Novo Reports Q1 2022 Financial Results
Suite 880, 580 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 3B6
P: +1-416-543-3120 E: [email protected] www.novoresources.com
MAY 13, 2022
NOVO REPORTS Q1 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS
VANCOUVER, BC - Novo Resources Corp. (“Novo” or the “Company”) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF)
is pleased to announce its financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022. All amounts are expressed
in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.
This news release should be read together with Novo’s management’s discussion and analysis ( the “MD&A”) and
condensed interim consolidated financial statements (the “Financial Statements”) for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2022 (“Q1 2022”) which are available under Novo’s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Highlights
• Revenue of $31.9 million from the sale of 13,364 ounces of gold from the Company’s Beatons Creek gold project
(the “Beatons Creek Project”) in Q1 2022 at an average realized price1 of $2,389 / A$2,604/ US$1,887 per ounce
• Cash and cash equivalents of $21.9 million as at March 31, 2022
• Investment portfolio balance of $135.2 million2 as at March 31, 2022, which included a 9.13% undiluted stake in
New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV: NFG) (“New Found”) worth $113.9 million. Subsequent to March 31, 2022, Novo
agreed to sell its stake in New Found for gross proceeds of C$125.9 million3
• Continuing focus on high-priority exploration targets, with exploration spend of $4.0 million
• $4.1 million was invested in capital projects during Q1 2022, including $2.1 million on the Beatons Creek Project
Fresh drill-out and feasibility study4 which is expected to be completed in Q3 2022
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA”)1 of $ (2.4) million and adjusted
EBITDA1 of $(3.1) million
• Total cash costs1 of $2,195 / A$2,392 / US$1,733 per ounce sold and all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”)1 of $2,842 /
A$3,097 / US$2,244 per ounce sold
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1 Non-IFRS measure; the definitions and reconciliations of these measures are included under “Non-IFRS Measures” below.
2 Novo’s ability to dispose of its investments is subject to certain thresholds under the Sprott Facility (as defined below) . Please refer to the MD&A which is available under Novo’s profile on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com. Novo’s investment in New Found Gold Corp. is subject to escrow requirements pursuant to National Instrument 46-201 Escrow for Initial Public Offerings. The value of Novo’s holdings
in Elementum 3D, Inc. (“ E3D”) is based on E3D’s most recent financing price of US$8.00 per unit comprised of one common share and one -half of one common share purchase warrant. Except for its
investment in E3D and warrant holdings, the fair value of Novo’s investments is based on closing prices of its investments and relevant foreign exchanges rate as at March 31, 2022.
3 Refer to the Company’s news release dated April 12, 2022 and April 27, 2022. Pricing of the 2nd tranche if subject to section 4.2 of National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids.
4 Refer to the Company’s news releases dated December 13, 2021 and April 7, 2022.
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Financial Highlights
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
Gold sold Oz Au 13,364 3,497
Average realized price1 $/oz 2,389 2,205
Average realized price1 AUD$/oz 2,604 2,254
Average realized price1 USD$/oz 1,887 1,742
Total revenue $ 31,875 7,718
Cost of goods sold $ (37,375) (7,718)
Net (loss) / income from operations $ (8,039) 4,447
Other income / (expenses), net $ 670 (1,903)
Finance items $ (64) (1,424)
Net (loss) / profit for the period after tax $ (12,933) 1,120
Basic and diluted profit / (loss) per common share $/share (0.05) 0.00
EBITDA1 $ (2,440) 6,208
Adjusted EBITDA1 $ (3,110) 8,111
Adjusted (loss) / earnings1 $ (13,603) (11,917)
Adjusted (loss) / earnings per common share1 $/share (0.06) (0.05)
Total cash costs1 $/oz 2,195 1,223
Total cash costs1 AUD$/oz 2,392 1,251
Total cash costs1 USD$/oz 1,733 966
AISC1 $/oz 2,842 3,429
AISC1 AUD$/oz 3,097 3,505
AISC1 USD$/oz 2,244 2,708
Novo generated revenue of $31.9 million from the sale of 13,364 ounces of gold at an average realized price1 of $2,389 /
A$2,604 / US$1,887 per ounce . 394,382 tonnes of mineralized material were processed through the Golden Eagle
processing facility (the “Golden Eagle Plant”) equating to an annual processing rate of approximately 1.6 million tonnes
per annum. Processed material had a n average head grade of 1.15 g/t Au with average recovery of 91.4% resulting in
13,378 ounces of gold produced in Q1 20225.
The Company generated a net loss of $(12.9) million or $(0.05) per share.
EBITDA1 totaled $(2.4) million Q1 2022, and adjusted EBITDA1 totaled $(3.1) million.
Total cash costs1 were $2,195 / A$2,392 / US$1,733. AISC1 was $2,842 / A$3,097 / US$2,244. Total cash costs1 and AISC1
are heavily influenced by the number of ounces of gold sold and are higher than anticipated due to, among other things,
a lower production base than originally forecast.
Adjusted earnings (losses)1 were $(13.6) million or $(0.06) per share. Adjustments to net earnings (losses) for the period
include minor non -operational income, non -cash foreign exchange gains , and non-cash gains resulting from the
movement in the fair value of certain marketable securities.
The Company is committed to aggressively advancing its highly prospective exploration portfolio and devoted
$4.0 million to such efforts. In addition, the Company is advancing the Beatons Creek project Fresh feasibility study and
incurred $2.1 million through Q1 2022, with an expected completion date in Q3 20224.
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5 Refer to the Company’s news release dated April 7, 2022.
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Financial Position
In thousands of CAD, March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
except where noted $'000 $'000 $'000
Cash 21,783 32,345 40,494
Short-term investments 155 108 195
Working capital1 105,063 3,925 14,071
Sprott Facility adjusted working capital (USD)1 105,237 23,332 25,089
Marketable securities1 135,164 156,209 18,770
Available liquidity1 99,136 102,868 59,623
Total assets 427,017 462,682 456,408
Current liabilities excluding current portion of financial liabilities 18,813 19,805 12,083
Non-current liabilities excluding non-current portion of financial liabilities 35,721 36,342 28,615
Financial liabilities (current and non-current) 72,635 75,608 86,271
Total liabilities 139,665 148,420 126,969
Shareholders' equity 287,352 314,262 329,439
The Company held cash and cash equivalents of $ 21.9 million, with a working capital 1 balance of $ 105.1 million. The
Company’s 9.13% undiluted stake in New Found was reclassified as a current asset as at March 31, 2022 pursuant to sale
plans which culminated in the agreement to sell the New Found investment in early April 20223.
Ordinary course accounts payable and accrued liabilities totaled $14.5 million, representing a $1.5 million decrease from
December 31, 2022 and an additional $1.1 million increase from Septe mber 30, 2021. Additional amounts include $1.4
million in employee entitlements, and a $3.0 million accrual representing the Company’s current estimate of Western
Australian stamp duty payable on the acquisition of Millennium Minerals Limited (“ Millennium”) in 2020 6 which is
currently being reviewed by the Western Australian Department of Finance and is expected to be confirmed and paid
within 12 months.
The farmin and joint venture arrangement (the “ Agreement”) over the Company’s Egina project with Sumitomo
Corporation of Tokyo, Japan (“Sumitomo”) was recognized as a set of financial liabilities due to the Company’s obligation
to reimburse Sumitomo for exploration expenditure funded throughout the tenure of the Agreement if Sumitomo didn’t
elect to form a joint venture with the Company prior to the expiry of the Agreement. This liability is fair valued on a
quarterly basis. The aggregate fair value of the liabilities decreased from $6.9 million as at December 31, 2021 to $4.7
million as at March 31, 2022 . Subsequent to March 31, 2022, Sumitomo elected to convert its interest under the
Agreement, and Novo elected to reimburse Sumitomo through the issuance of 3,382,550 common shares 7 with a fair
value of $3.2 million based on the Company’s closing price on April 21, 2022 of $0.96 as compared to Sumitomo’s
aggregate funding of A$7.8 million (approximately $7.2 million) through April 21, 2022.
Current and non -current l ease liabilities represent the amortized cost of various contractual obligations which are
recognized pursuant to IFRS 16 Leases. The amortized cost of such contractual obligations, which include s (but is not
limited to ) the fixed cost component of the Company’s mining contract and the minimum monthly PhotonAssay
guarantee under the Company’s contract with Intertek 8, represents the discounted present value of contractual
obligations over the life of each contract and is offset to a certain extent by right of use non-current assets. Importantly,
these liabilities represent obligations which are due over time and decrease over the life of each contract as contractual
provisions are delivered and utilized.
Deferred tax liabilities represent the Company’s estimate of capital gains tax payable on the fair value of the Company’s
marketable securities, including the investment in New Found. This amount represents the best estimate of capital gains
tax that would be payable if the Company liquidated its investments.
The Company’s rehabilitation provision of $35.7 million represents the discounted present value of the aggregate
rehabilitation provision on the Beatons Creek Project and the rehabilitation provision inherited pursuant to the
acquisition of Millennium6. Amounts are expected to be incurred between 2026 and 2036 based on current life of mine
models, starting after mining has completed at the Beatons Creek Project.
The senior secured credit facility with Sprott Private Resource Lending II (Collector), LP (the “Sprott Facility”) remains
fully drawn at USD$40 million. Interest accrues on the outstanding principal amount of the Sprott Facility at a rate of 8%
per annum plus the greater of (i) US three-month LIBOR and (ii) 1.00%. All interest is payable in cash on a monthly basis.
As at Marc h 31, 2022, p rincipal is contractually repayable commencing December 2022 and quarterly thereafter until
6 Refer to the Company’s news releases dated August 4, 2020 and September 8, 2020.
7 Refer to the Company’s news release dated April 21, 2022.
8 Refer to the Company’s news release dated May 18, 2021.
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September 2024 in eight equal instalments, resulting in the recognition of $12.5 million as current liabilities to reflect the
fact that two principal payments are contracted to be made within the 12 months subsequent to March 31, 2022 . The
availability of the Sprott Facility is subject to certai n conditions and covenants, including the maintenance of minimum
unrestricted cash and working capital balances after certain adjustments. These covenants were recently adjusted as a
result of the Company’s sale of its New Found investment 3. As at March 31, 2022 and the date of this news release, the
Company is in compliance with Sprott Facility conditions and covenants, as amended or waived.
Outlook
The Company reiterates its previous production forecast for the first half of 2022 of 27 koz – 30 koz Au5 assuming receipt
of requisite approvals and ability to manage any further impact to operations from COVID-19.
Non-IFRS Measures
Certain non -IFRS measures have been included in this news release . The Company believes that these measures, in
addition to measures prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), provide readers
with an improved ability to evaluate its underlying performance and to compare it to information reported by other
companies. The non -IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have
any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented
by other companies.
Average Realized Price
The Company uses the average realized price per ounce of gold sold to better understand the gold price and, once
applicable, cash margin realized throughout a period.
Average realized price is calculated as revenue from contracts with customers plus trea tment and refinery charges
included in dore revenue less silver revenue divided by gold ounces sold.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
Revenue from contracts with customers $ 31,875 7,718
Treatment and refining charges $ 106 13
Less: Silver revenue (Note 17 of the Financial Statements) $ (54) (19)
Gold revenue $ 31,927 7,712
Gold sold oz 13,364 3,497
Average realized price $/oz 2,389 2,205
Foreign exchange rate CAD:AUD 1.0898 1.0223
Average realized price AUD$/oz 2,604 2,254
Foreign exchange rate CAD:USD 0.7898 0.7899
Average realized price USD$/oz 1,887 1,742
Total Cash Costs
The Company reports total cash costs on a per gold ounce sold basis. In addition to measures prepared in accordance
with IFRS, such as revenue, the Company believes this information can be used to evaluate its performance and ability to
generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. The Company uses this metric to monitor
operating cost performance.
Total cash costs include cost of sales such as mining, processing, mine general and administrative costs, royalties, selling
costs, and changes in inventories less non -cash depreciation and depletion, write -down of inventories and site share -
based payments where applicable, and silver revenue divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at total cash costs per ounce
of gold sold.
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The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
Gold sold Oz Au 13,364 3,497
Total cash cost reconciliation
Cost of sales $ 37,375 7,718
Less: Depreciation and depletion* $ (7,989) (3,421)
Less: Silver Revenue (Note 17 of the Financial Statements) $ (54) (19)
Total cash costs $ 29,332 4,278
Cash costs per oz of gold sold $/oz 2,195 1,223
Foreign exchange rate CAD:AUD 1.0898 1.0223
Cash costs per oz of gold sold AUD$/oz 2,392 1,251
Foreign exchange rate CAD:USD 0.7898 0.7899
Cash costs per oz of gold sold USD$/oz 1,733 966
*Depreciation and depletion are reconciled to aggregate depreciation and depletion in the operating adjustments in the condensed
interim consolidated statements of cash flows in the Financial Statements.
All-in Sustaining Costs
The Company believes that AISC more fully defines the to tal costs associated with producing gold. AISC is calculated
based on the definitions published by the World Gold Council (“ WGC”). The WGC is not a regulatory organization. The
Company calculates AISC as the sum of total cash costs (as described above), su staining capital expenditures (excluding
significant projects considered expansionary in nature), accretion on decommissioning and restoration provisions,
treatment and refinery charges, payments on lease obligations , site share -based payments where applicable, and
corporate administrative costs less any share -based payments directly attributable to exploration and non -operating
payments on lease obligations, all divided by gold ounces sold during the period to arrive at a per ounce amount.
Other companies may calculate this measure differently as a result of differences in underlying principles and policies
applied. Differences may also arise due to a different definition of sustaining versus expansion capital.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
Gold sold Oz Au 13,364 3,497
All-in sustaining cost reconciliation
Total cash costs $ 29,332 4,278
Sustaining capital expenditures $ 1,930 -
Accretion on rehabilitation provision (Note 21 of the Financial Statements) $ 146 68
Treatment and refinery charges $ 106 13
Payments on lease obligations (Note 13 of the Financial Statements) $ 2,786 2,208
Less: non-operating payments on lease obligations* $ (112) (154)
Site share-based compensation $ - -
Corporate administrative costs (Note 19 of the Financial Statements) $ 4,001 7,645
Less: exploration share-based payments** $ (213) (2,068)
Total all-in sustaining costs $ 37,976 11,990
AISC per oz of gold sold $/oz 2,842 3,429
Foreign exchange rate CAD:AUD 1.0898 1.0223
AISC per oz of gold sold AUD$/oz 3,097 3,505
Foreign exchange rate CAD:USD 0.7898 0.7899
AISC per oz of gold sold USD$/oz 2,244 2,708
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*The non-operating payments on lease obligations adjustment includes lease amounts which are not directly related to the Company’s ope rations
at the Beatons Creek Project. This figure is not separately disclosed in the Financial Statements.
**Share-based payment expenses directly attributable to the Company’s exploration staff are excluded from the calculation of AISC. This figure is
not separately disclosed in the Financial Statements and is a subset of the share -based payments expense outlined in Note 19 of the Financial
Statements.
EBITDA
The Company uses EBITDA to better understand its ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund
working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures.
EBITDA is defined as net earnings before interest and finance expense/income, current and deferred income tax expenses
and depreciation and depletion. EBITDA is also adjusted for non-recurring transactions such as the change in fair value of
derivative instruments, foreign exchanges gains and losses, gains and losses on the disposal of assets, impairment, and
other income.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
$'000 $'000
Net (loss) / profit for the period (12,933) 1,120
Interest and finance expense 2,514 1,676
Interest and finance income (10) (9)
Current income tax expense / (income) - -
Deferred income tax expense - -
Depreciation and depletion* 7,989 3,421
EBITDA (2,440) 6,208
Other (income) / expenses (Note 22 of the Financial Statements) (670) 1,903
Adjusted EBITDA (3,110) 8,111
*Depreciation and depletion is reconciled to aggregate depreciation and depletion in the operating adjustments in the
consolidated statements of cash flows in the Audited Financial Statements.
Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share
The Company uses adjusted earnings and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share to measure its underlying
operating and financial performance.
Adjusted earnings are defined as net earnings adjusted to exclude specific items that are significant, but not reflective of
the Company’s underlying operations, including: foreign exchange (gain) loss, (gain) loss on financial instruments at fair
value, impairment, and non -recurring gains and losses on treatment of marketable securities, sale of exploration and
evaluation assets, and associated tax impacts. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated using the
weighted average number of shares outstanding under the basic and diluted method of earnings per share as determined
under IFRS.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, For the three months ended
except where noted March 31, 2022 March 31, 2021
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 245,939,504 231,144,281
Adjusted earnings and adjusted basic earnings per share reconciliation
Net earnings / (loss) for the period $ (12,933) 1,120
Adjusted for:
Other (income) / expenses (Note 22 of the Financial Statements) $ (670) 1,903
Profit on disposal of exploration asset $ - (14,940)
Adjusted earnings $ (13,603) (11,917)
Adjusted basic earnings per share $ (0.06) (0.05)
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Available Liquidity
The Company believes that available liquidity provides an accurate measure of the Company’s ability to liquidate assets
in order to satisfy its liabilities. The Company uses this metric to help monitor its risk profile.
Available liquidity includes cash, short-term investments, and assets which are readily saleable within the next 12 months,
including gold in circuit and stockpiles, receivables, marketable securities (to the extent that an established market exists
for such marketable securities, they are free of any long-term trading restrictions, and sufficient historical volume exists
to liquidate holdings within 12 months), and gold specimens. The market value of certain marketable securities has been
used in the calculation of available liquidity which may not reconcile to the accounting treatment of such marketable
securities. Refer to the MD&A and Notes 5 and 10 of the Financial Statements.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
$'000 $'000
Cash 21,783 32,345
Short-term investments 155 108
Gold in circuit 1,434 788
Stockpiles 3,321 4,732
Receivables 5,188 6,127
Marketable securities 67,178 58,691
Gold specimens 77 77
Available liquidity 99,136 102,868
March 31, 2022
# of shares Share price Foreign exchange
Adjusted value
$'000
Kalamazoo Resources Limited Ordinary Shares 10,000,000 $0.35 0.936 3,230
GBM Resources Ltd Ordinary Shares 11,363,637 $0.13 0.936 1,331
New Found Gold Corp Common Shares * 8,250,000 $7.59 1 62,618
67,178
*Some of t he Company’s New Found shares remain subject to escrow restrictions pursuant to National Instrument 46 -201 Escrow for Initial Public
Offerings. As at March 31, 2022, 8,250,000 of the Company’s 15,000,000 New Found shares had been released from escrow. The Company’s remaining
6,750,000 New Found shares will be released from escrow semi -annually, with 2,250,000 New Found Shares being released in February and August of
each year.
December 31, 2021
# of shares Share price Foreign exchange
Adjusted value
$'000
Kalamazoo Resources Limited Ordinary Shares 10,000,000 $0.38 0.942 3,579
GBM Resources Ltd Ordinary Shares 11,363,637 $0.12 0.942 1,232
New Found Gold Corp Common Shares * 6,000,000 $8.98 1 53,880
58,691
Working Capital
Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities and is used to monitor the Company’s liquidity.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
$'000 $'000
Current assets 152,064 49,385
Current liabilities 47,001 45,460
Working capital 105,063 3,925
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Sprott Facility Adjusted Working Capital
Sprott Facility adjusted working capital is a derivation of working capital with a series of adjustments as permitted
pursuant to the Sprott Facility. The Company uses Sprott Facility adjusted working capital to monitor its compliance
against certain covenants within the Sprott Facility.
The following table reconciles this non -IFRS measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure disclosed in the
Financial Statements and MD&A.
In thousands of CAD, except where
noted
March 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
$'000 $'000
Working capital $ 105,063 3,925
Credit Facility (current) $ 12,496 6,339
Lease liabilities (current) $ 11,015 12,453
Sumitomo funding liability $ 3,575 5,780
Sumitomo written call option $ 1,102 1,083
Sprott Facility working capital $ 133,251 29,580
Foreign exchange rate CAD:USD 0.7898 0.7888
Sprott Facility working capital USD$ 105,237 23,332
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
The decision by the Company to produce at the Beatons Creek Project was not based on a feasibility study of mineral
reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and, as a result, there is an increased uncertainty of achieving
any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including in creased risks associated with
developing a commercially mineable deposit. Production has not achieved forecast to date. Historically, such projects
have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that anticipated production costs will
be achieved. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company’s
cash flow and future profitability.
The Company cautions that its declaration of commercial production effective October 1, 2 0219 only indicates that the
Beatons Creek project was operating at anticipated and sustainable levels and it does not indicate that economic results
will be realized.
QP STATEMENT
Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified person, as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained
in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is the non-executive co-chairman and a director of Novo.
ABOUT NOVO
Novo operates its flagship Beatons Creek Project while exploring and developing its prospective land package covering
approximately 12,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition to the Company’s primary
focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders.
For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail [email protected].
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Novo Resources Corp.
“Michael Spreadborough”
Michael Spreadborough
Executive Co-Chairman
Forward-looking information
Some statements in this news release contain forward -looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities
legislation) including, without limitation, production forecast for the first half of 2022 . These statements address future
9 Refer to the Company’s news release dated October 12, 2021.