarized in this Form 10-K that was derived from that report. NOVAGOLD intends to file the updated Technical Report EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com during 2021. The updated Donlin Gold FS does not incorporate the latest Donlin Gold optimization work on the geologic modeling concepts or other optimization work since these assessments are still underway.
The Donlin Gold FS has been filed with securities regulatory authorities in each province of Canada and with the SEC. Portions of the following information are based on assumptions, qualifications and procedures that are not fully described herein. Reference should be made to the full text of the Donlin Gold FS which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Kirk Hanson, P.E. is an independent Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101, has approved the mineral reserves and mineral resources included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K related to the Donlin Gold FS. Clifford Krall, P.E., Manager of Mine Engineering for the Company and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The Donlin Gold FS described herein was prepared under the November 2010 version of the CIM Definition Standards. The Qualified Persons who prepared the Donlin Gold FS certify that when applying the May 2014 version of the CIM Definition Standards, mineral reserves and mineral resources remain unchanged.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors: This section and other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain the terms “measured mineral resources,” “indicated mineral resources,” “inferred mineral resources,” “proven mineral reserves,” and “probable mineral reserves” as defined in accordance with NI 43-101. Please note the following regarding these terms:
“Proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” – The definitions of proven and probable mineral reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions for “proven reserves” and “probable reserves” as found in SEC Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, our disclosures of mineral reserves herein may not be comparable to information from U.S. companies subject to reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.
“Measured mineral resources” and “indicated mineral resources” – We advise U.S. investors that although these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations, these terms are not defined in SEC Industry Guide 7 and the SEC does not normally permit such terms to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves.
“Inferred mineral resources” – We advise U.S. investors that although this term is recognized by Canadian regulations, the SEC does not recognize it. “Inferred mineral resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of a feasibility study or prefeasibility study, except in rare cases. The SEC normally only permits an issuer to report mineralization that does not constitute “reserves” as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally minable.
Donlin Gold Project, Alaska
The Donlin Gold project is an advanced-stage gold project held by Donlin Gold, a limited liability company that is owned 50% by our wholly-owned subsidiary, NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska Inc., and 50% by Barrick’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc.
We entered into the limited liability company agreement with Barrick (“LLC Agreement”) dated December 1, 2007 which provided for the creation of Donlin Gold, which is jointly owned by us and Barrick on a 50/50 basis. Pursuant to the LLC Agreement, we agreed to reimburse Barrick out of future mine production cash flow for a portion of Barrick’s prior expenditures on the Donlin Gold project. As of November 30, 2020, the promissory note, including accrued interest, amounted to approximately $109.8 million. Funding for the project is currently shared by both parties on a 50/50 basis.
Except for events subsequent to the Donlin Gold FS, including the information contained under the heading “Item 1, Recent Developments – Donlin Gold,” or as otherwise stated or implied, the scientific and technical information regarding the Donlin Gold project in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is based on the Donlin Gold FS.
Property Description and Location
The Donlin Gold property is located in the Kuskokwim region of southwestern Alaska on private, Alaska Native-owned mineral and surface land and Alaska state mining claims. The property is under lease (the “Mining Lease”) for subsurface rights from Calista Corporation (“Calista”) and surface rights (the “Surface Use Agreement”) from The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC), two Alaska Native corporations. Calista is one of 13 regional Alaska Native corporations established as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA) and under ANCSA has title to the subsurface estate in the region. TKC was formed in 1977 when the ANCSA village corporations of Lower Kalskag, Upper Kalskag, Aniak, Chuathbaluk, Napaimute, Crooked Creek, Red Devil, Georgetown, Sleetmute and Stony River, which are located along the middle region of the Kuskokwim River, merged. Under ANCSA, TKC has title to extensive surface estate in the region, including most of the project lands. The property hosts a gold deposit currently estimated at 33.8 million ounces of proven and probable reserves averaging 2.09 grams per tonne. We believe that significant exploration potential remains in the Donlin Gold district, with prospects to increase mine life and/or justify future production expansions. See Reserve and Resource Estimate, below.
Other lands required for offsite infrastructure, such as the Jungjuk port site, the road from the port site to the mine site, and natural gas pipeline are categorized as Native, State of Alaska conveyed, or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Rights-of-way are required from other Alaska Native corporations, the State of Alaska and BLM for the road and pipeline alignments that cross Native corporation, state and federal lands.
Permits
Donlin Gold obtained the necessary permits and certifications that allowed for the exploration, associated feasibility study test work, environmental monitoring, and Environmental Impact Study (EIS) baseline data collection efforts. The current status of these permits is in line with the termination of the baseline data collection effort, temporary closure of the camp in May 2015, and the seasonal reopening of the site for the geological drill program from July to November 2017, the geotechnical drill program in 2019 for the issuance of the Dam Safety Certifications, and the latest geological drill program in 2020. The active permits include Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) temporary use of water; ADNR Application for Permit to Mine in Alaska approval for the 2020 drill program), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering (individual 404 and nationwide 26 permits); Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) authorizations (septic system, multisector stormwater general permit – sector G, owners requested limit [air]); and Federal Aviation Administration approval (Landing Area). Other permits were either put on hold, closed, or allowed to expire.
On August 7, 2012, we announced that Donlin Gold commenced permitting of the project by submitting a draft Plan of Operations and Section 404 Clean Water Act (CWA) draft permit application to federal and state regulators. The Section 404 permit application initiated the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which involves preparation of an EIS. The Corps selected AECOM, formerly URS, an independent contractor, to prepare the EIS. The Notice of Intent for the EIS was published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2012 and the NEPA public scoping process was completed on March 29, 2013. During the remainder of 2013 and through 2014 and 2015, Donlin Gold worked to address the remaining data needs for the draft EIS. Donlin Gold also continued to provide application materials and maintained ongoing dialogue with the key permitting agencies. The Corps addressed the cooperating agency comments on the preliminary draft and filed the Notice of Availability for public release of the draft EIS in the Federal Register in November 2015. After the filing of the draft EIS, the Corps issued a schedule for public meetings on the Donlin Gold draft EIS in the Y-K region and Anchorage, Alaska. The Corps conducted, and at the end of May 2016 completed, a six-month public comment period for the draft EIS, including 17 public comment meetings in communities across the Y-K region and in Anchorage. The Corps received comments from federal and state agencies, local and tribal governments, Alaska Native organizations, businesses, special interest groups/NGOs, and individuals.
On April 27, 2018, the Notice of Availability of the Donlin Gold final EIS was published in the Federal Register. On August 13, 2018, the Corps and the BLM issued a joint Federal Record of Decision (ROD) for the Donlin Gold project. Along with the ROD, the Corps issued a combined permit under CWA Section 404 and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Additionally, the BLM issued the Offer to Lease for the right-of-way for those portions of the natural gas pipeline that would cross federal lands. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration previously issued a special permit for the natural gas pipeline on June 5, 2018.
Several major State of Alaska permits were also issued and advanced during 2018 through 2020. After a public notice and comment period, ADEC issued a Certificate of Reasonable Assurance under CWA Section 401 on August 10, 2018, indicating that the CWA 404 permit complies with the State’s water quality standards. The Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (APDES) water discharge permit was issued by ADEC on May 24, 2018 and became effective on July 1, 2018. The State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game issued Title 16 Fish Habitat permits for the mine area and transportation corridor on August 30, 2018. In May 2020 ADEC approved a second extension of the date by which construction of the Donlin Gold project as authorized by the Prevention of Significant Deterioration air quality permit must begin until December 31, 2021. The final approvals of the Donlin Gold Reclamation and Closure Plan and the Waste Management Permit were issued on January 18, 2019. ADNR issued the easement, land leases, land use permits, and material site authorizations for the proposed transportation facilities, and easement for the fiber optic cable on State lands on January 2, 2020.
On November 30, 2020, ADNR issued a public notice for comment on Donlin Gold’s 12 water rights applications for the mine site and transportation corridor. The public comment period was ended on December 15, 2020. Final authorizations of the water rights are expected in the first half of 2021. The Alaska Dam Safety certifications require additional fieldwork and more detailed engineering which commenced in 2019 and require a multi-year commitment.
On February 7, 2019, Earthjustice requested, and ADEC subsequently granted a request for informal review of the Waste Management Permit issuance. ADEC completed this review and affirmed its decision to issue this permit on July 25, 2019. There were no further appeals of the Waste Management Permit. On February 7, 2019, Earthjustice also appealed the Reclamation and Closure Plan approval. On December 31, 2019, ADNR after careful review, denied the appeal and affirmed the decision to approve the Reclamation and Closure Plan.
ADNR’s DMLW issued the easement, land leases, land use permits, and material site authorizations for the proposed transportation facilities including the access road, airstrip, and upriver Jungjuk port, as well as the easement for the fiber optic cable on State lands on January 2, 2020.
On January 28, 2019, ADNR’s State Pipeline Coordinator Services (SPCS) issued a preliminary decision to grant the State Right-of-Way authorization for the natural gas pipeline. The public comment period began on January 28, 2019 and ended on March 22, 2019. The final offer to lease was issued on January 17, 2020 and was accepted by Donlin Gold in February 2020. On February 6, 2020, Cook Inletkeeper, on behalf of the Susitna River Coalition and three Native village organizations requested that the ADNR Commissioner reconsider issuance of the ROW lease. The ADNR Commissioner denied the request for reconsideration on February 18, 2020. After Earthjustice filed a court appeal of the lease issuance and reconsideration denial, ADNR changed its position and accepted the reconsideration request on April 30, 2020 specifically to address cumulative effects. On September 10, 2020, ADNR issued a revised Consideration of Comments document, which specifically addresses the potential cumulative effects of the pipeline. The comment period on the revised document ended on November 9, 2020 and ROW lease offer is expected to be reissued in the first half of 2021.
In 2018, Earthjustice, on behalf of Orutsararmuit Native Council (ONC), Akiak Native Community IRA Council, Organized Village of Kwethluk, Native Village of Kwigillingok, Chuloonawick Tribal Council, and Yukon-Kuskokwim River Alliance, requested an informal review of the State of Alaska’s 401 certification. The request was granted and on April 4, 2019, ADEC completed the informal review and reissued the certification. On April 24, 2019, Earthjustice requested that ADEC vacate the reissued certification and conduct a second informal review of it. On May 8, 2019, ADEC denied the request to vacate the certification but granted the second informal review request. On May 7, 2020, ADEC sent a letter to Earthjustice indicating it had completed the second informal review and left the certification in place. On June 3, 2020, Earthjustice joined by ONC, Chevak, Kasigluk, Eek, Kwinhagak, Marshall, Nightmute, Tununak, Kwethluk, Kotlik, SalmonState, and the Alaska Community Action on Toxics filed a formal appeal with the ADEC Commissioner. The appeal process consists of an Administrative Hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) appointed by the ADEC Commissioner. The ALJ was subsequently appointed. On July 31, 2020, based on the recommendations of the ALJ, the ADEC Commissioner determined that only ONC could join with Earthjustice in the appeal because the other parties had not participated in earlier stages of public comment and the informal reviews. The ALJ established a briefing schedule that extends through January 20, 2021. The ALJ’s opinion is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2021. Once the ALJ’s review is complete, the ADEC Commissioner has 45 days to reach a final decision.
Thirteen of the 56 village councils in the Calista Region (Native Village of Kasigluk, ONC, Native Village of Eek, Tuluksak Native Community, Tununak Council, Native Village of Nunapitchuk, Chuloonawick Tribal Council, Native Village of Kwigillingok, Native Village of Kongiganak, Chefornak Traditional Council, Chevak Native Village, Native Village of Napakiak and Quinhagak) have adopted resolutions opposing development of the Donlin Gold project.
Mineral Tenure
The 2011 Restated Exploration and Lode Mining Lease (“Calista Lease”) between Calista and Donlin Gold, includes subsurface (mineral) rights leased from Calista. Calista also owns the corresponding surface estate on a portion of these lands, the rights to which are also included in the Calista Lease. The Calista Lease provides Donlin Gold with rights to approximately 49,392 acres (19,988 hectares) of Calista-owned land. The Calista Lease was restated on February 11, 2011 to reflect all assignments and amendments made between its original execution on May 1, 1995 and February 11, 2011. The Calista Lease was amended once again effective June 6, 2014 (the “2014 Amendment”). The 2014 Amendment did not affect the lands subject to the Calista Lease as restated on February 11, 2011.
On June 9, 2014, the Company announced that Donlin Gold and TKC reached an updated long-term Surface Use Agreement (SUA) for the Donlin Gold Project. The SUA with TKC grants non-exclusive surface use rights to Donlin Gold for mining activities. TKC owns and contributed to the SUA the corresponding surface estate over most of Calista’s subsurface estate included in the Calista Lease as well as some additional surface estate. The SUA with TKC provides Donlin Gold with rights to approximately 41,817 acres (16,923 hectares) of TKC-owned land.
Lyman Resources in Alaska, Inc. (Lyman Resources) has an existing placer mining lease covering approximately four-square miles (partially covering six sections) within the Calista Lease area. The Lyman family also has title to approximately 14 acres of surface estate within the Snow Gulch area. The Calista Lease grants priority to extraction of the lode mineralization in the event of a conflict of use between lode and placer mining operations, provided that a two-year notice period is provided to Lyman Resources. Lyman Resources, the Lyman family, and Donlin Gold LLC executed a Surface Lease and Assignment of Mining Lease effective May 9, 2012 leasing the Lyman surface estate and assigning the Lyman placer lease within the Calista Lease area to Donlin for Project mining use (the “Lyman Lease”).
In addition to the leased land, Donlin Gold holds 493 State of Alaska mining claims comprising approximately 71,680 acres (29,008 hectares) in the Kuskokwim and Mt. McKinley Recording Districts. The mining claims abut and largely surround northern and western boundaries of the lands subject to the Calista Lease and TKC SUA. The mining claims are located on lands that are owned by the State of Alaska (409) and on State-selected lands from the BLM (84). All claims are approximately either 40 acres (16.2 hectares) or 160 acres (64.8 hectares) in size.
Accessibility and Climate
The Donlin Gold property is located in southwestern Alaska, approximately 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of the village of Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwim River. The Kuskokwim River is a regional transportation route and is serviced by commercial barge lines. A 16-mile-long (25-kilometer) winter road, designated as an Alaska State Highway route and transportation corridor, accesses the property from the barge landing at the village of Crooked Creek. The Donlin Gold project currently has an all-season, soft-sided camp. An adjacent 5,000-foot-long (1,500-meter) airstrip is capable of handling aircraft as large as L-100 Hercules (approximate cargo capacity of 42,000 pounds or 19,050 kilograms), allowing efficient shipment of personnel, some heavy equipment, and supplies. The Donlin Gold project can be reached directly by charter air facilities out of Anchorage, 280 miles (450 kilometers) to the east, and Aniak, 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the west.
The project area is one of low topographic relief on the western flank of the Kuskokwim Mountains. Elevations range from 150 meters to 640 meters. Ridges are well rounded and easily accessible by all-terrain vehicle. Hillsides are forested with black spruce, tamarack, alder, birch and larch. Soft muskeg and discontinuous permafrost are common in poorly drained areas at lower elevations. The area has a relatively dry interior continental climate with typically less than 20 inches (50 centimeters) total annual precipitation. Summer temperatures are relatively warm and may exceed 83°F (30°C). Minimum temperatures may fall to well below -45°F (-42°C) during the cold winter months.
Exploration History
Approximately 1,965 exploration and development drill holes, totaling 439,181 meters, have been completed from 1988 through 2020. Approximately 1,396 holes, totaling 339,733 meters, supported the resource model used in the Donlin Gold FS. The remaining holes were either drilled after the completion of the Donlin Gold FS (2017 and 2020 drill programs) or were utilized for other purposes, such as district exploration, carbonate resource, facilities condemnation, hydrology, geotechnical, and infrastructure engineering.
| Year |
Company |
Work Performed |
Results |
| 1909 to 1956 |
Various prospectors and placer miners |
Gold discovered in 1909. Placer mining by hand, underground, and hydraulic methods. |
Total placer gold production of approximately 30,000 ounces. |
| 1970s to 2015 |
Robert Lyman and heirs |
Resumed sluice mining in Donlin Gold area and placer mined Snow Gulch. |
First year of mining Snow Gulch produced best results, with 800 ounces of gold recovered. Donlin Gold has obtained an agreement with the Lyman family to consolidate the land package around the proposed mine. |
| 1974, 1975 |
Resource Associates of Alaska (RAA) |
Regional mineral potential evaluation for Calista. Soil grid and three bulldozer trenches dug in Snow Gulch area. |
Soil, rock, and vein samples have anomalous gold values. Trench rock sample results range from 2 to 20 grams per tonne gold. |
| 1984 to 1987 |
Calista Corporation |
Minor work. Geologists from various mining companies, including Cominco and Kennecott, visit the property. |
|
| 1986 |
Lyman Resources |
Auger drilling for placer evaluation finds abundant gray, sulfide rich clay near Quartz Gulch. |
Assays of cuttings average over 7 grams per tonne gold. Initial discovery of Far Side (“Carolyn”) prospect. |
| 1987 |
Calista Corporation |
Rock sampling of ridge tops and auger drill sampling of Far Side prospect. |
Anomalous gold values from auger holes: best result = 9.7 grams per tonne gold. |
| 1988 to 1989 |
Western Gold Exploration and Mining Co. |
Airborne geophysics, geological mapping, and soil sampling over most of the project area. Total of 13,525 meters of D9 Cat trenching at all prospects. Over 15,000 soil, rock chip, and auger samples collected. Drilling included 3,106 feet of AX core drilling, 404 meters in 239 auger holes, and 10,423 meters of RC drilling (125 holes). First metallurgical tests and petrographic work. |
Initial work identified eight prospects with encouraging geology (Snow, Dome, Quartz, Carolyn, Queen, Upper Lewis, Lower Lewis, and Rochelieu). Drilling at most of these prospects led to identification of the Lewis areas as having the best bulk-mineable potential. Mineral resource estimate completed. |
| Year |
Company |
Work Performed |
Results |
| 1993 |
Teck Exploration Ltd. |
D-9 Cat trenching (1,400 meters) and two 500-meter soil lines in Lewis area. Petrographic, fluid inclusion, and metallurgical work. |
Identified new mineralized areas, updated Mineral resource estimate. |
| 1995 to 2000 |
Placer Dome |
87,383 meters of core, 11,909 meters of RC drilling and 8,493 meters of trenching. Environmental monitoring and assessment. |
Drilled the American Creek magnetic anomaly (ACMA), discovered the ACMA deposit. Numerous mineral resource estimation iterations. |
| 2001 to 2002 |
NOVAGOLD |
46,495 meters of core, 38,022 meters of RC drilling, 89.5 meters of geotechnical drilling, and 268 meters of water monitoring holes. |
Filed a preliminary assessment report on the project. Updated resource estimate. |
| 2003 to 2005 |
Donlin Gold Joint Venture |
25,448 meters of core and 5,979 meters of RC drilling. Calcium carbonate exploration drilling; IP lines for facility condemnation studies. |
Infill drilled throughout the resource area. Discovered a calcium carbonate resource. Poor quality IP data. |
| 2006 |
Donlin Gold Joint Venture |
92,804 meters of core drilling to support mineral resource classification conversion, slope stability, metallurgy, waste rock, carbonate exploration, facilities and port road studies. |
Geological model and mineral resource update. |
| 2007 |
Donlin Gold Joint Venture |
Core drilling totaled 75,257 meters and included resource delineation, geotechnical and engineering, and carbonate exploration. 13 RC holes for monitor wells and pit pump tests totaled 1,043 meters. |
Improved pit slope parameters, positive hydrogeological results. Carbonate exploration was negative. Updated mineral resource estimate. Completed feasibility study with positive results. |
| 2008 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
108 core holes totaling 33,425 meters for exploration and facility related geotechnical and condemnation studies. Updated resource models. Metallurgical test work: flotation variability and CN leach. 54 test pits and 37 auger holes were also completed for overburden characterization. |
Resource expansion indicated for East ACMA. CN leach resource potential indicated for the main resource area, Snow, and Dome prospects. Facility sites successfully condemned. Updated resource estimates utilizing applicable data through 2007. |
| 2009 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
19 geotechnical core holes totaling 950 meters in facility sites and to address hydrology. |
|
| 2010 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
Six geotechnical core holes totaling 2,090 meters to evaluate slope stability of expanded pit. Also drilled 90 auger holes totaling 585 meters and dug 59 test pits to further evaluate overburden conditions and gravel supplies within tailings storage facility (TSF) area. |
Pit slope stability of new pit design remained acceptable. Construction suitability of surficial materials in TSF is evaluated. |
| 2017 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
16 core holes totaling 7,040 meters to test targeted mineralized zones, collect structural data related to mineralization, and collect geotechnical data. |
|
| 2019 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
30 geotechnical core holes totaling 1,060 meters were drilled as part of a site investigation program in support of detailed dam design. |
|
| 2020 |
Donlin Gold LLC |
85 core holes totaling 23,361 meters in both the ACMA and Lewis deposits to validate recent geologic modeling concepts and test for extensions of high-grade zones. |
|
Geology
Regional Geology
The Kuskokwim region of southwestern Alaska is predominately underlain by rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Kuskokwim Group that filled a subsided northeast-trending strike-slip basin between a series of amalgamated terranes. Intermediate composition volcano-plutonic complexes intrude and overlie Kuskokwim Group rocks throughout the region.
Local Geology
The Donlin Gold deposits lie between two regional, northeast-trending, right lateral fault systems: the Denali-Farewell fault system to the south and the Iditarod-Nixon Fork fault system to the north. Undivided Kuskokwim Group sedimentary rocks and granite porphyry complexes are the main rock units.
Property Geology
Greywacke is dominant in the northern part of the area (“northern resource area” comprising Lewis, Queen, Rochelieu, and Akivik), while shale-rich units are common in the southern part of the area (“southern resource area” comprising South Lewis and ACMA).
Gold deposits are associated with an extensive Late Cretaceous–Early Tertiary gold–arsenic–antimony–mercury hydrothermal system. Gold-bearing zones exhibit strong structural and host rock control along north–northeast-trending fracture zones and are best developed where those zones intersect relatively competent host rocks. Mineralized material is most abundant in intrusive dikes and sills, but sedimentary rocks are also mineralized within strong fracture zones.
Geotechnical and Hydrology
A number of geotechnical and hydrological studies have been completed in support of feasibility and environmental reports for Donlin Gold.
Rowland Engineering Consultants performed the geotechnical assessments for the engineering to support design of the port site, airstrip, plant site and interconnecting roads. BGC, Inc (BGC). performed geotechnical analyses for the design of the pit, waste rock facility (WRF), and tailings storage facility (TSF).
The site-wide hydrological model developed by BGC, is based on extensive drill data and climatic information for the area. BGC, CEMI, Hatch Ltd., and SRK, Inc. provided hydrologic studies, design criteria and associated test work for the water treatment plant requirements during construction, operations, and closure. Lorax Environmental performed water quality modeling for the post closure pit lake.
Exploration Potential
The mineral resource defined in the Donlin Gold FS is confined to a portion of the property. We believe there is considerable potential to increase the mineral resources at the Donlin Gold project. Numerous other targets have been identified along the 8-kilometer mineralized gold trend and are defined by surface sampling and various historical drill holes containing significant gold values.
Exploration potential in the vicinity of the open pit design in the Donlin Gold FS includes extensions along strike to the East ACMA, Lewis, and Crooked Creek areas. Mineralization remains open at depth under the current pit limits. Mineralization also remains open to the north of the planned pit and has been tested by shallow trenching and soil sampling, with limited drilling undertaken to date.
Exploration potential at the Donlin Gold project also exists outside the areas that have been the subject of the mine design in the Donlin Gold FS. Gold mineralization is associated with an overall north–northeasterly-trending high level dike/sill complex that has been outlined in the regional aero-magnetics as a magnetic low. The zone, approximately 8 kilometers long, and 4 kilometers wide, consists of a northern, dike-dominated area, and a southern, more sill-dominated area.
Mineralization
Southeast-dipping north-northeast-oriented fracture zones are the primary control on gold-bearing vein distribution within the north-northeast mineralized corridors. Composite vein zones or mineralized corridors range up to 30 meters in width and extend for hundreds of meters along strike. Intrusive rocks and to a lesser extent competent massive greywacke are the most favored host rocks, and act as a secondary control on the mineralization. Gold distribution in the deposit closely mimics the intrusive rocks, which contain about 74% of the mineral resource identified in the Donlin Gold FS. Structural zones in competent sedimentary units account for the remaining 26%.
Gold-bearing sulfides occur in both veins and disseminated zones in mafic igneous bodies, rhyodacite dikes and sills, and sedimentary rocks. Quartz-carbonate-sulfide (pyrite, stibnite, and arsenopyrite) veins are the primary mineralized features, but gold also occurs in thin, discontinuous sulfide fracture fillings.
Minor Elements and Deleterious Materials
The most abundant minor elements associated with gold-bearing material are iron, arsenic, antimony, and sulfur. They are contained primarily in the mineral suite associated with hydrothermal deposition of gold, including pyrite, arsenopyrite, realgar, native arsenic, and stibnite. Minor hydrothermal pyrrhotite, marcasite and syngenetic or sedimentary pyrite, also account for some of the iron and sulfur.
Three elements that have processing significance are mercury, chlorine, and fluorine. Graphitic carbon and carbonate minerals also would negatively affect the metallurgical process.
Metallurgy
Sufficient metallurgical test work was completed under the direction of Barrick personnel to support the Donlin Gold FS. Gold is mainly carried by arsenopyrite. Variation is observed in processing behavior between intrusive rocks and sedimentary rocks, but less so between the geographical sources.
Process testing generated development of the following conceptual flowsheet:
| ● |
conventional crushing and grinding; |
| ● |
concentration by flotation; |
| ● |
pressure oxidation of the concentrate in an autoclave; |
| ● |
carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) cyanidation of the oxidized concentrate; |
| ● |
carbon strip and regeneration circuits; |
| ● |
gold electrowinning; and |
| ● |
refining and production of doré bars. |
This processing concept incorporates proven commercial unit operations.
Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource Estimates
The mineral reserves for the Donlin Gold project were classified using criteria appropriate under the CIM Definition Standards with an effective date of July 11, 2011. We have no known reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7. The mineral reserves are summarized in the table below.
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Estimate
| Reserve Category |
Tonnes (thousands) |
Gold Grade (grams/tonne) |
Contained Gold (thousands of ounces) |
|||||||||
| Proven |
7,683 | 2.32 | 573 | |||||||||
| Probable |
497,128 | 2.08 | 33,276 | |||||||||
| Proven and probable |
504,811 | 2.09 | 33,849 | |||||||||
Notes:
| (1) |
Mineral reserves are contained within Measured and Indicated pit designs, and supported by a mine plan, featuring variable throughput rates, stockpiling and cut-off optimization. The pit designs and mine plan were optimized on diluted grades using the following economic and technical parameters: Metal price for gold of $975 per ounce; reference mining cost of $1.67 per tonne incremented $0.0031 per tonne per meter with depth from the 220 meter elevation (equates to an average mining cost of $2.14 per tonne), variable processing cost based on the formula 2.1874 x (S%) + 10.65 for each $ per tonne processed; general and administrative cost of $2.27 per tonne processed; stockpile rehandle costs of $0.19 per tonne processed assuming that 45% of mill feed is rehandled; variable recoveries by rock type, ranging from 86.66% in shale to 94.17% in intrusive rocks in the Akivik domain; refining and freight charges of $1.78 per ounce gold; royalty considerations of 4.5%; and variable pit slope angles, ranging from 23º to 43º. The Mineral Reserves are reported in accordance with NI 43-101, which differs from Industry Guide 7. The project is without known reserves under SEC Industry Guide 7. See Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves, above. |
| (2) |
Mineral reserves are reported using an optimized net sales return value based on the following equation: net sales return = Gold grade * Recovery * ($975 – (1.78 + ($975 – 1.78) * 0.045)) – (10.65 + 2.1874 * (S%) + 2.27 + 0.19) and reported in $ per tonne. |
| (3) |
The life of mine strip ratio is 5.48. The assumed life-of-mine throughput rate is 53,500 tonnes per day. |
| (4) |
Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content. |
| (5) |
Mineral reserves are reported on a 100% basis. NOVAGOLD and Barrick each own 50% of the Donlin Gold project. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold ounces are reported as troy ounces. |
Mineral reserves have been estimated using a long-term gold price assumption of $975 per ounce. Mineral resources are based on a Whittle™ pit optimized for all measured, indicated, and inferred blocks assuming a gold selling price of $1,200 per ounce and are inclusive of reserves.
Mineral resources were classified using criteria appropriate under the CIM Definition Standards by application of the NSR-based cut-off that incorporated mining and recovery parameters, and constraint of the mineral resources to a pit shell based on commodity prices. The mineral resources have an effective date of July 11, 2011. The mineral resources are summarized in the table below.
Measured and Indicated Resources Estimate (inclusive of reserves)
| Resource Category |
Tonnes (thousands) |
Gold Grade (grams/tonne) |
Contained Gold (thousands of ounces) |
|||||||||
| Measured |
7,731 | 2.52 | 626 | |||||||||
| Indicated |
533,607 | 2.24 | 38,380 | |||||||||
| Measured and indicated |
541,337 | 2.24 | 39,007 | |||||||||
Notes:
| (1) |
Mineral resources are inclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. See Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves, above. |
| (2) |
Mineral resources are contained within a conceptual measured, indicated and inferred optimized pit shell using the following assumptions: gold price of $1,200 per ounce; variable process cost based on 2.1874 * (sulfur grade) + 10.65; administration cost of $2.29 per tonne; refining, freight & marketing (selling costs) of $1.85 per ounce recovered; stockpile re-handle costs of $0.20 per tonne processed assuming that 45% of mill feed is re-handled; variable royalty rate, based on royalty of 4.5% * (Gold price – selling cost). |
| (3) |
Mineral resources have been estimated using a constant net sales return (NSR) cut-off of $0.001 per tonne milled. The net sales return cut-off was calculated using the formula: NSR = Gold grade * Recovery * ($1,200 – (1.85 + ($1,200 – 1.85) * 0.045)) – (10.65 + 2.1874 * (S%) + 2.29 + 0.20) and reported in $ per tonne. The marginal gold cut-off grade would be approximately 0.57 g/t, or the gold grade that would equate to a $0.001 NSR cut-off at these same values. |
| (4) |
Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content. |
| (5) |
Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold ounces are reported as troy ounces. See Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves, above. |
Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate
| Resource Category |
Tonnes (thousands) |
Gold Grade (grams/tonne) |
Contained Gold (thousands of ounces) |
|||||||||
| Inferred |
92,216 | 2.02 | 5,993 | |||||||||
Notes:
| (1) |
Inferred resources are in addition to measured and indicated resources. Inferred resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and whether they can be mined legally or economically. See Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves, above. |
| (2) |
Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold ounces are reported as troy ounces. See Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors Regarding Estimates of Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources and Proven and Probable Reserves, above. |
Feasibility Study and Updates
On December 5, 2011, we announced the results of the Donlin Gold FS which revised the previous 2009 feasibility study with updated mineral reserves and resources, capital costs and operating cost estimates. The Donlin Gold FS also utilizes natural gas as the primary power generation fuel source for the project rather than the original diesel option. Based on the Donlin Gold FS, the project is expected to be a conventional truck-and-shovel open-pit operation. The mine life is estimated to be 27 years based on a nominal processing rate of 59,000 tons (53,500 tonnes) per day. During the first five years of full operation, expected production averages 1.46 million ounces of gold annually and an average of 1.13 million ounces of gold per year over its projected mine life. The total initial capital cost estimate for the Donlin Gold project is approximately $6.7 billion including costs related to the natural gas pipeline and a contingency of $984 million. The project’s estimated after-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate (“NPV5%”) is $547 million using the base case gold price of $1,200 per ounce. The internal rate of return (IRR) at the same gold price is 6.0%. The NPV and IRR calculations exclude sunk costs of $168 million assumed to be spent in Years -6 and -7.
Base Case Project Sensitivity to Gold Price
| Gold |
LOM Cash Flow |
Year -5 NPV5% |
Year -5 IRR |
|||||||||||
| $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,143 | $ | (1,342 | ) | 2.3 | |||||||
| $ | 1,100 | $ | 4,191 | $ | (385 | ) | 4.3 | |||||||
| $ | 1,200 | $ | 6,197 | $ | 547 | 6.0 | ||||||||
| $ | 1,300 | $ | 8,187 | $ | 1,465 | 7.5 | ||||||||
| $ | 1,400 | $ | 10,166 | $ | 2,375 | 8.9 | ||||||||
| $ | 1,500 | $ | 11,631 | $ | 3,147 | 10.2 | ||||||||
Summary of Key Evaluation Metrics (Base Case at $1,200 per ounce gold)
| Total tonnes mined (million) |
3,260 | |||
| Ore tonnes treated (million) |
505 | |||
| Strip ratio (waste tonnes per ore tonne) |
5.48 | |||
| Gold ounces recovered (million) |
30.4 | |||
| Gold recovery (%) |
89.8 | % |
| ($ million) |
||||
| Gold, net revenue |
$ | 36,445 | ||
| Less: |
||||
| Mining |
(8,200 | ) | ||
| Processing |
(7,808 | ) | ||
| G&A, community, refining & land |
(3,232 | ) | ||
| Costs applicable to sales (3) |
(19,240 | ) | ||
| Initial capital (1) |
(6,511 | ) | ||
| Sustaining capital |
(1,505 | ) | ||
| Total capital |
(8,016 | ) | ||
| Income taxes |
(2,741 | ) | ||
| Reclamation trust fund |
(274 | ) | ||
| Salvage |
23 | |||
| Total costs |
(30,248 | ) | ||
| Total cash flow (1) |
$ | 6,197 | ||
| Payback period (years) |
9.2 | |||
| Operation life (years) |
27 | |||
| Year -5 NPV 5% (2) ($ million) |
$ | 547 | ||
| Year -5 IRR (2) |
6.0 | % |
Notes:
| (1) |
Cash flow after-tax excludes sunk costs of $168 million assumed to be spent in Years -6 and -7. |
| (2) |
Reference dates for discounted cash flow metrics are Year -5 (January 1, 2014 per the Donlin Gold FS) and exclude sunk costs. |
| (3) |
Costs applicable to sales (US GAAP), excluding Depreciation and Reclamation costs. |
Operating Cost Estimates
| $ per ounce |
$ per tonne milled |
|||||||
| Mining cost |
$ | 270 | $ | 16.24 | ||||
| Process cost |
257 | 15.47 | ||||||
| G&A, community, refining & land |
107 | 6.42 | ||||||
| $ | 634 | $ | 38.13 | |||||
Capital Cost Estimates
| Initial Capital ($ million) |
||||
| Mining |
$ | 345 | ||
| Site preparation /roads |
236 | |||
| Process facilities |
1,326 | |||
| Tailings |
120 | |||
| Utilities (including natural gas pipeline) |
1,302 | |||
| Ancillary buildings |
304 | |||
| Off-site facilities |
243 | |||
| Total direct costs |
3,876 | |||
| Owners’ costs |
414 | |||
| Indirect costs |
1,405 | |||
| Contingency |
984 | |||
| Total indirect and contingency |
2,803 | |||
| Total project cost |
$ | 6,679 |
Sustaining capital requirements are estimated at $1,505 million over the life of the mine.
Planned Mining Operations
The Donlin Gold project will be mined by a conventional truck-and-shovel operation. Initial pioneering and pit development will be undertaken to remove overburden, develop mine access roads suitable for large mining equipment, and “face-up” the initial pit for the large shovel and mining equipment.
Primary loading units for both bulk and selective mining in ore and waste will be large electric-hydraulic shovels, with large front-end loaders as secondary units. Large 360 tonne capacity haul trucks will be used for transporting both ore and waste out of the pit.
Blast hole drilling will be performed by medium-sized rotary and down-the-hole hammer drills with various hole diameters depending on bench height and desired mining selectivity. Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is planned for detailed geologic definition and grade control.
Support equipment will be used for road, bench, and dump maintenance and miscellaneous projects.
Planned Processing Operations
The Donlin Gold project ore will be processed by crushing and grinding, sulfide flotation concentration, concentrate treatment by pressure oxidation (POX) in an autoclave, carbon-in-leach (CIL) cyanide leaching of the oxide concentrate, electrowinning, and refining to produce doré bars on site.
Due to gold being associated with sulfide mineralization, primarily arsenopyrite and pyrite, the ore is considered refractory and requires POX pre-treatment to liberate the gold prior to CIL leaching. Sulfide flotation concentration is required prior to POX to concentrate the sulfide content to a level sufficient to fuel the POX operation.
Concentrate is recovered from the primary rougher flotation followed by regrinding of the tailings prior to secondary rougher flotation. The secondary rougher concentrate is processed through a cleaner scavenger circuit producing a concentrate which is combined with the primary rougher concentrate for treatment by POX. The final tailings from the secondary rougher flotation tailings is thickened, and due to their neutralizing potential, is then utilized to modify the pH of the POX discharge solution prior to being transported to the TSF.
The oxidized concentrate from the POX operation would then be cyanide leached in a conventional CIL circuit to produce a pregnant (gold-bearing) solution. Gold from the solution is adsorbed onto activated carbon, which is later stripped (gold desorbed from carbon) in an elution circuit. The pregnant solution after elution is fed through electrowinning (EW) cells, where cathodes are plated with gold-bearing materials, which are periodically removed, dried in retort, and melted in an induction furnace to produce doré bars.
Tailings from the CIL circuit would be treated in a cyanide detoxification process using SO2/air technology prior to being recombined with the flotation tailings and transported to the TSF.
Mercury naturally occurs in the Donlin Gold project ores and mercury abatement controls will be installed in six areas of the process facilities including POX, hot cure, EW, retort, refinery furnace, and carbon regeneration kiln. In these control systems, mercury will be collected for off-site shipment and management. Chemicals will be added to tailings to limit the potential for mercury releases from the TSF.
Proposed Production Plan and Schedule
Based on the Donlin Gold FS, the operating mine life is estimated to be 27 years with the nominal processing rate of 53,500 tonnes per day. Commercial gold production is proposed in the Donlin Gold FS after a period of 3 to 4 years for project permitting and concurrent engineering and 3.5 to 4 years for construction. The Donlin Gold FS also assumed that project engineering would proceed in parallel with project permitting. In addition, the Donlin Gold board must approve a construction program and budget before construction of the Donlin Gold project can begin. The timing of the initiation of the required engineering work, of the Donlin Gold board’s approval of a construction program and budget, and receipt of all required governmental permits and approvals will determine whether and when construction of the Donlin Gold project will begin.
Preproduction covers the first 15 months of the mine plan, when mining activities will focus on providing sufficient ore exposure for plant start-up. Ore mined during preproduction will be stockpiled and rehandled to the mill during operations. Average mine production increases progressively in the initial years until the peak rate of 425,000 tonnes per day is reached in Year 6.
Proposed Waste Rock Facility (WRF)
Waste rock from open pit mining will be placed in an ex-pit WRF in the American Creek Valley, east of the pit area, or in a backfill dump in the ACMA pit. The ultimate footprint of the WRF covers an area of approximately 9 square kilometers. Approximately 2,232 million tonnes of waste rock and overburden will be placed in the WRF, and 423 million tonnes will be placed in the ACMA pit backfill dump. Approximately 103 million tonnes of waste rock will be used for construction purposes, and 17 million tonnes of overburden will be stockpiled and used later for reclamation purposes.
The potential magnitude of flow in the American Creek drainage, as well as discharge from springs in the valley floors, warrants the construction of an engineered rock drain system below the waste rock facility, including connecting secondary rock (finger) drains in the smaller contributing drainages.
Waste rock will be characterized by its potential for acid generation and assigned reactivity categories. Non-acid-generating (NAG) rock will be placed directly in the WRF, along with less reactive potentially acid-generating (PAG) rock, PAG5. Some of the more reactive PAG rock, PAG6, will be encapsulated in cells in the WRF to prevent water infiltration through them. The most reactive PAG rock, PAG7, will be backfilled in the ACMA pit beneath the ultimate pit lake water level.
Concurrent reclamation of the waste rock facility will be undertaken during operations.
Proposed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF)
The TSF in the Anaconda Creek basin will be a fully lined impoundment with a cross valley dam downstream (“main dam”) in the valley. The tailings dam will be constructed of compacted rock fill using the downstream method with a composite liner on the upstream face. The tailings impoundment footprint will be lined with a linear low-density polyethylene liner over a layer of broadly graded silty sand and gravel acting as low permeability bedding material and providing secondary containment. Material for construction will be sourced from the plant site and fuel farm during initial construction and from the open pit for the later raises during operations.
Water Diversion Dams
Water dams are required during the construction period and initial years of operation to protect the lined upstream face of the tailings-starter dam from a significant flood event, to provide a reliable source of fresh water during operation of the process plant, and to minimize runoff into the TSF.
Current and Planned On-Site Infrastructure
Current site infrastructure comprises an all-season, soft-sided camp with facilities consisting of kitchen, living quarters, equipment shop, drill shack and other buildings required for support of year-round exploration activities.
There is sufficient area within the project area to host an open pit mining operation, including the proposed open pit, waste rock facility, TSF and process facilities (primary and pebble crushers, coarse ore conveyor and coarse ore stockpile, concentrator, flotation, water treatment plants, POX, oxygen plant, boiler house, utility corridors, leach, refinery, cyanide destruct, and access walkways). Other planned site infrastructure is comprised of: access roads, airstrip, accommodation camp, fuel tank farm, and dual-fueled power plant, truck shop, truck wash, workshops and vehicle repair facilities, assay laboratory, administration facilities and change rooms. Donlin Gold has secured the surface rights for the areas that may host these facilities.
In the nearby villages, Crooked Creek has approximately 105 residents and Aniak has a population of approximately 500. The workforce for the project would be sourced from the local area, from Alaskan regional centers and from other sources as required.
The project is a greenfield site. The on-site infrastructure for the project includes three main development sites in remote locations: the mine and plant site area (including the power plant), the permanent camp, and the airstrip. The plant site, power plant and fuel tank farm will be on a ridge above the proposed TSF. The layout of the plant site was designed to take maximum advantage of the natural topography. The layout also provides for efficient movement of equipment and material products around the site.
Planned Off-site Infrastructure
The off-site infrastructure for the project includes three main development sites in remote locations: the Jungjuk Port site and mine access road; the natural gas pipeline; and the Bethel Port facilities. The Jungjuk Port site is situated upriver from Bethel on the Kuskokwim River near the mouth of Jungjuk Creek. A port-to-mine access road (Jungjuk Road), approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) long, will traverse varied terrain from the Jungjuk Port site to the mine site. A spur road, approximately 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) long, will serve the proposed project airstrip. The primary purpose of the Jungjuk Road is to transport freight and diesel from the Jungjuk Port site to the mine site, mostly by conventional highway tractors, tankers, and trailers. The natural gas pipeline is described under the Power heading below. The proposed Bethel Port will be situated near the town of Bethel, a community of approximately 6,080 residents, that is the main existing port on the Kuskokwim River and is an administrative and transportation hub for the 56 villages in the Y-K region. The existing Port of Bethel is the northernmost medium-draft port in the United States and is served by ocean-going barges. The proposed port would serve as a trans-shipment point from ocean barges to river barges to supply the project during the summer ice-free period.
Power
Natural gas will be delivered to site by an approximately 316-mile (509-kilometer), 14-inch (356 millimeter) diameter pipeline to supply an on-site power generation facility. The Donlin Gold FS contemplates that the electric power for the site will be generated from a dual-fueled (natural gas and diesel), reciprocating engine power plant with a steam turbine utilizing waste heat recovery from the engines. The power plant consists of two equal halves, each consisting of six reciprocating engines, and a separate steam turbine. The total generation facility is nominally rated at 182 MW initially and will increase to 215 MW after four years with the addition of two more generators (one in each half) to allow for N+2 redundancy, thus allowing planned maintenance and predicted outages without cutting back production.
At the time of the Donlin Gold FS, the natural gas pipeline was a lower-cost alternative to the previously considered barging of diesel fuel to site to generate electricity. The Donlin Gold FS operating costs are based on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by ship to Anchorage and total delivery cost to site which includes regasification of the LNG and delivery from Anchorage to the Donlin Gold project via the pipeline.
The pipeline would commence at the west end of the Beluga Gas Field, approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage at a tie-in near Beluga located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and would run to the mine site. The pipeline would receive booster compression supplied by one compressor station. No additional compression along the pipeline route would be required. The pipeline would have capacity to transport approximately 2 million cubic meters per day of natural gas.
Water
Water requirements for the proposed project have been summarized in a Water Resources Management Plan, which has been subject to review by state and federal agencies. Water primarily will be sourced from the two drainages (American and Anaconda Creeks) within the mine footprint and pit dewatering. In some years, the water supply from these sources may not be able to meet the makeup water requirements for the plant. In these circumstances, additional water will be obtained primarily from a proposed reservoir in Snow Gulch.
The source of water supply for the construction camp and, later, the plant site potable water systems is an array of eight deep wells south of Omega Gulch, near Crooked Creek. Water supply will be pumped to freshwater storage tanks and will be treated prior to consumption.
Markets
The marketing plan is for the owners of Donlin Gold to take in-kind their respective shares of the gold production, which they can then sell for their own benefit. Under the LLC Agreement, the manager shall give the members prompt notice in advance of the delivery date upon which their respective shares of gold production will be available.
Since there are a large number of available gold purchasers, the members should not be dependent upon the sale of gold to any one customer. Gold can be sold to various gold bullion dealers or smelters on a competitive basis at spot prices.
It is expected that selling contracts for NOVAGOLD’s share of the gold production will be typical of, and consistent with, standard industry practice, and be similar to contracts for the supply of doré elsewhere in the world.
Taxation
The Donlin Gold FS contemplates that the following taxes may be levied on the project:
| ● |
Federal income tax – the greater of the U.S. regular tax of 35% or alternative minimum tax of 20%. |
| ● |
Alaska state income tax – 9.4% of net income or alternative minimum tax of 18% of federal alternative minimum tax. |
| ● |
Alaska state mining license tax – 7% of taxable mining income, less depletion. There is a 3.5-year tax holiday on the mining license tax. |
Income tax becomes payable after deductions for capital allowances. See Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 14 below, for subsequent events that may affect the taxes applicable to the project.
Financial Analysis
The total initial capital cost estimate for the Donlin Gold project is $6.7 billion, which includes costs related to the natural gas pipeline and a contingency. The project’s estimated after-tax net present value (NPV 5%) is $547 million with an IRR after-tax at 6.0% using the base case gold price of $1,200 per ounce. The undiscounted break-even gold price is $902 per ounce. In the Donlin Gold FS, the overall economic viability of the project was evaluated by both discounted and undiscounted cash flow analyses, based on the engineering studies and cost estimates discussed in the Donlin Gold FS. Assumptions in the model comprised:
| ● |
For discounted cash flow (or NPV) purposes, the model is based from Year -5 (January 1, 2014 per the Donlin Gold FS). Estimates were prepared for all the individual elements of cash revenue and cash expenditures for ongoing operations. |
| ● |
Estimated cash flows from revenue are based on a gold price of $1,200 per ounce as provided by Donlin Gold. The pit has been optimized at a gold price of $975 per ounce, which was the guidance in effect at the time the pit optimization work was completed. |
| ● |
Gold recovery is estimated to average 89.8% over the LOM based on work and testing performed for feasibility study and feasibility study update purposes. |
| ● |
Doré refining and shipping charges were estimated at $1.02 per ounce based on actual refining charges for Barrick’s Goldstrike operations and a quotation for transportation and insurance costs from the Donlin Gold project site to a U.S.-based refinery. An additional 0.1% of gold produced from the mine is included in refining costs. This amount represents the refiner’s estimate of the loss of gold that will occur during the refining process. |
| ● |
The current hydrometallurgical process selection renders any contained silver into a greater refractory state, which provides less than 10% silver recovery through standard metal leaching. As a consequence, no silver credit was applied to the project. |
| ● |
Assets will be sold over the course of the mine life, when they are no longer required for project-based work, as well as at the end of the mine life. Total recovered value from these sales is estimated at approximately $23 million. |
| ● |
Reclamation and closure costs were estimated at $274 million to be funded over the construction and operating period to fund closure and post-closure activities. |
| ● |
Inventory is included in the financial model as cash outflows in the year before start-up of operations. |
Current Activities
For information on current activities, see section Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below.
Periodically, we are a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Management does not believe that there is any pending or threatened proceeding against the Company which, if determined adversely, would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity or results of operations. There are no material proceedings pursuant to which any of our directors, officers or affiliates or any owner of record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our securities or any associate of any such director, officer or securityholder is a party adverse to us or has a material interest adverse to us.
On June 29, 2020, the Company filed a lawsuit against J Capital Research USA LLC (“J Capital”) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. In its Complaint, the Company alleges J Capital made defamatory and libelous statements about the Company, its assets and management in a report issued by J Capital on May 28, 2020. The Company is seeking unspecified damages from J Capital. We do not believe this litigation is material to the Company.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act, issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose specified information about mine health and safety in their periodic reports. These reporting requirements are based on the safety and health requirements applicable to mines under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine Act”) which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020, the Company and its subsidiaries were not subject to regulation by MSHA under the Mine Act and thus no disclosure is required under Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act. Donlin Gold LLC is the operator of the Donlin Gold project. Donlin Gold LLC is not a “subsidiary” of the Company for purposes of Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act because the Company does not control Donlin Gold LLC.
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE American) and on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol “NG.” On January 20, 2021, there were 594 holders of record of our shares, which does not include shareholders for which shares are held in nominee or street name. We believe that more than half of our common shares are beneficially owned by investors in the United States.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid dividends on our common shares and our current business plan requires that, for the foreseeable future, any future earnings be reinvested to finance growth and development of our business. We will pay dividends on our common shares only if and when declared by our Board. In determining whether to declare dividends, the Board will consider our financial condition, results of operations, working capital requirements, future prospects, and other factors it considers relevant.
Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Residents
The following summarizes certain Canadian federal income tax consequences generally applicable under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations enacted thereunder (collectively, the “Canadian Tax Act”) and the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980) (the “Convention”) to the holding and disposition of common shares.
This comment is restricted to holders of common shares each of whom, at all material times for the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act and the Convention, (i) is resident solely in the United States, (ii) is entitled to the benefits of the Convention, (iii) holds all common shares as capital property, (iv) deals at arm’s length with and is not affiliated with NOVAGOLD, (v) does not and is not deemed to use or hold any common shares in a business carried on in Canada, (vi) is not an insurer that carries on business in Canada and elsewhere and (vii) is not a “specified shareholder” (as defined in subsection 18(5) of the Canadian Tax Act) of NOVAGOLD (each such holder, a “U.S. Resident Holder”).
Certain U.S.-resident entities that are fiscally transparent for United States federal income tax purposes (including limited liability companies) may not in all circumstances be entitled to the benefits of the Convention. Members of or holders of an interest in such an entity that holds common shares should consult their own tax advisers regarding the extent, if any, that the benefits of the Convention will extend to the entity in respect of its common shares. This summary does not deal with special situations such as the particular circumstances of traders or dealers or holders who have entered into a “derivative forward agreement” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act) in respect of the common shares. Such holders should consult their own tax advisors.
Generally, a U.S. Resident Holder’s common shares will be considered to be capital property of a U.S. Resident Holder provided that the U.S. Resident Holder does not use the common shares in the course of carrying on a business of trading and dealing in securities and has not acquired the common shares in one or more transactions considered to be an adventure or concern in the nature of trade (i.e. speculation).
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Canadian Tax Act and the Convention in effect on the date hereof, all specific proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act and Convention publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) on or before the date hereof, and the current published administrative and assessing policies of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is assumed that all such amendments will be enacted as currently proposed, and that there will be no other material change to any applicable law or administrative or assessing practice, whether by judicial, legislative, governmental, or administrative decision or action, although no assurance can be given in these respects. Except as otherwise expressly provided, this summary does not take into account any provincial, territorial or foreign tax considerations, which may differ materially from those set out herein.
Currency conversion
For the purposes of the Canadian Tax Act, all amounts relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of common shares, including dividends and proceeds of disposition must be determined in Canadian dollars based on the daily exchange rate of the Bank of Canada on the particular day, or such other rate of exchange as acceptable to the CRA.
Dividends on common shares
Under the Canadian Tax Act, dividends on shares paid or credited to a non-resident of Canada will be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25% of the gross amount of the dividends. Under the Convention, a U.S. resident will generally be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 15% of the gross amount of such dividends unless the beneficial owner is a company which owns at least 10% of the voting shares of NOVAGOLD at that time, in which case the rate of Canadian withholding tax is generally reduced to 5%.
Disposition of common shares
A U.S. Resident Holder will not be subject to tax under the Canadian Tax Act in respect of any capital gain realized by such U.S. Resident Holder on a disposition of common shares unless the common shares constitute “taxable Canadian property” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act) of the U.S. Resident Holder at the time of disposition and the U.S. Resident Holder is not entitled to relief under the Convention.
Generally, a U.S. Resident Holder’s common shares will not constitute “taxable Canadian property” of the U.S. Resident Holder at a particular time at which the common shares are listed on a “designated stock exchange” (which currently includes the TSX and NYSE American) unless at any time during the 60-month period immediately preceding a disposition both of the following conditions are true:
| (i) |
the U.S. Resident Holder, any one or more persons with whom the U.S. Resident Holder does not deal at arm’s length, or partnership in which the U.S. Resident Holder or persons with whom the U.S. Resident Holder did not deal at arm’s length holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships, alone or in any combination, owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of the capital stock of NOVAGOLD; and |
| (ii) | more than 50% of the fair market value of the common shares was derived directly or indirectly from, or from any combination of, real or immovable property situated in Canada, “Canadian resource properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), “timber resource properties” (as defined in the Canadian Tax Act), or options in respect of, interests in or civil law rights in, such properties whether or not it exists. |
In certain circumstances, a common share may also be deemed to be “taxable Canadian property” for purposes of the Canadian Tax Act.
Even if the common shares constitute “taxable Canadian property” to a U.S. Resident Holder, under the Convention, such a U.S. Resident Holder will not be subject to tax under the Canadian Tax Act on any capital gain realized by such holder on a disposition of such common shares, provided the value of such common shares is not derived principally from real property situated in Canada (within the meaning of the Convention).
U.S. Resident Holders whose shares are taxable Canadian property should consult their own tax advisors.
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders
There may be material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders in relation to an acquisition or disposition of common shares or other securities of the Company. U.S. holders should consult their own legal, accounting and tax advisors regarding such tax consequences under United States, state, local or foreign tax law regarding the acquisition or disposition of our common shares or other securities, in particular the tax consequences if the Company is or becomes a “passive foreign investment company” (commonly known as a “PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
Current and potential U.S. holders of our common shares should be aware that we believe we were a PFIC for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2020 and, based on current business plans and financial expectations, may be a PFIC in the current tax year and future tax years. No opinion of legal counsel or ruling from the IRS concerning the status of the Company as a PFIC has been obtained or is currently planned to be requested. PFIC classification is fundamentally factual in nature, generally cannot be determined until the close of the tax year in question and is determined annually. Additionally, the analysis depends, in part, on the application of complex U.S. federal income tax rules, which are subject to differing interpretations. In any tax year in which we are a PFIC, shareholders that are U.S. holders will be required to file an annual report with the Internal Revenue Service containing such information as Treasury Regulations or other tax rules may require.
Any gain recognized on the sale of common shares of a PFIC and any excess distributions paid on the common shares of a PFIC must be ratably allocated to each day in a U.S. holder’s holding period for the common shares. The amount of any such gain or excess distribution allocated to prior years of such U.S. holder’s holding period for the common shares generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest tax applicable to ordinary income in each such prior year, and the U.S. holder will be required to pay interest on the resulting tax liability for each such prior year, calculated as if such tax liability had been due in each such prior year.
Alternatively, a U.S. holder that makes a timely “QEF election” generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such U.S. holder’s pro rata share of our “net capital gain” and “ordinary earnings” (calculated under U.S. federal income tax rules), regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed by us. As a second alternative, a U.S. holder may make a “mark-to-market election” if we are a PFIC and the common shares are marketable stock under applicable Treasury Regulations. A U.S. holder that makes a mark-to-market election generally will include in gross income, for each taxable year in which we are a PFIC, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the fair market value of the common shares as of the close of such taxable year over (b) such U.S. holder’s tax basis in such common shares. U.S. holders are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules, including the elections that may be available.
For each tax year that the Company determines that it is a PFIC, upon the written request of a U.S. holder, the Company will make available to such U.S. holder all information and documentation that a U.S. holder making a QEF election with respect to the Company is required to obtain for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such information may be included on the Company’s website.
In addition, U.S. holders will not be eligible for preferential tax rates on dividends paid by the Company if the Company is a PFIC in the tax year of such dividend distribution or in the preceding tax year.
U.S. holders should consult their own legal, accounting and tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of holding and disposing of common shares and other securities of the Company.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Repurchase of Securities
None.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The selected financial data set forth in the table below should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto.
| Years ended November 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
| ($ thousands, except per share) |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
|||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations |
$ | (33,237 | ) | $ | (26,812 | ) | $ | (27,291 | ) | $ | (32,021 | ) | $ | (28,998 | ) | |||||
| Net loss from continuing operations |
$ | (33,564 | ) | $ | (27,761 | ) | $ | (31,466 | ) | $ | (36,915 | ) | $ | (32,697 | ) | |||||
| Net loss from discontinued operations |
— | — | (81,299 | ) | (2,101 | ) | (1,149 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net loss |
$ | (33,564 | ) | $ | (27,761 | ) | $ | (112,765 | ) | $ | (39,016 | ) | $ | (33,846 | ) | |||||
| Net loss per common share – basic and diluted |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations |
$ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | |||||
| Discontinued operations |
— | — | (0.25 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.01 | ) | ||||||||||||
| $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.35 | ) | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) | ||||||
| As of November 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
||||||||||||||||
| Total assets |
$ | 224,441 | $ | 245,835 | $ | 260,929 | $ | 398,661 | $ | 408,261 | ||||||||||
| Long-term liabilities |
$ | 110,205 | $ | 104,538 | $ | 96,581 | $ | 111,210 | $ | 104,947 | ||||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity |
$ | 110,727 | $ | 137,954 | $ | 160,668 | $ | 284,029 | $ | 300,263 | ||||||||||
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations constitutes management’s review of the factors that affected our financial and operating performance for the years ended November 30, 2020 and 2019. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained elsewhere in this report. For a discussion of the years ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, see section Item 7., Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, on Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2020.
Overview
Our corporate goals include continuing to advance the Donlin Gold project toward a construction decision maintaining support for Donlin Gold among the project’s stakeholders; promoting a strong safety, sustainability, and environmental culture; maintaining a favorable reputation of NOVAGOLD; and preserving a healthy balance sheet. Our operations primarily relate to the delivery of project milestones, including the achievement of various technical, environmental, sustainable development, economic and legal objectives, obtaining necessary permits, completion of feasibility studies, preparation of engineering designs and the financing to fund these objectives.
COVID-19 response and community engagement
NOVAGOLD’s primary objective is to ensure the health and safety of its employees, partners and contractors. The Company has implemented policies at its offices in Salt Lake City and Vancouver designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all employees and the people associated with them. In that regard, to reduce risk, our employees have been asked to work remotely, avoid all non-essential travel, adhere to good hygiene practices, and engage in physical distancing.
At Donlin Gold LLC, with dedicated community partners in Alaska and in the Y-K region, who share the objective of protecting the health of Donlin Gold’s employees and contractors, a wide-ranging set of policies and procedures have been implemented at the Donlin Gold project site and office in Anchorage this year designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Drilling activities at the Donlin Gold project site commenced in March and were suspended in early April due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities recommenced in May after development and implementation of a new COVID-19 management plan. The plan implemented a set of policies and procedures including testing of all employees and contractors prior to visiting the Donlin Gold project site; utilizing charters to safely deliver employees to and from camp to minimize in-region travel; screening and physical distancing measures while at camp; more frequent sanitization practices; and increased communication around hygiene and sanitization practices, as well as identification of symptoms.
Donlin Gold LLC also responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with urgently needed community support, including delivery of food and supplies to 56 villages in the Y-K region, alongside its Native Corporation partners Calista and TKC. Donlin Gold LLC joined forces with the Bethel Community Services Foundation to support the Y-K Resiliency Fund and Covenant House Alaska, which provides services to homeless and at-risk youth, and partnered with the Campfire Organization to help fund 34,000 Elder and youth meals throughout 22 communities with other key donors in the region.
Despite this year’s challenges, Donlin Gold maintained some community engagement programs related to environmental management, safety, training, educational, health and cultural initiatives. The programs included the Backhaul Hazardous Waste Removal from remote villages in the Y-K region, where a total of approximately 45,000 pounds of household hazardous materials, such as large appliances, fluorescent tubes, lead acid batteries, and electronic waste was collected and shipped out of the area for safe and proper disposal; scholarships awarded to 225 students selected by our Native Corporation partners (Calista and TKC) to benefit youth education in the region; advanced work to upgrade and improve health and safety standards of water and sewer services in the middle Kuskokwim portion of the Y-K region in partnership with TKC, the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium; and supported various environmental initiatives such as the Fishwheel energy project with TKC and the annual CleanUp GreenUp event that takes place in approximately 32 villages in the Y-K region to clean their outdoor environment.
Donlin Gold LLC has five Friendship Agreements with villages in the Y-K region (Sleetmute, Crooked Creek, Napaskiak, Nikolai, and Akiak) that formalize current engagement with key local communities. These agreements include educational, environmental, and social initiatives to help support the villages. Involving the local communities in many aspects of the project is core to both Barrick’s and NOVAGOLD’s philosophy as illustrated by the fact that approximately 80% of Donlin Gold direct hires for the 2020 drilling program were Alaska Natives.
The COVID-19 pandemic did not prevent us from delivering on the key goals we established or result in significant additional costs in 2020. However, continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 could impact employee health, workforce productivity, insurance premiums, ability to travel, the availability of industry experts and personnel, restrictions or delays to field work and studies, and other factors that will depend on future developments that may be beyond our control.
Donlin Gold project
In 2020, Donlin Gold LLC completed an 85-hole drilling program totaling approximately 23,400 meters in both the ACMA and Lewis deposit areas, exceeding the planned program with additional holes. The primary objective of the program, the largest such campaign at Donlin Gold since 2008, was to validate recent geologic modeling concepts and testing for extensions of high-grade zones in both intrusive (igneous) and sedimentary rocks. Assay results received to-date from the 2020 drilling program have shown areas with higher grades observed over thinner intervals compared to those predicted by previous modeling, particularly in sedimentary rocks. Reported results from the drilling support modeled lithology and improve understanding of controls of the higher grades. Additional confirmation and extension drilling are planned in 2021 focusing on mineralization continuity, structural control, resource model upgrades, and geotechnical data collection. The program specifics will be finalized once all assay results for the 2020 drill program have been received and integrated into an interim model update. The newly obtained data will be incorporated into the geologic and resource model and should lead the owners to determine updated mining schedules and life of mine business plans. Ultimately, the information will assist in determining the next steps to update the Donlin Gold feasibility study and initiate the engineering work necessary to advance the project design before reaching a construction decision. The owners will advance the Donlin Gold project in a financially disciplined manner with a strong focus on engineering excellence, environmental stewardship, a strong safety culture and continued community engagement.
The Donlin Gold LLC board must approve a construction program and budget before the Donlin Gold project can be developed. The timing of the required engineering work and the Donlin Gold LLC board’s approval of a construction program and budget, the receipt of all required governmental permits and approvals, and the availability of financing, commodity price fluctuations, risks related to market events and general economic conditions among other factors, will affect the timing of and whether to develop the Donlin Gold project. Among other reasons, project delays could occur as a result of public opposition, litigation challenging permit decisions, requests for additional information or analysis, limitations in agency staff resources during regulatory review and permitting, project changes made by Donlin Gold LLC, or any impact on operations from COVID-19.
Our share of funding for the Donlin Gold project in 2020 was $15.3 million, $4.7 million lower than our original outlook of $20 million due to drill productivity exceeding planned rates, environmental and community engagement work delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions, assay costs carried forward into 2021 and lower administrative costs. In 2021, our share of Donlin Gold LLC funding is expected to be $18 to $22 million, including: $11 million for follow-up drilling, camp improvements and studies; $7 million for permitting, community engagement and administration; and an additional $4 million for other studies contingent upon mid-year approval by both owners.
We record our interest in the Donlin Gold project as an equity investment, which results in our 50% share of Donlin Gold’s expenses being recorded in the income statement as an operating loss. The investment amount recorded on the balance sheet primarily represents unused funds advanced to Donlin Gold.
Donlin Gold permitting
The ADNR’s Division of Mining, Land, and Water (DMLW) issued the easement land leases, land use permits, and material site authorizations for the proposed transportation facilities including the access road, airstrip, and upriver Jungjuk port, as well as the easement for the fiber optic cable on State lands on January 2, 2020.
After initially issuing the State Right-of-Way (ROW) agreement and lease authorization for the buried natural gas pipeline on January 17, 2020, the ADNR agreed to reconsider its decision on the ROW agreement and lease authorization for the buried natural gas pipeline in April 2020. Under the reconsideration, on September 10, 2020, the ADNR issued for additional public comment a revised Consideration of Comments document. This document further describes how the ADNR is considering previous public input that was solicited in the ROW review, including how cumulative effects are addressed in the decision. The comment period ended on November 9, 2020. Donlin Gold LLC supported the ADNR’s decision to complete this work and we expect that the final ROW agreement and lease authorization offer will be reissued by the ADNR in the first half of 2021.
In May 2020, ADEC approved a second extension of the date by which construction of the Donlin Gold project as authorized by the Prevention of Significant Deterioration air quality permit must begin until December 31, 2021.The State of Alaska’s CWA Section 401 certification of the Federal CWA Section 404 permit was formally appealed to the ADEC Commissioner in June 2020 by Earthjustice, on behalf of ONC, Akiak Native Community IRA Council, Organized Village of Kwethluk, Native Village of Kwigillingok, Chuloonawick Tribal Council, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim River Alliance. The appeal focuses on three narrow issues related to compliance with the State’s water quality standards near the project site. Donlin Gold LLC and its litigation team are actively involved in the process, assisting the State in responding to the appeal issues. We expect that the ADEC Commissioner will issue his decision on the appeal in the first half of 2021. On November 30, 2020, the ADNR published a public notice for comment on Donlin Gold’s 12 applications for water rights associated with the mine site and transportation facilities. The comment period closed on December 15, 2020. The ADNR is expected to issue final decisions on the water rights applications in the first half of 2021.
The ADNR’s issuance of the Alaska Dam Safety certificates for the tailings storage facility and water retention and diversion structures requires a thorough multi-year stepwise process to deliver a final construction package to the ADNR. The program necessary for the certificates, including geotechnical core drilling, test pits, overburden drilling, packer tests, hydrogeologic test well installation and pumping tests, and geophysical surveys, commenced in 2019. The field work was temporarily paused pending the prioritization of the 2020 drill program.
Summary of Consolidated Financial Performance
| Years ended November 30, |
||||||||||||
| ($ thousands, except per share) |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||||
| General and administrative |
$ | (18,735 | ) | $ | (16,321 | ) | $ | (18,493 | ) | |||
| Equity loss - Donlin Gold |
(14,502 | ) | (10,491 | ) | (8,798 | ) | ||||||
| Loss from operations |
$ | (33,237 | ) | $ | (26,812 | ) | $ | (27,291 | ) | |||
| Net loss from continuing operations |
$ | (33,564 | ) | $ | (27,761 | ) | $ | (31,466 | ) | |||
| Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
— | — | (81,299 | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss |
$ | (33,564 | ) | $ | (27,761 | ) | $ | (112,765 | ) | |||
| Net loss per common share – basic and diluted |
||||||||||||
| Continuing operations |
$ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | |||
| Discontinued operations |
— | — | (0.25 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.35 | ) | ||||
Results of Operations
Loss from operations increased from $26.8 million in 2019 to $33.2 million in 2020 due to increases in general and administrative and Donlin Gold expenses. General and administrative expense increased due to higher share-based compensation, legal and regulatory costs, partially offset by lower travel costs. Donlin Gold expenses increased due to the 2020 drilling program, partially offset by lower permitting, administrative, and community engagement costs.
Net loss from continuing operations increased from $27.8 million ($0.09 per share) in 2019 to $33.6 million ($0.10 per share) in 2020, primarily due to the increased Loss from operations and lower interest income, partially offset by a recovery of income taxes and lower interest expense. Lower interest rates in 2020 reduced interest income and the interest accrued on the promissory note payable to Barrick. The recovery of income taxes results from the Company’s intention to file a consolidated U.S. income tax return for its U.S. subsidiaries commencing with the year ended November 30, 2020 and in future periods.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Capital Requirements
| As of November 30, |
||||||||||||
| ($ thousands) |
2020 |
2019 |
Change |
|||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 60,906 | $ | 67,549 | $ | (6,643 | ) | |||||
| Term deposits |
61,000 | 81,000 | (20,000 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | 121,906 | $ | 148,549 | $ | (26,643 | ) | ||||||
Term deposits are denominated in U.S. dollars and are held at Canadian chartered banks with high investment-grade ratings and have maturities of one year or less.
The net changes in total Cash and cash equivalents and Term deposits resulted from:
| Years ended November 30, |
||||||||||||
| ($ thousands) |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
|||||||||
| Continuing operations |
||||||||||||
| Operating activities |
$ | (10,020 | ) | $ | (6,127 | ) | $ | (10,392 | ) | |||
| Funding of Donlin Gold |
(15,276 | ) | (11,122 | ) | (8,907 | ) | ||||||
| Withholding tax on share-based compensation |
(1,652 | ) | (1,197 | ) | — | |||||||
| Other |
305 | (9 | ) | (99 | ) | |||||||
| (26,643 | ) | (18,455 | ) | (19,398 | ) | |||||||
| Discontinued operation |
||||||||||||
| Galore Creek |
— | — | 102,448 | |||||||||
| $ | (26,643 | ) | $ | (18,455 | ) | $ | 83,050 | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities increased by $3.9 million, primarily due to lower interest income, and higher legal and regulatory costs. Funding of Donlin Gold increased by $4.2 million due to the 2020 drilling program. Withholding taxes were paid on vested performance share units in each of the first quarters of 2020 and 2019.
Donlin Gold funding of $15.3 million was $4.7 million lower than our original outlook of $20 million primarily due to better than planned drill productivity and lower permitting, administrative and community engagement costs. Spending on corporate general and administrative costs, excluding share-based compensation costs, was $0.5 million higher than our original outlook of $11 million due to higher legal and regulatory costs, partially offset by lower travel costs.
We do not currently generate operating cash flows. As of November 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $60.9 million and term deposits of $61.0 million. In July 2021, we expect to receive $75 million from the first note receivable from Newmont in relation to the 2018 sale of our 50% interest in the Galore Creek project. Our anticipated expenditures in 2021 are $31 to $35 million, including $18 to $22 million to fund the Donlin Gold project and $13 million for corporate general and administrative costs. At present, we believe we have sufficient working capital available for the next twelve-month period to cover anticipated funding of the Donlin Gold project and corporate general and administrative costs.
Additional capital will be necessary if a decision to commence engineering and construction is reached for the Donlin Gold project. Future financings to fund construction are anticipated through debt, equity, project specific debt, and/or other means. Our continued operations are dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing or to generate future cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to raise additional capital on terms favorable to us, or at all. For further information, see section Item 1A, Risk Factors – Our ability to continue the exploration, permitting, development, and construction of the Donlin Gold project, and to continue as a going concern, will depend in part on our ability to obtain suitable financing, above.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of November 30, 2020 were as follows:
|
($ thousands) |
Total |
Less than 1 year |
1-3 years |
3-5 years |
More than 5 years |
|||||||||||||||
| Remediation |
$ | 182 | $ | 182 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
| Office and equipment leases |
611 | 207 | 420 | 7 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Promissory note |
109,801 | — | — | — | 109,801 | |||||||||||||||
| $ | 110,594 | $ | 389 | $ | 420 | $ | 7 | $ | 109,801 | |||||||||||
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements required to be disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Outstanding share data
As of January 20, 2021, the Company had 331,320,620 common shares issued and outstanding. Also, as of January 20, 2021, the Company had: i) a total of 11,083,170 stock options outstanding; 9,557,572 of those stock options with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.22 and the remaining 1,525,598 with a weighted-average exercise price of C$6.80; and ii) 1,583,100 PSUs and 285,717 deferred share units (DSUs) outstanding. Upon exercise of the foregoing convertible securities, the Company would be required to issue a maximum of 13,747,537 common shares.
Related party transactions
The Company provided technical services to Donlin Gold LLC for $658,000 in 2018. The Company did not provide technical services to Donlin Gold LLC in 2020 or 2019. As of November 30, 2020, the Company has accounts receivable from Donlin Gold LLC of $6,000 (November 30, 2019: $nil) included in Other current assets.
Fourth quarter results
During the fourth quarter of 2020, we incurred a net loss of $7.0 million compared to a net loss of $7.9 million for the comparable period in 2019. The decrease in net loss primarily resulted from the recovery of income taxes.
Accounting Developments
For a discussion of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Critical Accounting Policies
We believe the following accounting policies are critical to our financial statements due to the degree of uncertainty regarding the estimates or assumptions involved and the magnitude of the asset, liability, or expense being reported.
Contingent note receivable
As a portion of the proceeds on the sale of the Company’s 50% interest in the Galore Creek project to Newmont, the Company received a contingent note for $75 million receivable upon the approval of a Galore Creek project construction plan by the owner(s). The Company has not assigned a value to the contingent note receivable as management determined that approval of Galore Creek project construction was not probable as of the closing of the Galore Creek sale, and management’s assessment did not change as of November 30, 2020. The contingent note will be recognized only when, in management’s judgement, payment is probable, and the amount recorded will not reverse in future periods.
Investment in affiliates
Investments in unconsolidated ventures over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for under the equity method and include the Company’s investment in the Donlin Gold project. We identified Donlin Gold LLC as a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) as the entity is dependent on funding from its owners. All funding, ownership, voting rights and power to exercise control is shared equally on a 50/50 basis between the owners of the VIE. Therefore, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss is its investment in Donlin Gold LLC. Donlin Gold LLC is a non-publicly traded equity investee holding exploration and development projects. The Company reviews and evaluates its investment in affiliates for other than temporary impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Events that could indicate impairment of an investment in affiliates include a significant decrease in long-term expected gold price, a significant increase in expected operating or capital costs, unfavorable exploration results or technical studies, a significant decrease in reserves, a loss of significant mineral claims, or a change in the development plan or strategy for the project. Asset impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the asset. If the underlying assets are not recoverable, an impairment loss is measured and recorded based on the difference between the carrying amount of the investee and its estimated fair value which may be determined using a discounted cash flow model.
Income taxes
We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Under the asset and liability method, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that some portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be recognized.
Share-based compensation
We grant share-based compensation awards in exchange for employee services, including a stock option plan and a PSU plan. The fair value of awards granted under the plans are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss over the related service period. The fair values of stock options are estimated at the time of each grant using a Black‐Scholes option pricing model, and the fair values of PSUs are measured at each grant date using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The fair value estimates may be impacted by certain variables including, but not limited to, stock price volatility, employee stock option exercise behaviors, additional stock option grants, estimates of forfeitures, the Company's performance, and the Company’s performance in relation to its peers.
We grant members of our board of directors DSUs whereby each DSU entitles the directors to receive one common share of the Company when they retire from service with the Company. The fair value of the DSUs is measured at the date of the grant in amounts ranging from 50% to 100% of directors’ annual retainers at the election of the directors. The fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Loss over the related service period.
As of November 30, 2020, we had $2.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to 4.681 million non-vested stock options expected to be expensed and vest over a period of approximately two years. Also, as of November 30, 2020, we had 1.684 million non-vested PSU awards outstanding of which 0.432 million were fully expensed and vested in December 2020 with a multiplier of 150%. The remaining 1.252 million non-vested PSU awards with $3.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost will be expensed over a period of approximately two years.
| Item 7A. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
Our financial instruments are exposed to certain financial risks, including credit and interest rate risks.
Credit risk
Concentration of credit risk exists with respect to our cash and cash equivalents, term deposit investments, and notes receivable. All term deposits are held through Canadian chartered banks with high investment-grade ratings and have maturities of one year or less.
Notes receivable of $75 million upon the earlier of the completion of a new Galore Creek project pre-feasibility study or July 27, 2021, and $25 million upon the earlier of the completion of a Galore Creek project feasibility study or July 27, 2023 are due from a subsidiary of Newmont. Newmont is a publicly traded company with investment-grade credit ratings and has guaranteed the notes receivable.
Interest rate risk
The interest rate on the promissory note owed to Barrick is variable with the U.S. prime rate. Based on the amount owing on the promissory note as of November 30, 2020, and assuming all other variables remain constant, a 1% change in the U.S. prime rate would result in an increase/decrease of approximately $1.1 million in the interest accrued on the promissory note per annum.
| Item 8. |
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. and its subsidiaries (together, the Company) as of November 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive loss, cash flows and equity for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2020, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of November 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.
Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Recognition of the contingent note receivable
As described in Notes 2, 4 and 15 to the consolidated financial statements, on July 27, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its 50% interest in the Galore Creek Partnership and its 40% interest in the Copper Canyon mineral property (“the sale”). As part of the consideration for the sale, the Company received a $75 million note (the “contingent note receivable”), which is contingent upon the approval of a Galore Creek project construction plan by the owner(s). The Company had not assigned a value to the contingent note receivable as management determined that Galore Creek project construction approval was not probable as of the closing of the Galore Creek sale. Management’s determination did not change as of November 30, 2020. The contingent note will be recognized when, in management’s judgment, it is probable that the payment will occur, and that the amount recorded will not reverse in future periods.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the recognition of the contingent note receivable is a critical audit matter are that there was judgment made by management when determining if recognition was required, which in turn led to a high degree of subjectivity in performing audit procedures to evaluate management’s determination of the probability of whether a construction plan will be approved.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence, in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s process of assessing the basis for recognizing the contingent note receivable. These procedures also included evaluating how management formulated their judgment as to the likelihood of the owner(s) of the project approving the Galore Greek project construction plan. This included considering both publicly available information and the latest annual progress report provided by the owner(s) of the project to the Company under the terms of the sale agreement.
(signed) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
| Vancouver, Canada January 27, 2021 |
We have served as the Company's auditor since 1984.
| (US dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Term deposits | ||||||||
| Notes receivable (Note 4) | ||||||||
| Other assets (Note 6) | ||||||||
| Current assets | ||||||||
| Notes receivable (Note 4) | ||||||||
| Investment in Donlin Gold (Note 5) | ||||||||
| Other assets (Note 6) | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued payroll and related benefits | ||||||||
| Income taxes payable | ||||||||
| Lease obligations (Note 8) | ||||||||
| Other liabilities | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | ||||||||
| Promissory note (Note 7) | ||||||||
| Lease obligations (Note 8) | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes (Note 14) | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Notes 7 and 8) | ||||||||
| EQUITY | ||||||||
| Common shares | ||||||||
| Authorized – million shares, par value | ||||||||
| Issued and outstanding – and million shares, respectively | ||||||||
| Contributed surplus | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Approved by the Board of Directors
/s/ Gregory A. Lang /s/ Anthony P. Walsh
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(US dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative (Note 11) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Equity loss - Donlin Gold (Note 5) | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Interest expense on promissory note (Note 7) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accretion of notes receivable (Note 4) | ||||||||||||
| Other income, net (Note 13) | ||||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes and other items | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Income tax recovery (expense) (Note 14) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss from continuing operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 15) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustment included in net loss from discontinued operations (Note 15) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Unrealized holding gain (loss) on marketable securities during period net of $, $ and $ tax recovery, respectively | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Reclassification adjustment for losses on marketable securities included in net loss from continuing operations (Note 13) | ||||||||||||
| ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Net loss per common share – basic and diluted | ||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Discontinued operations | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding | ||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted (thousands) | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(US dollars in thousands)
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Operating activities: | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Adjustments: | ||||||||||||
| Equity loss – Donlin Gold (Note 5) | ||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (Note 12) | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense on promissory note (Note 7) | ||||||||||||
| Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 15) | ||||||||||||
| Accretion of notes receivable (Note 4) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Deferred income tax (recovery) expense (Note 14) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Foreign exchange loss (gain) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Change in fair value of marketable securities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Other operating adjustments | ||||||||||||
| Net change in operating assets and liabilities (Note 17) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Investing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from term deposits | ||||||||||||
| Purchases of term deposits | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Funding of Donlin Gold | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities of continuing operations | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations (Note 15) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Financing activities: | ||||||||||||
| Withholding tax on share-based compensation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(US dollars and shares in thousands)
| Common shares | Contributed | Accumulated | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | surplus | deficit | AOCL* | equity | |||||||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2017 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred share units (DSUs) settled in shares | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock options exercised | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2018 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Cumulative-effect adjustment of adopting ASU No. 2016-01 | — | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance share units (PSUs) settled in shares | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| DSUs settled in shares | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock options exercised | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withholding tax on PSUs | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2019 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PSUs settled in shares | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock options exercised | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withholding tax on PSUs | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
* Accumulated other comprehensive loss
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 1 – THE COMPANY
NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “NOVAGOLD” or the “Company”) operate in the mining industry, focused on the exploration for and development of gold mineral properties. The Company has
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Presentation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries NOVAGOLD U.S. Holdings Inc., NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska Inc., NOVAGOLD USA, Inc., and AGC Resources Inc. All inter-company transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.
The Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP). The preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with US GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from the amounts recorded in these Consolidated Financial Statements.
References in these Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to $ refer to United States (US) dollars and C$ to Canadian dollars. Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for per share amounts.
Foreign currency
The functional currency for NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. is the Canadian dollar and the functional currency for the Company’s U.S. operations is the U.S. dollar. Therefore, gains and losses on U.S. dollar denominated transactions and the effect of translating U.S. dollar denominated balances of Canadian operations are recorded in net loss. The effects of translating the Company’s Canadian operations from the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss).
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash balances and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, that are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are held for the purpose of meeting short-term cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes.
Term deposits
The Company’s term deposits are classified as held to maturity and recorded at cost. Term deposits are held at Chartered Canadian banks with original maturities of 12 months or less. The term deposits are not traded in an active market.
Discontinued operations
The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results when the business is classified as held for sale. The results of discontinued operations are reported in Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations for current and prior periods, including any gain or loss recognized on closing or adjustment of the carrying amount to fair value less cost to sell.
On July 27, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its
Contingent note receivable
A portion of the proceeds related to the sale of Galore Creek to Newmont includes a $
Investment in affiliates
Investments in unconsolidated ventures over which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not control, are accounted for under the equity method and include the Company’s investment in the Donlin Gold project. The Company identified Donlin Gold LLC as a Variable Interest Entity (VIE) as the entity is dependent on funding from its owners. All funding, ownership, voting rights, and power to exercise control is shared equally on a 50/50 basis between the owners of the VIE. Therefore, the Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss is its equity investment in Donlin Gold LLC.
The equity method is a basis of accounting for investments whereby the investment is initially recorded at cost and the carrying value is adjusted thereafter to include the investor’s pro rata share of post-acquisition earnings or losses of the investee, as computed by the consolidation method. Cash funding increases the carrying value of the investment. Profit distributions received or receivable from an investee reduce the carrying value of the investment.
Donlin Gold LLC is a non-publicly traded equity investee owning an exploration and development project. Therefore, the Company assesses whether there has been a potential impairment triggering event for other-than-temporary impairment by testing the underlying assets of the equity investee for recoverability and assessing whether there has been a change in the development plan or strategy for the project. If the underlying assets are not recoverable, the Company will record an impairment charge equal to the difference between the carrying amount of the investee and its fair value.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, recognizing certain temporary differences between the financial reporting basis of the Company’s liabilities and assets and the related income tax basis for such liabilities and assets. This method generates deferred income tax liabilities and assets for the Company, as measured by the statutory tax rates in effect. The Company derives its deferred income tax charge or benefit by recording the change in deferred income tax liabilities and asset balances for the year.
The Company’s deferred income tax assets include certain future tax benefits. The Company records a valuation allowance against any portion of those deferred income tax assets when it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax asset will not be realized.
Share-based payments
The Company records share-based compensation awards exchanged for employee services at fair value on the date of the grant and expenses the awards in the Consolidated Statements of Loss over the requisite employee service period. The fair values of stock options are determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair values of PSUs are determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The Company’s estimates may be impacted by certain variables including, but not limited to, stock price volatility, employee stock option exercise behaviors, additional stock option grants, estimates of forfeitures, the Company’s performance, and the Company’s performance in relation to its peers.
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share are presented for Net income (loss). Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing Net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares for the period. Diluted income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts that may require the issuance of common shares in the future were converted. Diluted income per share is computed by increasing the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares to include the additional common shares that would be outstanding after conversion and adjusting net income for changes that would result from the conversion. Only those securities or other contracts that result in a reduction in earnings per share are included in the calculation.
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
Leases
In February 2016, Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02 was issued which, together with subsequent amendments, is included in ASC 842, Leases. The standard was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with an initial term greater than one year. Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are also required.
On December 1, 2019, the Company adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach with the effective date as of the date of initial application. Consequently, results for the year ended November 30, 2020 are presented under ASC Topic 842. No prior period amounts were adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previous lease guidance, ASC Topic 840, Leases. All leases were reassessed under the new standard including lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs in relation to its leases in effect as of December 1, 2019. The Company also elected the practical expedients allowing: i) the use of hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment of ROU assets based on all facts and circumstances through the effective date of the new standard; ii) the short-term lease recognition exemption whereby ROU assets and lease liabilities will not be recognized for leasing arrangements with terms less than one year; and iii) to combine lease and non-lease components and expense variable payments as rent/lease expense in the period incurred.
Adoption of the new standard resulted in recording an operating lease ROU asset and operating lease liability of approximately $
The Company reviews all contracts and determines if the arrangement represents or contains a lease, at inception. Operating leases are included in Other non-current assets and Other current and non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company does not have any finance leases.
Operating lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any upfront lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
Fair Value Disclosure Requirements
In August 2018, ASU No. 2018-13 was issued to modify and enhance the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This update is effective in fiscal years, including interim periods, beginning after December 1, 2020. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to significantly impact the Company’s note disclosures.
NOTE 3 – SEGMENTED INFORMATION
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer considers the business from a geographic perspective considering the performance of our investments in the Donlin Gold project in Alaska, USA (Note 5) and, prior to its disposal on July 27, 2018, the Galore Creek project in British Columbia, Canada (Note 15).
NOTE 4 – NOTES RECEIVABLE
The Company has notes receivable from Newmont Corporation (“Newmont”) including a $
Changes in the Company’s Notes Receivable are summarized as follows:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Balance – beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Fair value of notes receivable | ||||||||||||
| Accretion of notes receivable | ||||||||||||
| Balance – end of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Notes receivable consist of:
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Current portion | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current portion | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
NOTE 5 – INVESTMENT IN DONLIN GOLD
The Donlin Gold project is owned and operated by Donlin Gold LLC, a limited liability company in which wholly-owned subsidiaries of NOVAGOLD and Barrick each own a
Changes in the Company’s Investment in Donlin Gold are summarized as follows:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Balance – beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Share of losses: | ||||||||||||
| Mineral property expenditures | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||
| Funding | ||||||||||||
| Balance – end of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
The following amounts represent the Company’s 50% share of the assets and liabilities of Donlin Gold LLC. Donlin Gold LLC capitalized the initial contribution of the Donlin Gold property as Non-current assets: Mineral property with a carrying value of $
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Current assets: Cash, prepaid expenses, and other receivables | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current assets: Right-of-use assets, property and equipment | ||||||||
| Non-current assets: Mineral property | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and lease obligations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Non-current liabilities: Reclamation and lease obligations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net assets | $ | $ | ||||||
NOTE 6 – OTHER ASSETS
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Other current assets: | ||||||||
| Accounts and interest receivable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
| Other long-term assets: | ||||||||
| Marketable equity securities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Office equipment | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
NOTE 7 – PROMISSORY NOTE
The Company has a promissory note payable to Barrick of $
Changes in the Company’s Promissory Note is summarized as follows:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Balance – beginning of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Interest expense on promissory note | ||||||||||||
| Balance – end of period | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
NOTE 8 – LEASES
The Company leases office space under non-cancelable operating leases with original lease terms of years. These leases require monthly lease payments that may be subject to annual increases throughout the lease term. Certain of these leases also include renewal options at the election of the Company to renew or extend the lease for an additional years. These optional periods have not been considered in the determination of ROU assets or lease liabilities associated with these leases as management did not consider it reasonably certain it would exercise the options.
The Company performed evaluations of its contracts and determined each of its identified leases are operating leases. Additionally, short-term leases, which have an initial term of 12 months or less, are not recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Lease expenses are included in General and administrative expense – Office expense on the Consolidated Statements of Loss and include the following components for the year ended November 30, 2020:
| Operating lease cost | $ | |||
| Variable lease cost | ||||
| Short-term lease cost | ||||
| $ |
On February 1, 2020, the Company recorded a new operating lease obligation of $
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of November 30, 2020, were as follows:
| 2021 | $ | |||
| 2022 | ||||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| 2025 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total future minimum lease payments | ||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total | $ |
Other information regarding leases for the year ended November 30, 2020 includes the following:
| Cash paid for operating leases | $ | |||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities | $ | |||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (years) – operating leases | ||||
| Weighted average discount rate – operating leases | % |
NOTE 9 – SHARE CAPITAL
Common shares
The Company is authorized to issue
Preferred shares
Pursuant to the Company’s Notice of Articles filed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), the Company is authorized to issue
NOTE 10 – FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING
Financial instruments measured at fair value are classified into one of three levels in the fair value hierarchy according to the significance of the inputs used in making the measurement. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 — Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 — Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (supported by little or no market activity).
The Company’s marketable equity securities are valued using quoted market prices in active markets and as such are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the marketable equity securities was $
NOTE 11 – GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Share-based compensation (Note 12) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Salaries and benefits | ||||||||||||
| Office expense | ||||||||||||
| Professional fees | ||||||||||||
| Corporate communications and regulatory | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
NOTE 12 – SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Share incentive awards include a stock option plan for directors, executives, employees and eligible consultants, a PSU plan for executives, employees, and eligible consultants and a DSU plan for non-executive directors of the Company. Options granted to purchase common shares have exercise prices not less than the fair market value of the underlying share at the date of grant. As of November 30, 2020,
The Company recognized share-based compensation expense (see Note 11 - General and administrative) as follows:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Stock options | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Performance share unit plan | ||||||||||||
| Deferred share unit plan | ||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Stock options
Stock options granted under the Company’s share-based incentive plans generally expire years after the date of grant and vest in one- annual increments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The value of each option award is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected term of the option award and share price volatility. The expected term of options granted is derived from historical data on employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination experience. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s shares at the date of grant over the same length of term. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. In addition, management estimates the expected forfeiture rate and only recognizes expense for those options expected to vest. As a result, if other assumptions had been used, the recorded share-based compensation expense would have been different from that reported.
A summary of stock options outstanding as of November 30, 2020, and activity during the year ended November 30, 2020 are as follows:
| Number of stock options (thousands) | Weighted- average exercise price per share | Weighted- average remaining contractual term (years) | Aggregate intrinsic value | |||||||||||||
| November 30, 2019 | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| November 30, 2020 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Vested and exercisable as of November 30, 2020 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes other stock option-related information:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Weighted-average assumptions used to value stock option awards: | ||||||||||||
| Expected volatility | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Expected term of options (years) | ||||||||||||
| Expected dividend rate | ||||||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Expected forfeiture rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Weighted-average grant-date fair value | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Intrinsic value of options exercised | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cash received from options exercised | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
As of November 30, 2020, the Company had $
Performance share units
The Company has a PSU plan that provides for the issuance of PSUs in amounts as approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee. Each PSU award entitles the participant to receive
The value of each PSU granted is estimated at the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Monte Carlo simulation model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the share price volatility of the Company’s stock, as well as comparator index and the correlation of returns between the comparator index and the Company. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s shares and the comparator index at the grant date. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if other assumptions had been used, our recorded share-based compensation expense would have been different from that reported.
A summary of PSU awards outstanding and activity during the year ended November 30, 2020 are as follows:
| Number of PSU awards (thousands) | Weighted- average grant day fair value per award | Aggregate intrinsic value | ||||||||||
| November 30, 2019 | $ | |||||||||||
| Granted | ||||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Performance adjustment | ||||||||||||
| November 30, 2020 | $ | $ | ||||||||||
As of November 30, 2020, the Company had
The following table summarizes other PSU-related information:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Performance multiplier on PSUs vested | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Common shares issued (thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Total fair value of common shares issued | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Withholding tax paid on PSUs vested | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Deferred share units
The Company has a DSU plan that provides for the issuance of DSUs in amounts where the Directors receive half of their annual retainer in DSUs and have the option to elect to receive all or a portion of the other half of their annual retainer in DSUs. Each DSU entitles the Directors to receive
NOTE 13– OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Interest income | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Change in fair market value of marketable securities | ||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange gain (loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Other gain (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
NOTE 14 – INCOME TAXES
The British Columbia provincial corporate tax rate increased from
The U.S. tax reform enacted on December 22, 2017 (the “Act”), allows a Section 250 deduction amounting to
The Act also includes other provisions including the limitations on the use of future losses, repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax regime, and the introduction of a base erosion and anti-abuse tax. These provisions are not expected to have immediate effect on the Company. Given the significant complexity of the Act, further implications of the Act may be identified in future periods.
The Company’s Income tax (recovery) expense consisted of:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Current: | ||||||||||||
| Canada | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Foreign | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Deferred: | ||||||||||||
| Canada | ||||||||||||
| Foreign | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| ( | ) | |||||||||||
| Income tax (recovery) expense | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||
The Company’s Loss before income tax and other items consisted of:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Canada | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Foreign | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
The Company’s Income tax expense differed from the amounts computed by applying the Canadian statutory corporate income tax rates for the following reasons:
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes and other items | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||
| Combined federal and provincial statutory tax rate | % | % | % | |||||||||
| Income tax recovery based on statutory income tax rates | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Reconciling items: | ||||||||||||
| Non-deductible expenditures | ||||||||||||
| Foreign accrual property income (FAPI) | ||||||||||||
| Effect of consolidated return for U.S. subsidiaries | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Effect of different statutory tax rates on earnings or losses of subsidiaries | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Effect of statutory tax rate change | ||||||||||||
| Change in valuation allowance on deferred tax assets | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Other | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Income tax (recovery) expense | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | |||||||
| Effective tax rate | % | ( | )% | ( | )% | |||||||
Components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Deferred tax income assets: | ||||||||
| Net operating loss carry forwards | $ | $ | ||||||
| Capital loss carry forwards | ||||||||
| Mineral properties | ||||||||
| Intangible assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment | ||||||||
| Investment in affiliates | ||||||||
| Unpaid interest expense | ||||||||
| Unrealized loss on investments | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Valuation allowances | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Deferred income tax liabilities: | ||||||||
| Investment tax credit | ( | ) | ||||||
| Notes receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Capitalized assets and other | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||
| Net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||
These amounts reflect the classification and presentation that is reported for each tax jurisdiction in which the Company operates. Net deferred income tax assets and liabilities consist of:
| As of November 30, | ||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||||
| Non-current deferred income tax assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current deferred income tax liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||
Net operating losses available to offset future taxable income are as follows:
| Year of Expiry | U.S. | Canada | ||||||
| 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2026 | ||||||||
| 2027 | ||||||||
| 2028 | ||||||||
| 2029 | ||||||||
| 2030 | ||||||||
| 2031 | ||||||||
| 2032 | ||||||||
| 2033 | ||||||||
| 2034 | ||||||||
| 2035 | ||||||||
| 2036 | ||||||||
| 2037 | ||||||||
| 2038 | ||||||||
| 2039 | ||||||||
| 2040 | ||||||||
| Indefinite | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
Under the U.S. tax reform, net operating losses arising in tax years ending after December 31, 2017 can be carried over to each taxable year following the tax year of loss (indefinitely). The Company has capital loss carry-forwards of approximately $
Future use of U.S. loss carry-forwards is subject to certain limitations under provisions of the Internal Revenue Code including limitations subject to Section 382, which relates to a 50% change in control over a three-year period and are further dependent upon the Company attaining profitable operations. Ownership changes occurred on January 22, 2009 and on December 31, 2012 and the U.S. tax losses related to NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska Inc. and its investment in Donlin Gold LLC for the prior three-year periods prior to the change in control may be subject to limitation under Section 382. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to use these losses may be limited or they may expire un-utilized. Losses incurred to date may be further limited if a subsequent change in control occurs.
Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing deferred tax asset. Significant pieces of objective negative evidence evaluated included the cumulative loss incurred as of November 30, 2020. Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence such as management’s projections for future growth. On the basis of this evaluation, as of November 30, 2020, a valuation allowance of $
Uncertain tax position
There were
NOTE 15 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Galore Creek transaction
On July 27, 2018, the Company completed the sale of its
The details of our Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax for the year ended November 30, 2018 are set forth below:
| Equity loss – Galore Creek | $ | ( | ) | |
| Income tax expense | ||||
| Galore Creek operations, net of tax | ( | ) | ||
| Loss on sale of Galore Creek, net of tax | ( | ) | ||
| $ | ( | ) |
For the year ended November 30, 2018, the Company recognized a Loss on sale of Galore Creek, net of tax, calculated as follows:
| Cash consideration received on closing | $ | |||
| Refund of reclamation deposits | ||||
| Less closing costs | ( | ) | ||
| Fair value of notes receivable (Note 5) | ||||
| Net proceeds | ||||
| Less book values: | ||||
| Investment in GCP | ( | ) | ||
| Copper Canyon mineral property | ( | ) | ||
| Reclamation deposits | ( | ) | ||
| Reclassification of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments | ||||
| Deferred income tax recovery | ||||
| $ | ( | ) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended November 30, 2018 was not impacted by discontinued operations as Galore Creek did not have any Other comprehensive income (loss).
The details of our Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations for the year ended November 30, 2018 are set forth below:
| Funding of Galore Creek Partnership | $ | ( | ) | |
| Net cash proceeds received | ||||
| Reclamation deposits | ||||
| $ |
NOTE 16 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company provided technical services to Donlin Gold LLC for $
NOTE 17 – NET CHANGE IN OPERATING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||
| Other assets | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | |||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Accrued payroll and related benefits | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
NOTE 18 – SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
| Years ended November 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Interest received | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Non-cash investing activities
During 2018, the Company recorded a non-cash increase to long-term notes receivable of $
NOTE 19 – UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Quarterly data
The following is a summary of selected quarterly financial information (unaudited):
| 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | |||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share, basic and diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
None.
| Item 9A. |
Controls and Procedures |
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on the foregoing, our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended November 30, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary for preparation of our financial statements; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of our assets are made in accordance with management’s authorization; and providing reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial statements would be prevented or detected.
Management conducted its evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of November 30, 2020.
The effectiveness of our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2020 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
| Item 9B. |
Other Information |
None.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information in our definitive Proxy Statement, filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2021 Proxy Statement”) regarding directors and executive officers and Section 16 reporting information appearing under the headings “Election of Directors” “Information Concerning The Board Of Directors And Executive Officers” and “Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Shareholder Matters.” is incorporated by reference in this section. Finally, the information in our 2021 Proxy Statement regarding the Audit Committee under the heading “Statement of Corporate Governance Practices” is incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller or persons performing similar functions. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website (www.novagold.com). We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, by posting such information on our website, at the address specified above.
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and charters for each Committee of our Board are also available on our website. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and charters are also available in print to any shareholder who submits a request to: Corporate Secretary, NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC., 201 South Main Street, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 84111.
Information on our website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information appearing in our 2021 Proxy Statement under the headings. “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation”, “Compensation Discussion & Analysis”, “Tabular Disclosure of Executive Compensation”, “Non-Executive Director Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report” is incorporated by reference in this section.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The information appearing in our 2021 Proxy Statement under the heading “Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Shareholder Matters” is incorporated herein by reference.
The following table provides information as of November 30, 2020, regarding compensation plans under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.
| Plan category |
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (US$) |
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
|||||||||
| (a) |
(b) |
(c) |
||||||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
12,367,126 | $4.59 |
27,282,265 | |||||||||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
— | — | — | |||||||||
| Total |
12,367,126 | $4.59 |
27,282,265 | |||||||||
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information appearing in our 2021 Proxy Statement under the heading “Interest Of Informed Persons In Material Transactions”, “Board of Directors” under the heading “Statement of Corporate Governance Practices” is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information appearing in our 2021 Proxy Statement regarding Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees, All Other Fees and Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies under the subheading “Appointment of Auditors” is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
| Page |
|
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedule A – The Financial Statements of Donlin Gold LLC as of November 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the years ended November 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
No other financial statement schedules are filed as part of this report because such schedules are not applicable or the required information is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto. See Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
(a)(3) Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Gregory A. Lang, dated January 9, 2012, identified in exhibit list below.
Employment Agreement between NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant) and Gregory A. Lang dated January 9, 2012, identified in exhibit list below.
Employment Agreement between NOVAGOLD USA, Inc. and David Ottewell, dated September 10, 2012, identified in exhibit list below.
2004 Stock Award Plan of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. (as amended) identified in exhibit list below.
NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. Employee Share Purchase Plan identified in exhibit list below.
NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. 2009 Performance Share Unit Plan identified in exhibit list below.
NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. 2009 Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan identified in exhibit list below.
(b) Exhibits
| Exhibit |
Description |
||||
| Certificate of Continuance (British Columbia) dated June 10, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 6-K dated June 19, 2013) |
|||||
| Certificate of Discontinuance (Nova Scotia) dated June 10, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 6-K dated June 19, 2013) |
|||||
| Notice of Articles (British Columbia) dated June 10, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Form 6-K dated June 19, 2013) |
|||||
| Articles of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. dated June 20, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Form 6-K dated June 19, 2013) |
|||||
| Description of Common Shares |
|||||
| Amendment dated January 13, 2010 to Limited Liability Company Agreement dated December 1, 2007 between Donlin Gold LLC, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. and NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Limited Liability Company Agreement dated December 1, 2007 between Donlin Gold LLC, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. and NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| 2004 Stock Award Plan of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2020) |
|||||
| NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. Employee Share Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. 2009 Performance Share Unit Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Appendix C to Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2020) |
|||||
| NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. 2009 Non-Employee Directors Deferred Share Unit Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Appendix E to Registrant’s definitive proxy statement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2020) |
|||||
| Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Gregory A. Lang dated January 9, 2012. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Employment Agreement between the Registrant’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NovaGold USA, Inc., and David Ottewell, dated September 10, 2012. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Amendment dated July 15, 2010 to Limited Liability Company Agreement dated December 1, 2007 between Donlin Gold LLC, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. and NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Amendment dated June 1, 2011 to Limited Liability Company Agreement dated December 1, 2007 between Donlin Gold LLC, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. and NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Employment Agreement between the Registrant’s wholly-owned subsidiary, NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc., and Gregory A. Lang, dated January 9, 2012. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2014) |
|||||
| Share Purchase Agreement, dated July 25, 2018, by and among NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC., Newmont Mining Corporation and Newmont Canada FN Holdings ULC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of the Form 8-K/A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2018) |
|||||
| Subsidiaries of the registrant |
|||||
| Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
|||||
| Consent of Kirk Hanson |
|||||
| Consent of Wood Canada Limited |
|||||
| Consent of Clifford Krall |
|||||
| Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|||||
| Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|||||
| Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|||||
| Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
|||||
| 101 |
The following materials are filed herewith: (i) Inline XBRL Instance, (ii) Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema, (iii) Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation, (iv) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels, (v) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation, and (vi) Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition. |
||||
| 104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File – The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
||||
| * |
Confidential treatment has been granted for certain portions of this Exhibit pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act, which portions have been omitted and filed separately with the SEC |
||||
None
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. | |
| By:/s/ Gregory A. Lang | |
| Name: Gregory A. Lang | |
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: January 27, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature |
Title |
Date |
|
| /s/ Gregory A. Lang |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ David A. Ottewell |
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Thomas S. Kaplan |
Board Chair |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Elaine Dorward-King |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Sharon Dowdall |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Diane Garrett |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Igor Levental |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Kalidas Madhavpeddi |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Clynton R. Nauman |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Ethan Schutt |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
|
| /s/ Anthony P. Walsh |
Director |
January 27, 2021 |
Item 15. (a)(2) Schedule A
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Donlin Gold LLC
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Donlin Gold LLC (the Company) as of November 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related statements of loss and comprehensive loss, cash flows and equity for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2020, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of November 30, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
(signed) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
January 20, 2021
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
BALANCE SHEETS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
| At November 30, |
||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
| ASSETS |
||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 4,672 | $ | 6,023 | ||||
| Inventory |
46 | 50 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable |
25 | — | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
564 | 156 | ||||||
| Current assets |
5,307 | 6,229 | ||||||
| Right of use assets (note 3) |
351 | — | ||||||
| Plant and equipment (note 4) |
2,330 | 924 | ||||||
| Mineral property (note 5) |
65,230 | 65,384 | ||||||
| Total assets |
$ | 73,218 | $ | 72,537 | ||||
| LIABILITIES |
||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$ | 2,193 | $ | 3,361 | ||||
| Lease obligations (note 3) |
165 | — | ||||||
| Due to related parties (note 6) |
183 | 112 | ||||||
| Current liabilities |
2,541 | 3,473 | ||||||
| Lease obligations (note 3) |
216 | — | ||||||
| Reclamation and remediation (note 7) |
1,230 | 1,384 | ||||||
| Total liabilities |
3,987 | 4,857 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (notes 3 and 8) |
||||||||
| EQUITY |
||||||||
| Partners’ contributions |
445,556 | 415,002 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit |
(376,325 | ) | (347,322 | ) | ||||
| Total equity |
69,231 | 67,680 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 73,218 | $ | 72,537 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
| Years ended November 30, |
||||||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
||||||||||
| Operating expenses: |
||||||||||||
| Drilling, studies and engineering |
$ | 17,641 | $ | 9,410 | $ | 4,780 | ||||||
| General and administrative |
4,193 | 4,127 | 4,513 | |||||||||
| Mineral property leases |
2,885 | 3,249 | 2,346 | |||||||||
| Permitting and environmental |
2,106 | 2,128 | 4,231 | |||||||||
| Community relations |
1,853 | 1,954 | 1,699 | |||||||||
| Depreciation |
325 | 114 | 26 | |||||||||
| Loss from operations |
29,003 | 20,982 | 17,595 | |||||||||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss |
$ | (29,003 | ) | $ | (20,982 | ) | $ | (17,595 | ) | |||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
| Years ended November 30, |
||||||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
||||||||||
| Operating activities: |
||||||||||||
| Net loss |
$ | (29,003 | ) | $ | (20,982 | ) | $ | (17,595 | ) | |||
| Adjustments: |
||||||||||||
| Depreciation |
325 | 114 | 26 | |||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
(408 | ) | (22 | ) | 8 | |||||||
| Inventory |
4 | (50 | ) | — | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable |
(25 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
(1,169 | ) | 2,037 | (650 | ) | |||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities |
(30,276 | ) | (18,903 | ) | (18,211 | ) | ||||||
| Investing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures - plant and equipment |
(1,629 | ) | (927 | ) | — | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities |
(1,629 | ) | (927 | ) | — | |||||||
| Financing activities: |
||||||||||||
| Partners’ contributions |
30,554 | 22,244 | 17,812 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided from financing activities |
30,554 | 22,244 | 17,812 | |||||||||
| Increase/(Decrease) in cash during the year |
(1,351 | ) | 2,414 | (399 | ) | |||||||
| Cash at beginning of year |
6,023 | 3,609 | 4,008 | |||||||||
| Cash at end of year |
$ | 4,672 | $ | 6,023 | $ | 3,609 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
| Barrick contributions |
NOVAGOLD contributions |
Accumulated deficit |
Total equity |
|||||||||||||
| December 1, 2017 |
$ | 187,473 | $ | 187,473 | $ | (308,745 | ) | $ | 66,201 | |||||||
| Partners’ cash contribution |
8,906 | 8,906 | — | 17,812 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss |
— | — | (17,595 | ) | (17,595 | ) | ||||||||||
| November 30, 2018 |
$ | 196,379 | $ | 196,379 | $ | (326,340 | ) | $ | 66,418 | |||||||
| Partners’ cash contribution |
11,122 | 11,122 | — | 22,244 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss |
— | — | (20,982 | ) | (20,982 | ) | ||||||||||
| November 30, 2019 |
$ | 207,501 | $ | 207,501 | $ | (347,322 | ) | $ | 67,680 | |||||||
| Partners’ cash contribution |
15,277 | 15,277 | — | 30,554 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss |
— | — | (29,003 | ) | (29,003 | ) | ||||||||||
| November 30, 2020 |
$ | 222,778 | $ | 222,778 | $ | (376,325 | ) | $ | 69,231 | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND ECONOMIC DEPENDANCE
On December 1, 2007, Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (“Barrick”) and NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (“NOVAGOLD”), formed Donlin Gold LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation, (the “Company”) to advance the Donlin Gold Project in Alaska. Each of Barrick and NOVAGOLD own a 50% interest in the Company. Donlin Gold LLC has a board of four directors, with two nominees selected by each company. All significant decisions related to Donlin Gold LLC require the approval of both companies. The Company currently depends on Barrick and NOVAGOLD for all of its funding and has received commitments from its shareholders that they will fund the Company for the next twelve months.
The Company’s Board of Directors approved the Project's Updated Feasibility Study in July 2012. The Company subsequently initiated the permitting process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) issued the final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on April 27, 2018. On August 13, 2018, the Corps and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a joint Federal Record of Decision (ROD) for the Donlin Gold project along with their respective federal permit authorizations. Several major State of Alaska permits have also issued, including the approval of the Donlin Gold Reclamation and Closure Plan, final Waste Management Permit, Water Discharge permit, Title 16 Fish Habitat permits for the mine area and right of way agreements with the State and BLM. At the close of 2020, the water rights authorizations have completed their public notice process and the state pipeline right-of-way authorization has undergone a reconsideration request and also completed the public comment process.
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Presentation
These financial statements are presented in United States dollars ($) and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).
Use of estimates
The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of management estimates and assumptions relate to environmental, reclamation and closure obligations. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results will differ from amounts estimated in these financial statements.
Plant and equipment
On initial recognition, plant and equipment are recorded at cost subject to a ten thousand dollar threshold for capitalization. Plant and equipment are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded over the estimated useful life of the assets at the following annual rates:
Computer equipment – 5 years straight line;
Computer software – 5 years straight line;
Furniture and equipment – 5 years straight line; and
Leasehold improvements – straight-line over the lease term.
Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each financial year-end and adjusted if appropriate.
Mineral properties
All direct costs related to the acquisition of mineral property interests are capitalized. Mineral property exploration expenditures are expensed when incurred. When it has been established that a mineral deposit is commercially mineable, an economic analysis has been completed in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7 and permits are obtained, the costs subsequently incurred to develop a mine on the property prior to the start of mining operations are capitalized. Capitalized costs will be amortized following commencement of commercial production using the unit of production method over the estimated life of proven and probable reserves.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
Asset retirement obligations
The Company records a liability based on the best estimate of costs for site closure and reclamation activities that the Company is legally or contractually required to undertake. The liability is estimated using expected discounted cash flows based on engineering and environmental reports and accreted to full value over time through periodic charges to income. Adjustments to the reclamation obligation arising from changes in estimates are recorded as a component of the mineral property.
Income taxes
The Company is not a taxable entity for income tax purposes. Accordingly, no recognition is given to income taxes for financial reporting purposes. Tax on the net income (loss) of the Company is borne by the owners through the allocation of taxable income (loss). Net income for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income for the owners as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under the shareholders agreement.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Management assesses the possibility of impairment in the carrying value of its long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the asset or assets group may not be recoverable. Management calculates the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows relating to the asset or assets. When the carrying value of an asset exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value, which is usually determined using discounted future cash flows. Management’s estimates of mineral prices, mineral reserves, foreign exchange rates, production levels and operating capital and reclamation costs are subject to risk and uncertainties that may affect the determination of the recoverability of the long-lived asset. It is possible that material changes could occur that may adversely affect management’s estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less which are considered to be cash equivalents. The fair value of the Company’s financial assets, which includes cash, approximates their carrying values at November 30, 2020 due to their short-term nature.
Trade payables
The fair value of the Company’s financial liabilities, such as accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their carrying values at November 30, 2020 due to their short-term nature.
Due to related parties
The amounts due to Barrick and NOVAGOLD are non-interest bearing, unsecured and without specified terms of repayment.
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
Leases
In February 2016, Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02 was issued which, together with subsequent amendments, is included in ASC 842, Leases. The standard was issued to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of right-of-use ("ROU") assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with an initial term greater than one year. Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are also required.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
On December 1, 2019, the Company adopted this standard using the modified retrospective approach with the effective date as of the date of initial application. Consequently, results for the year ended November 30, 2020 are presented under ASC Topic 842. No prior period amounts were adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with previous lease guidance, ASC Topic 840, Leases. All leases were reassessed under the new standard including lease identification, lease classification, and initial direct costs in relation to its leases in effect as of December 1, 2019. The Company also elected the practical expedients allowing: i) the use of hindsight in determining the lease term and assessing impairment of ROU assets based on all facts and circumstances through the effective date of the new standard; ii) the short-term lease recognition exemption whereby ROU assets and lease liabilities will not be recognized for leasing arrangements with terms less than one year; and iii) to combine lease and non-lease components and expense variable payments as rent/lease expense in the period incurred.
Adoption of the standard did not have an impact on the Company’s Balance Sheets, results from operations or cash flows. For required qualitative and quantitative disclosures related to leasing arrangements beginning in the period of adoption, see note 3.
Changes to the Company’s accounting policy as a result of adoption are discussed below.
The Company reviews all contracts and determines if the arrangement represents or contains a lease, at inception. Operating leases are included in Right of use assets and Lease obligations (current and long-term) in the Balance Sheets. The Company does not have any finance leases.
Operating lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. The Company uses its estimated incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any upfront lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
Fair Value Disclosure Requirements
In August 2018, ASU No. 2018-13 was issued to modify and enhance the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This update is effective in fiscal years, including interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. Adoption of this guidance is not expected to significantly impact the Company’s financial statements and note disclosures.
NOTE 3 – LEASES
On January 1, 2020, the Company recorded a new operating lease obligation of $480 arising from obtaining ROU assets. The Company leased office space under a non-cancelable operating lease with an original lease terms of 3.25 years. The lease requires monthly lease payments that are subject to annual increases throughout the lease term. The lease also includes a renewal option at the election of the Company to renew or extend the lease for an additional four years. The optional periods have not been considered in the determination of ROU assets or lease liabilities associated with the lease as management did not consider it reasonably certain it would exercise the option. The Company also leases land, however, since the non-cancelable lease terms do not exceed 12 months, these are quantified below as short-term leases and are not recorded in the Balance Sheets.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
The Company performed evaluations of its contracts and determined its identified leases are operating leases and short-term leases. No variable leases with non-cancelable terms greater than one month were identified.
Operating lease expenses are included on the Statement of Loss in General and administrative expense and Mineral property leases and include the following components for the year ended November 30, 2020:
| Operating lease cost |
$ | 143 | ||
| Variable lease cost |
— | |||
| Short-term lease cost |
618 | |||
| $ | 761 |
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of November 30, 2020, were as follows:
| 2021 |
$ | 168 | ||
| 2022 |
173 | |||
| 2023 |
58 | |||
| Total future minimum lease payments |
399 | |||
| Less: imputed interest |
(28 | ) | ||
| Total |
$ | 381 |
Other information regarding leases for the year ended November 30, 2020 includes the following:
| Cash paid for operating leases |
$ | 110 | ||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities |
$ | 480 | ||
| Weighted average remaining lease term (years) – operating leases |
2.3 | |||
| Weighted average discount rate – operating leases |
3.94 | % |
NOTE 4 – PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
| At November 30, |
||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
| Plant and equipment |
$ | 5,120 | $ | 3,389 | ||||
| Accumulated depreciation |
(2,790 | ) | (2,465 | ) | ||||
| $ | 2,330 | $ | 924 | |||||
NOTE 5 – MINERAL PROPERTY
| At November 30, |
||||||||
| 2020 |
2019 |
|||||||
| Acquisition cost |
$ | 64,000 | $ | 64,000 | ||||
| Asset retirement cost |
1,230 | 1,384 | ||||||
| $ | 65,230 | $ | 65,384 | |||||
The Donlin Gold Project is located in the Kuskokwim region of southwestern Alaska on private, Alaska Native-owned mineral and surface land and Alaska state mining claims. The property is under lease for subsurface mineral rights from Calista Corporation and surface land rights from The Kuskokwim Corporation, two Alaska Native corporations. The mineral property was jointly owned by Barrick and NOVAGOLD through an unincorporated joint venture prior to the formation of the Company. Upon formation of the Company, the mineral property contributed was recorded based on the predecessor accounting values of Barrick and NOVAGOLD. As such, mineral property includes the historic acquisition cost as the partners’ initial contribution to the Company.
DONLIN GOLD LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(U.S. dollars in thousands)
NOTE 6 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company received management and administrative services from Barrick for $1,174 in 2020, $1,210 in 2019, and $765 in 2018. The Barrick amounts are included in General and Administrative expense. The Company received engineering and administrative services from NOVAGOLD for $nil in 2020, $nil in 2019, $658 in 2018. The NOVAGOLD amount is included in Drilling, studies and engineering expense.
The Company has accounts payable to Barrick at November 30, 2020 of $171 (2019: $112) for reimbursement of management and administrative services. The Company has accounts payable to NOVAGOLD at November 30, 2020 of $6 (2019: $nil).
NOTE 7 – RECLAMATION AND REMEDIATION
Significant reclamation and closure activities include rehabilitation and decommissioning of the camp and drill sites. Although the ultimate amount or timing of reclamation costs cannot be predicted with certainty, the estimated discounted cash flows required to settle the Company’s obligations for work undertaken at the site to date is $1,230. During the year, the reclamation model was updated resulting in a change in cash flows of ($154). The estimated cash flows are assumed to commence in five years from the balance sheet date.
NOTE 8 – MINERAL PROPERTY LEASES
The Company leases certain assets, such as mineral property leases, that are an exception to applying lease accounting under ASC 842. These mineral property leases coincide with the currently projected Donlin Gold mine life, with provisions for a further extension, should production continue beyond that. Future minimum annual mineral property lease payments are $2,426 in 2021, $2,426 in 2022, $2,426 in 2023, $2,426 in 2024, and $3,426 in 2025 totaling $13,130.
Exhibit 4.1
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The common shares of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (the “Common Shares”) are its only class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
The following description of our Common Shares is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Notice of Articles and Articles, as amended, which are attached as exhibits to the Annual Report on Form 10-K. We are incorporated in the Province of British Columbia, Canada and are subject to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000,000 Common Shares without par value.
Holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive notice of and to attend any meetings of shareholders of the Company and at any meetings of shareholders to cast one vote for each Common Share held. Holders of Common Shares do not have cumulative voting rights. A simple majority of votes cast on a resolution is required to pass an ordinary resolution; however, if the resolution is a special resolution two-thirds of the votes cast on the special resolution are required to pass it. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by the board of directors of the Company at its discretion from funds legally available therefor and to receive a pro rata share of the assets of the Company available for distribution to the shareholders in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company after payment of debts and other liabilities, in each case subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to any other series or class of shares ranking senior in priority to or on a pro-rata basis with the holders of Common Shares with respect to dividends or liquidation. There are no pre-emptive, subscription, conversion or redemption rights attached to the Common Shares nor do they contain any sinking or purchase fund provisions. For a discussion of certain tax matters, see “Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Residents” and “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders” in the Form 10-K under Part II. Item 5. Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters And Issuer Purchases Of Equity Securities.
Exhibit 21.1
Subsidiaries of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC.
|
Name of Subsidiary |
Jurisdiction of Organization |
|
NOVAGOLD Resources (Bermuda) Limited (100% owned by NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC.) |
Bermuda |
|
NOVAGOLD (Bermuda) Alaska Limited (100% owned by NOVAGOLD Resources (Bermuda) Limited) |
Bermuda |
|
NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc. (100% Preferred Stock owned by NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. and 100% Common Stock owned by NOVAGOLD (Bermuda) Alaska Limited) |
Delaware |
|
NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc. (100% owned by NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc.) |
Alaska |
|
Donlin Gold LLC (50% owned by NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc.) |
Alaska |
|
NOVAGOLD USA, Inc. (100% owned by NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc.) |
Delaware |
|
AGC Resources Inc. (100% owned by NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc.) |
Delaware |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-117370, No. 333-134871, No. 333-136493, No. 333-164083, No. 333-171630, No. 333-197648, and No. 333-239776) of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. of our report dated January 27, 2021 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and our report dated January 20, 2021 relating to Donlin Gold LLC’s financial statements, all of which appear in this Form 10-K.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Professional Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
January 27, 2021
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF KIRK HANSON
I consent to the inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of NovaGold Resources Inc., which is being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, of references to my name and to the use of the technical report titled “Donlin Creek Gold Project, Alaska, USA, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study” effective November 18, 2011, amended January 20, 2012 (the “Technical Report”).
I also consent to the incorporation by reference in NovaGold Resources Inc.’s registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-117370; 333-134871; 333-136493; 333-164083; 333-171630, 333-197648 and 333-239776) of the references to my name and the use of the Technical Report and the information derived from the Technical Report which are included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Dated this 27th day of January, 2021
/s/ Kirk Hanson
Kirk Hanson, P.E.
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF WOOD CANADA LIMITED
I, Greg Gosson, on behalf of Wood Canada Limited (“Wood”), consent to the inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of NovaGold Resources Inc., which is being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, of references to Wood’s name and to the use of the technical report titled “Donlin Creek Gold Project, Alaska, USA, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study” effective November 18, 2011, amended January 20, 2012 (the “Technical Report”), and the information derived from the Technical Report.
I also consent to the incorporation by reference in NovaGold Resources Inc.’s registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-117370; 333-134871; 333-136493; 333-164083; 333-171630, 333-197648 and 333-239776) of the references to Wood’s name and the use of the Technical Report and the information derived from the Technical Report which are included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Dated this 27th day of January, 2021
On behalf of Wood Canada Limited
By: /s/ Greg Gosson
Name: Greg Gosson
Title: Technical Director, Geology & Compliance
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF CLIFFORD KRALL
I consent to the inclusion in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc., which is being filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, of references to my name and to the use of the scientific and technical information related to the Donlin Gold project since the issuance of the technical report filed on January 23, 2012 (the “Technical Information”).
I also consent to the incorporation by reference in NOVAGOLD Resources Inc.’s registration statements on Form S-8 (Nos. 333-117370; 333-134871; 333-136493; 333-164083; 333-171630, 333-197648 and 333-239776) of the references to my name and the use of the Technical Information included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Dated this 27th day of January, 2021
/s/ Clifford Krall
Clifford Krall, P.E.
Exhibit 31.1
|
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
|
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE |
|
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
I, Gregory A. Lang, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/ Gregory A. Lang
Gregory A. Lang
Date: January 27, 2021 Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 31.2
|
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
|
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE |
|
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
I, David A. Ottewell, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
By: /s/ David A. Ottewell
David A. Ottewell
Date: January 27, 2021 Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 32.1
|
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO |
|
18 U.S.C. §1350, |
|
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO |
|
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 |
In connection with the Annual Report of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Gregory A. Lang, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: January 27, 2021 By: /s/ Gregory A. Lang
Gregory A. Lang
President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 32.2
|
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO |
|
18 U.S.C. §1350, |
|
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO |
|
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 |
In connection with the Annual Report of NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David A. Ottewell, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: January 27, 2021 By: /s/ David A. Ottewell
David A. Ottewell
Chief Financial Officer