NOVAGOLD Responds to Inaccurate Report from Short-Selling Firm
NYSE AMERICAN, TSX: NG
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NOVAGOLD Responds to Inaccurate Report from Short-Selling Firm
May 29, 2020 - Vancouver, British Columbia – NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (“NOVAGOLD” or “the Company”)
(NYSE American, TSX: NG) responds to a misleading report issued on May 28, 2020 by the Beijing- based short seller J
Capital Research. The Company is currently reviewing the report in detail and will provide a more fulsome response to
the numerous inaccuracies and falsehoods contained in the report.
“Under normal circumstances, a sloppy and truly meretricious report from a firm about which we know nothing
would not be met by a corporate response,” said Dr. Thomas Kaplan, Chairman of the Board. “This is especially so as
the firm that released it has not reached out to us to fact check their contentions. It is an odd data point indeed that J
Capital Research at no time sought to engage with NOVAGOLD or its partners to clarify the false assumptions it used
regarding the Donlin Gold project economics.
Nonetheless, as NOVAGOLD’s management is firmly committed to transparency, and has always welcomed every
enquiry from investors and analysts with diligence, we feel it is wise to let our shareholders know that a proper
response to the report shall be forthcoming. Despite the report’s clearly disingenuous intent to manipulate and not
educate, we intend to deal with issues raised in this report with the same degree of alacrity as we would any well-
meaning enquiry.
Shorting a cash-rich company with an exceptional asset and intelligent long-term investor base is an iffy proposition
at the best of times unless it is for a quick trade. As gold rises and sophisticated investors seek “extraordinary leverage
to gold in a place that they can keep it”, it is likely to prove to be an unrewarding exercise to short a Company with an
asset that is unique in terms of its excellent combination of size, grade, production profile, exploration potential,
mine life, pro forma operating costs and, of course, jurisdictional safety.
NOVAGOLD has kept its promises over the eight years since Greg Lang and I assumed leadership and positioned the
Company to be one of the premier vehicles for gold investors in our space. We believe that our shareholders are far
too well-informed and knowledgeable about our Donlin Gold project, our integrity, and competence to take this
report seriously.”
About NOVAGOLD
NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company focused on the development of its 50% -owned Donlin Gold
project in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world. With approximately 39 million ounces of gold in
the measured and indicated mineral resource categories, inclusive of proven and probable mineral reserves (541
million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.24 grams per tonne in the measured and indicated resource
categories on a 100% basis),1 Donlin Gold is regarded to be one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective
known open pit gold deposits in the world. According to the Second Updated Feasibility Study (as defined below),
once in production, Donlin Gold is expected to produce an average of more than one million ounces per year over a
27-year mine life on a 100% basis. The Donlin Gold project has substantial exploration potential beyond the designed
footprint which currently covers three kilometers of an approximately eight -kilometer long gold-bearing trend.
Current activities at Donlin Gold are focused on state permitting, optimization work, community outreach an d
workforce development in preparation for the construction and operation of this project. With a strong balance
sheet, NOVAGOLD is well-positioned to fund its share of permitting and optimization advancement efforts at the
Donlin Gold project.
Scientific and Technical Information
Some scientific and technical information contained herein with respect to the Donlin Gold project is derived from the
“Donlin Creek Gold Project Alaska, USA NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study” prepared by
AMEC with an effective date of November 18, 2011, as amended January 20, 2012 (the “Second Updated Feasibility
1 Donlin Gold data as per the Second Updated Feasibility Study (as defined herein). Donlin Gold measured resources of approximately 8 Mt
grading 2.52 g/t and indicated resources of approximately 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, each on a 100% basis and inclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral
resources have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101.
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Study”). Kirk Hanson, P.E., Technical Director, Open Pit Mining, North America, (AMEC, Reno), and Gordon Seibel, R.M.
SME, Principal Geologist, (AMEC, Reno) are the Qualified Persons responsible for the preparation of the independent
technical report, each of whom are independent “qualified persons” as defined by NI 43- 101.
Clifford Krall, P.E., who is the Mine Engineering Manager for NOVAGOLD and a “qualified person” u nder
NI 43-101, has approved and verified the scientific and technical information related to the Donlin Gold project
contained in this press release.
NOVAGOLD Contacts:
Mélanie Hennessey
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Jason Mercier
Manager, Investor Relations
604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively “forward-looking statements”) within the
meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, and similar
expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, “would” or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements
are necessarily based on several opinions, estimates and assumptions that management of NOVAGOLD considered appropriate and reasonable as of the
date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results,
activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding
the response of the Company to the J Capital report; the potential development and construction of Donlin Gold; the sufficiency of funds to continue to
advance development of Donlin Gold; perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and resource estimates; and future share price performance of
NOVAGOLD. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent NOVAGOLD’s management expectations,
estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the need to obtain additional permits and governmental
approvals; the timing and likelihood of permits; the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt
and capital markets; the outbreak of the coronavirus global pandemic (COVID-19); uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drill results and geological
tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for continued cooperation between NOVAGOLD and Barrick Gold Corp. for the continued
exploration, and development and eventual construction of the Donlin Gold property; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups
in the development and operation of properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, disease
pandemics, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates;
unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency
exchange rates; whether a positive construction decision will be made regarding Donlin Gold or Galore Creek; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in
NOVAGOLD’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the "Risk Factors" sections of those reports and other documents filed by NOVAGOLD
with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at
www.novagold.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the beliefs,
opinions and projections of NOVAGOLD on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements
of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors
This press release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S.
securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this press release have been prepared 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”). NI 43-
101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and
technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Industry Guide 7 (“SEC Industry Guide 7”), and resource and reserve information contained herein may not be
comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. NOVAGOLD’s disclosure concerning Reserve & Resources Estimates remains consistent with
NI 43-101. Under SEC Industry Guide 7, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve” unless the determination has been made that the mineralization
could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. SEC Industry Guide 7 normally does not permit the
inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources”, "indicated mineral resources” or "inferred mineral resources” or other descriptions of the
amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves” under SEC Industry Guide 7 in documents filed with the SEC. Investors should
also understand that "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, estimated "inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare
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cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces” in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to
report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves” under SEC Industry Guide 7 as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The
requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves” are also not the same as those of SEC Industry Guide 7, and reserves reported by NOVAGOLD in
compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves” under SEC Industry Guide 7. Donlin Gold does not have known reserves, as defined under SEC
Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies
that report in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7.
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. The
New Final Rule provides that SEC Industry Guide 7 will remain effective until all registrants are required to comply with the New Final Rule, at which time
SEC Industry Guide 7 will be rescinded. 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.