NovaGold Resources Inc.
Consolidated Financial Statements
February 28, 2010
(Unaudited)
Table of Contents
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
1 | Q1-2010 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets – Unaudited
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||||
Three months ended | Year ended | |||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
Assets | ||||||
Current assets | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | 17,858 | 38,180 | ||||
Accounts receivable | 1,192 | 942 | ||||
Inventory | 438 | - | ||||
Deposits and prepaid amounts | 2,037 | 2,154 | ||||
21,525 | 41,276 | |||||
Accounts receivable | 130 | 130 | ||||
Land | 1,892 | 1,892 | ||||
Inventories(note 4) | 15,050 | 15,547 | ||||
Property, plant and equipment(note 5) | 454,184 | 454,271 | ||||
Mineral properties, rights and development costs(note 6) | 275,128 | 247,130 | ||||
Investments(note 7) | 5,243 | 4,287 | ||||
Investment tax credits | 3,393 | 3,393 | ||||
Reclamation deposits | 13,304 | 13,326 | ||||
789,849 | 781,252 | |||||
Liabilities | ||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 9,381 | 13,132 | ||||
Current portion of long-term liabilities (note 6(a)) | 13,578 | 1,565 | ||||
22,959 | 14,697 | |||||
Long-term liabilities | ||||||
Promissory note (note 7(b)) | 62,162 | 61,532 | ||||
Convertible notes (note 8) | 59,584 | 58,553 | ||||
Capital lease obligations | 976 | 1,148 | ||||
Asset retirement obligations | 20,812 | 20,730 | ||||
Future income taxes | 8,379 | 8,524 | ||||
Other liabilities (note 6(a)) | 11,114 | 249 | ||||
185,986 | 165,433 | |||||
Non-controlling interest(note 3) | 292,552 | 293,247 | ||||
Shareholders’ equity | ||||||
Share capital (note 9) | 883,970 | 878,086 | ||||
Equity component of convertible notes (note 8) | 43,352 | 43,352 | ||||
Contributed surplus | 9,994 | 9,994 | ||||
Stock-based compensation (note 9) | 33,641 | 31,838 | ||||
Warrants (note 9) | 30,975 | 31,065 | ||||
Deficit | (690,975 | ) | (672,258 | ) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 354 | 495 | ||||
311,311 | 322,572 | |||||
789,849 | 781,252 | |||||
Nature of operations(note 1) | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies(note 12) |
(See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)
/S/ RICK VAN NIEUWENHUYSE | Director | /S/ JAMES PHILIP | Director |
Approved by the Board of Directors |
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 2 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Deficit – Unaudited
in thousands of Canadian dollars, | ||||||
except for per share and share amounts | ||||||
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||
February 28, 2010 | February 28, 2009 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
Revenue | ||||||
Land, gravel, gold and other revenue | 26 | 348 | ||||
Interest income | 85 | 98 | ||||
111 | 446 | |||||
Cost of sales | 40 | 24 | ||||
71 | 422 | |||||
Expenses | ||||||
Corporate development and communication | 217 | 67 | ||||
Exploration | 2,706 | 6,392 | ||||
Foreign exchange loss | 121 | 4,529 | ||||
General and administrative | 858 | 1,256 | ||||
Interest and accretion | 3,661 | 8,231 | ||||
Professional fees | 733 | 858 | ||||
Salaries | 1,275 | 1,115 | ||||
Salaries – stock-based compensation (note 9(c) and(d)) | 2,091 | 1,393 | ||||
Project care and maintenance | 7,876 | 8,599 | ||||
Total expenses | 19,538 | 32,440 | ||||
Loss before other items | (19,467 | ) | (32,018 | ) | ||
Other items | ||||||
Project suspension cost recovery | - | (648 | ) | |||
Non-controlling interest (note 3) | (695 | ) | (1,853 | ) | ||
(695 | ) | (2,501 | ) | |||
Loss for the period before income taxes | (18,772 | ) | (29,517 | ) | ||
Future income tax recovery | (55 | ) | (1,034 | ) | ||
Loss for the period after income taxes | (18,717 | ) | (28,483 | ) | ||
Deficit – beginning of period | (672,258 | ) | (598,894 | ) | ||
Deficit – end of period | (690,975 | ) | (627,377 | ) | ||
Loss per share | ||||||
Basic and diluted | (0.10 | ) | (0.20 | ) | ||
Weighted average number of shares (thousands) | 187,867 | 139,038 |
(See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
3 | Q1-2010 |
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Unaudited
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||||
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||
February 28, 2010 | February 28, 2009 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
Net loss for the period before other comprehensive income | (18,717 | ) | (28,483 | ) | ||
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments | (231 | ) | 123 | |||
Future income tax recovery | 90 | - | ||||
Comprehensive loss | (18,858 | ) | (28,360 | ) |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity – Unaudited
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||||
Three months ended | Year ended | |||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
Share capital | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 878,086 | 776,237 | ||||
Issued pursuant to private placement | - | 61,480 | ||||
Issued pursuant to property acquisition | 5,168 | - | ||||
Issued pursuant to stock options exercised | 377 | 1,558 | ||||
Issued pursuant to warrants exercised | 339 | 14,601 | ||||
Issued pursuant to debt conversion | - | 24,210 | ||||
Balance – end of period | 883,970 | 878,086 | ||||
Equity component of convertible notes | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 43,352 | 43,352 | ||||
Balance – end of period | 43,352 | 43,352 | ||||
Contributed surplus | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 9,994 | 9,994 | ||||
Balance – end of period | 9,994 | 9,994 | ||||
Stock-based compensation | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 31,838 | 22,223 | ||||
Stock option grants | 1,524 | 9,117 | ||||
Performance share unit grants | 656 | 1,265 | ||||
Transfer to share capital on exercise of stock options | (377 | ) | (767 | ) | ||
Balance – end of period | 33,641 | 31,838 | ||||
Warrants | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 31,065 | 1,995 | ||||
Issuance of warrants | - | 34,606 | ||||
Transfer to share capital on exercise of stock warrants | (90 | ) | (5,536 | ) | ||
Balance – end of period | 30,975 | 31,065 | ||||
Deficit | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | (672,258 | ) | (598,894 | ) | ||
Loss for the period | (18,717 | ) | (73,364 | ) | ||
Balance – end of period | (690,975 | ) | (672,258 | ) | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | ||||||
Balance – beginning of period | 495 | (418 | ) | |||
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments | (231 | ) | 1,119 | |||
Future income taxes on unrealized losses (gains) | 90 | (206 | ) | |||
Balance – end of period | 354 | 495 | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 311,311 | 322,572 |
(See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 4 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Unaudited
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||||
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||
February 28, 2010 | February 28, 2009 | |||||
$ | $ | |||||
Cash flows used in operating activities | ||||||
Loss for the period | (18,717 | ) | (28,483 | ) | ||
Items not affecting cash | ||||||
Exploration | 2,663 | 5,214 | ||||
Amortization | 62 | 73 | ||||
Interest and accretion | 3,662 | 8,231 | ||||
Future income tax recovery | (55 | ) | (1,034 | ) | ||
Foreign exchange loss (gain) | (89 | ) | 3,377 | |||
Stock-based compensation | 2,092 | 1,393 | ||||
Project suspension recovery | - | (648 | ) | |||
Non-controlling interest | (695 | ) | (1,853 | ) | ||
Net change in non-cash working capital | ||||||
Decrease (increase) in account receivables, deposits and prepaid amounts | (133 | ) | 1,509 | |||
Decrease in inventories | 59 | - | ||||
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | (5,116 | ) | (7,688 | ) | ||
Decrease in suspension costs – long term | - | (453 | ) | |||
(16,267 | ) | (20,362 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common shares – net | - | 93,320 | ||||
Proceeds from non-controlling interest | - | 7,308 | ||||
Proceeds from warrant exercises – net | 248 | 1,148 | ||||
248 | 101,776 | |||||
Cash flows used in investing activities | ||||||
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment | (163 | ) | (13,262 | ) | ||
Expenditures on mineral properties and related deferred costs – net | (559 | ) | (114 | ) | ||
Increase in reclamation deposits | - | (110 | ) | |||
Decrease in accounts receivable | - | 81 | ||||
Proceeds on sale of investments | - | 3,769 | ||||
Increase in investments | (3,582 | ) | (5,169 | ) | ||
(4,304 | ) | (14,805 | ) | |||
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period | (20,323 | ) | 66,609 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period | 38,180 | 12,224 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period | 17,857 | 78,833 | ||||
Supplemental disclosure | ||||||
Shares issued for property acquisition | 5,168 | - | ||||
Interest received | 85 | 87 | ||||
Interest paid | 7 | - | ||||
Decrease in accounts payable and liabilities related to mineral properties and property, plant and equipment | - | (15,968 | ) | |||
Bridge loan converted into shares | - | 25,178 |
(See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
5 | Q1-2010 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1 Nature of operations
NovaGold Resources Inc. (“NovaGold” or “the Company”) is a precious metals company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company has a portfolio of mineral properties located in Alaska, U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada.
The Donlin Creek project is held by a limited liability company owned equally by NovaGold and Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (“Barrick”). The Galore Creek project is held by a partnership owned equally by NovaGold and Teck Resources Limited (“Teck”).
As at February 28, 2010, the Company had a $1.4 million working capital deficiency. This liquidity issue was alleviated in March 2010 with two private placements generating gross proceeds of US$175 million to the Company (note 13).
2 Accounting policies
Basis of presentation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in Canada (“Canadian GAAP”) and include the accounts of NovaGold Resources Inc. and its material wholly-owned subsidiaries, NovaGold Canada Inc., Alaska Gold Company and NovaGold Resources Alaska, Inc. All significant inter-company transactions are eliminated on consolidation. In addition, the Company consolidates variable interest entities for which it is determined to be the primary beneficiary.
As these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not contain all of the disclosures required by Canadian GAAP for complete financial statements, they should be read in conjunction with the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2009.
The accounting policies followed by the Company are set out in note 3 to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2009, and have been consistently followed in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements.
Business Combinations
In January 2009, the CICA issued CICA Handbook Section 1582, “Business Combinations”, which replaces former guidance on business combinations. Section 1582 establishes principles and requirements of the acquisition method and related disclosures. In addition, the CICA issued Section 1601, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, and Section 1602, “Non-controlling Interests”, which replaces the existing guidance. Section 1601 establishes standards for the preparation of consolidated financial statements and Section 1602 provides guidance on accounting for non-controlling interest in a subsidiary in consolidated financial statements subsequent to a business combination. These standards apply prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after January 1, 2011, with earlier application permitted. The Company is currently evaluating these new standards to determine the potential impact on its consolidated financial statements.
3 Galore Creek Partnership
The Company determined that the Galore Creek Partnership (“Partnership”) is a variable interest entity and consequently uses the principles of AcG-15 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities to determine the accounting for its ownership interest. Management concluded that the Company is the primary beneficiary and consolidates the activities of the Galore Creek Partnership.
On November 26, 2007, the Company and Teck announced that construction activities would be suspended at the Galore Creek project in order to undertake a comprehensive review of the overall design plan when it was recognized that industry wide cost increases and an extension of the anticipated project schedule would likely result in significantly higher cost estimates for the project. At that time, the terms of Teck’s initial contribution into the Partnership were amended. Under the amended arrangements, in addition to Teck’s funding from August 1, 2007 to the year ended November 30, 2007 of $264 million, Teck’s total committed investment in the Partnership would be $403 million, including $72 million to be invested in the Partnership over the next five years principally to reassess and evaluate the project’s alternative development strategies. Excluding costs covered by Teck’s $72 million noted above, the Company and Teck agreed to share the next $100 million of project costs 33% and 67% respectively, and share project costs on a 50/50 basis thereafter.
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 6 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
3 Galore Creek Partnership(cont.)
In February 2009, the Company and Teck renegotiated the Partnership agreement to reduce the $72 million to $60 million, and from November 1, 2008 onwards Teck agreed to fund all project costs until the $60 million is fully spent. Remaining suspension-related activities, estimated at November 30, 2008 to cost approximately $1.1 million, were fully completed during the three-month period ended February 28, 2009 and funded entirely by Teck.
At February 28, 2010, Galore Creek had cash of $3.5 million. Total cash contributions to date by Teck at February 28, 2010 were $348 million and $25 million remained to be contributed for Teck to earn its 50% interest. Certain road construction equipment and facilities are being recovered and sold as the road progresses. The proceeds from the sales directly fund the project’s activities and do not reduce Teck’s required contributions.
Teck’s contributions to date have been recorded as non-controlling interest as follows.
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||
$ | $ | |||
Balance – beginning of period | 293,247 | 291,231 | ||
Contributions by Teck | - | 14,407 | ||
Teck’s share of suspension recoveries | - | 324 | ||
Teck’s share of care and maintenance costs | (695) | (7,863) | ||
Teck’s share of loss on disposal of fixed assets | - | (4,852) | ||
Balance – end of period | 292,552 | 293,247 |
4 Inventories
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||
$ | $ | |||
Supplies | 13,551 | 13,609 | ||
Stockpiled ore | 1,499 | 1,499 | ||
Gold | 438 | 439 | ||
Total inventory | 15,488 | 15,547 | ||
Current portion | 438 | - | ||
Long-term portion | 15,050 | 15,547 |
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
7 | Q1-2010 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
5 Property, plant and equipment
in thousands of Canadian dollars | |||||||||
February 28, 2010 | |||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||
Cost | amortization | Net | |||||||
$ | $ | $ | |||||||
Alaska, USA | |||||||||
Construction costs – Rock Creek | 90,519 | - | 90,519 | ||||||
Mining and milling equipment – Rock Creek | 15,342 | - | 15,342 | ||||||
Heavy machinery and equipment – Rock Creek | 2,408 | (370 | ) | 2,038 | |||||
British Columbia, Canada | |||||||||
Construction costs – Galore Creek | 318,985 | - | 318,985 | ||||||
Mobile equipment – Galore Creek | 26,651 | - | 26,651 | ||||||
Office furniture and equipment | 1,722 | (1,364 | ) | 358 | |||||
Leasehold improvements | 575 | (284 | ) | 291 | |||||
456,202 | (2,018 | ) | 454,184 |
in thousands of Canadian dollars | |||||||||
November 30, 2009 | |||||||||
Accumulated | |||||||||
Cost | amortization | Net | |||||||
$ | $ | $ | |||||||
Alaska, USA | |||||||||
Construction costs – Rock Creek | 90,519 | - | 90,519 | ||||||
Mining and milling equipment – Rock Creek | 15,342 | - | 15,342 | ||||||
Heavy machinery and equipment – Rock Creek | 2,408 | (364 | ) | 2,044 | |||||
British Columbia, Canada | |||||||||
Construction costs – Galore Creek | 318,985 | - | 318,985 | ||||||
Mobile equipment – Galore Creek | 26,651 | - | 26,651 | ||||||
Office furniture and equipment | 1,716 | (1,291 | ) | 425 | |||||
Leasehold improvements | 575 | (270 | ) | 305 | |||||
456,196 | (1,925 | ) | 454,271 |
6 Mineral properties, rights and development costs
in thousands of Canadian dollars | |||||||||
Acquisition/ | |||||||||
November 30, 2009 | Expenditures | February 28, 2010 | |||||||
$ | $ | $ | |||||||
Alaska, USA | |||||||||
Ambler (a) | - | 27,425 | 27,425 | ||||||
Rock Creek | 8,395 | 573 | 8,968 | ||||||
British Columbia, Canada | |||||||||
Galore Creek | 184,400 | 333 | 184,733 | ||||||
Power transmission rights | 54,335 | (333 | ) | 54,002 | |||||
247,130 | 27,998 | 275,128 |
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 8 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6 Mineral properties, rights and development costs(cont.)
(a) | On January 11, 2010, the Company purchased 100% of the Ambler property in northern Alaska, which hosts the copper- zinc-gold-silver Arctic deposit. As consideration, the Company issued 931,098 shares with a fair value of US$5 million (Canadian equivalent: $5.2 million) and agreed to make cash payments to the vendor of US$12 million each in January 2011 and January 2012, respectively. The vendor will retain a 1% net smelter return royalty that the Company can purchase at any time for a one-time payment of US$10 million. |
The Company used a weighted average cost of capital at 7.76% to discount above cash payments in 2011 and 2012. As of February 28, 2010, the Company recorded $12 million in current portion of long-term liabilities and $10.9 million in long-term other liabilities. |
7 Investments
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||
$ | $ | |||
Available-for-sale investments (a) | 3,207 | 3,438 | ||
Investments accounted for under the equity method | ||||
Donlin Creek LLC (b) | 2,036 | 849 | ||
Total investments | 5,243 | 4,287 |
(a) | Investments classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value (or marked-to-market) based on quoted market prices, with unrealized gains or losses excluded from earnings and reported as other comprehensive income or loss. The total cost as at February 28, 2010 was $2,785,000 (November 30, 2009: $2,785,000) and total unrealized holding gains as at February 28, 2010 was $231,000 (November 30, 2009: $495,000). The balance includes 126,625 shares in Etruscan Resources Inc. (cost: $5,000; fair value at February 28, 2010: $45,775), a company having two directors in common with the Company; 3,125,000 shares in TintinaGold Resources Inc. (cost: $916,839; fair value at February 28, 2010: $1,281,250), a company having one director and a major shareholder in common with the Company; and 3,125,000 shares in AsiaBaseMetals Inc. (cost: $645,661; fair value at February 28, 2010: $562,500), a company having one director and a major shareholder in common with the Company. |
(b) | On December 1, 2007, together with Barrick, the Company formed a limited liability company (“Donlin Creek LLC”) to advance the Donlin Creek project. The Donlin Creek LLC has a board of four directors, with two nominees selected by each company. All significant decisions related to Donlin Creek require the approval of both companies. As part of the Donlin Creek LLC agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse Barrick over time approximately US$64.3 million, representing 50% of Barrick’s approximately US$128.6 million in expenditures at the Donlin Creek project from April 1, 2006 to November 30, 2007. Reimbursement had been made by the Company paying US$12.7 million of Barrick’s share of project development costs during 2008. A promissory note for the remaining US$51.6 million plus interest at a rate of U.S. prime plus 2% will be paid out of future mine production cash flow. Both parties are currently sharing development costs on a 50/50 basis. Interest on this long-term debt is expensed. |
The Company determined that the Donlin Creek LLC is a variable interest entity and consequently used the principles of AcG-15 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities to determine the accounting for its 50% ownership interest. Manage- ment concluded that the Company is not the primary beneficiary and has accounted for its investment in the Donlin Creek LLC using the equity method of accounting. The equity method is a basis of accounting for investments whereby the investment is initially recorded at cost and the carrying value, adjusted thereafter to include the investor’s pro rata share of post-acquisition earnings of the investee, is computed by the consolidation method. Profit distributions received or receivable from an investee reduce the carrying value of the investment. |
8 Convertible notes
On March 26, 2008, the Company issued US$95.0 million (Canadian equivalent: $96.7 million) in 5.5% unsecured senior convertible notes (“Notes”) maturing on May 1, 2015, and incurred a 3.0% underwriter’s fee and other expenses aggregating $3.5 million, for net proceeds of $93.2 million. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2008. The Notes are convertible into the Company’s common shares at a fixed conversion rate of US$10.61 per common share.
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
9 | Q1-2010 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
8 Convertible notes(cont.)
A total of 8,952,971 common shares are issuable upon conversion and additional shares may become issuable following the occurrence of certain corporate acts or events. On conversion, at the Company’s election, holders of the Notes will receive cash, if applicable, or a combination of cash and shares. Holders of the Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or part of their Notes on May 1, 2013, or upon certain fundamental corporate changes, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
The Notes are classified as a liability, less the portion relating to the conversion feature ($43.4 million) which is classified as a component of shareholders’ equity. As a result, the recorded liability to repay the Notes is lower than its face value. Using the effective interest rate method and the 17.78% rate implicit in the calculation, the difference of $43.4 million, characterized as the note discount, is being capitalized to certain projects funded by this offering and charged to interest expense for projects that do not meet the criteria to capitalize, and added to the liability over the term of the Notes.
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||||
February 28, 2010 | November 30, 2009 | |||
$ | $ | |||
Beginning balance | 58,553 | 63,573 | ||
Accretion of debt discount for the period | 1,202 | 4,692 | ||
Foreign exchange revaluation | (171) | (9,712) | ||
Convertible notes | 59,584 | 58,553 | ||
Conversion right | 44,992 | 44,992 | ||
Financing costs allocated to equity component | (1,640) | (1,640) | ||
Equity component of convertible notes | 43,352 | 43,352 |
9 Share capital
Authorized
1,000,000,000 common shares, no par value
10,000,000 preferred shares issuable in one or more series
in thousands of Canadian dollars | ||
Number of shares | Ascribed value | |
(thousands) | $ | |
Balance at November 30, 2009 | 187,133 | 878,086 |
Issued in quarter | ||
Pursuant to property acquisition | 931 | 5,168 |
For cash and fair value pursuant to warrants exercise | 157 | 339 |
For cash and fair value pursuant to stock options exercise | 110 | 377 |
Balance at February 28, 2010 | 188,331 | 883,970 |
Shares held by a wholly-owned subsidiary eliminated on consolidation | 9 | |
Total issued and outstanding | 188,340 |
(a) Property acquisition
On January 11, 2010, the Company issued 931,098 shares with a fair value of US$5 million as consideration for the Ambler mineral property acquisition.
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 10 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
9 Share capital(cont.)
(b) Warrants
During the quarter, 156,880 share purchase warrants were exercised for total proceeds of $0.2 million.
(c) Stock options
The Company has a stock option plan providing for the issuance of options at a rolling maximum number that shall not be greater than 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company at any given time. The Company may grant options to its directors, officers, employees and service providers. The exercise price of each option cannot be lower than the market price of the shares at the date of the option grant. The number of shares optioned to any single optionee may not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding shares at the date of grant. The options are exercisable immediately for a maximum of five years from the date of grant or may be exercisable150/503 six months after commencement of employment,150/503 at the first anniversary date and150/503 at the second anniversary date for a maximum of five years from the date of grant. The Company recognizes compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the respective vesting period for the stock options.
During the three months ended February 28, 2010, the Company granted 1,237,100 stock options (three months ended February 28, 2009: 2,973,000). For the three months ended February 28, 2010, the Company recognized a stock-based compensation charge against income of $1.5 million for options granted to directors, employees and consultants in accordance with CICA 3870, net of forfeitures. As of February 28, 2010, there were 3,306,630 non-vested options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $5.73.
The fair value of the stock options recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and deficit has been estimated using an option pricing model. Assumptions used in the pricing model for each year are provided below.
Vesting during three | Granted during three | |
months ended | months ended | |
February 28, 2010 | February 28, 2010 | |
Average risk-free interest rate | 0.44% – 3.53% | 1.22% – 1.37% |
Expected life | 1.00 – 4.27 years | 1.00 year |
Expected volatility | 60% – 97% | 79% – 87% |
Expected dividends | Nil | Nil |
The Black-Scholes and other option pricing models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. The expected life of the options considered such factors as the average length of time similar option grants in the past have remained outstanding prior to exercise and the vesting period of the grants. Volatility was estimated based upon historical price observations over the expected term. Changes in the subjective input can materially affect the fair value estimate and therefore do not necessarily provide a reliable measure of the fair value of the Company’s stock options.
(d) Performance share units
The Company has a performance share unit (“PSU”) plan that provides for the issuance of PSUs in amounts as approved by the Company’s Compensation Committee. Each PSU entitles the participant to receive one common share of the Company at the end of a specified period set by the compensation committee if certain performance and vesting criteria have been met. The performance and vesting criteria are based on the Company’s performance relative to a representative group of other mining companies and the Toronto Stock Exchange index. The actual performance against each of these criteria generates a multiplier that varies from 0% to 150%. Thus, the shares that may be issued vary between 0% and 150% of the number of PSUs, as reduced by the amounts for recipients no longer at the Company on vesting date.
For the 504,050 PSUs granted in May 2009, a multiplier of 125% was determined based upon the Company’s actual performance in January and December 2009, resulting in 626,313 shares that will vest in May 2010.
During the three months ended February 28, 2010, the Company granted 169,800 PSUs (three months ended February 28, 2009: nil). For the three months ended February 28, 2010, the Company recognized a stock-based compensation charge against income of $0.6 million for PSUs granted to employees in accordance with CICA 3870, net of forfeitures.
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
11 | Q1-2010 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
10 Related party transactions
The Company has arms-length market based agreements to provide certain services to TintinaGold Resources Inc. (“TintinaGold”) and Alexco Resource Corp (“Alexco”). Under the agreements the services provided were $0.01 million (2009: nil) to TintinaGold, a related party having one director and a major shareholder in common with the Company, and $0.01 million (2009: $0.05 million) to Alexco, a related party having two common directors. The Company also provided exploration and management services totaling US$0.4 million (2009: US$0.4 million) to the Donlin Creek LLC. These transactions were in the normal course of business and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount agreed to by the parties. At February 28, 2010, the Company had $0.4 million (November 30, 2009: $0.3 million) receivable from related parties.
11 Segmented information
The Company’s revenues and cost of sales from external customers are generated from one reportable operating segment: sales from land and gravel and gold royalties from its operations located in Nome, Alaska. The Company’s property, plant and equipment and exploration assets are located in the United States and Canada and the geographical breakdown is shown in notes 5 and 6.
12 Commitments and contingencies
(a) Lease commitments
As at February 28, 2010, the Company’s aggregate commitments for operating leases totaled $5.2 million. These include the Company’s leased head office location and certain office equipment with leases ranging from one to seven years.
(b) Legal actions
On February 16, 2010, the Company announced that it entered into a memorandum of understanding to settle outstanding securities class action lawsuits in both the United States and Canada, in which NovaGold and certain of its directors and officers were named as defendants. On December 22, 2008, a consolidated class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York consolidating similar complaints of violations of U.S. Securities laws. On October 14, 2009, a similar notice of action was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Canada and on October 28, 2009, the same parties were named as defendants in a class action lawsuit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. All three actions alleged misrepresentations, misstatements and omissions in various public statements and filings concerning NovaGold’s Galore Creek property. The US$28 million settlement will be covered by NovaGold’s insurance, and the Company does not anticipate having to pay out any of its cash under the terms of the settlement. On April 6, 2010, the lead plaintiff moved the U.S. District Court for preliminary approval of the settlement upon formal documentation. The consent certification motion regarding the Ontario action has been set for April 26, 2010. The consent certification motion regarding the B.C. action has tentatively been set for April 27, 2010. The settlement is subject to both U.S. and Canadian court approval after public notice.
On July 15, 2009, two claims were filed in the United States District Court for the District of Alaska against NovaGold, Alaska Gold Company (“AGC”) and other parties arising out of an accident on July 19, 2007, where two employees of a contractor were killed in a construction-related accident at the Company’s Rock Creek mine. The claims are seeking wrongful death damages in excess of US$2.5 million. The Company and AGC filed an answer to the complaint denying all allegations and asserting certain affirmative defenses. The Company and AGC dispute these claims and believe they have substantial and meritorious legal and factual defenses, which they intend to pursue vigorously.
13 Subsequent events
On March 9, 2010, the Company closed its non-brokered offering of 18,181,818 shares of the Company at US$5.50 per common share for gross proceeds of US$100 million to several investment funds managed by Paulson & Co. Inc. On March 11, 2010, the Company closed a second non-brokered offering of 13,636,364 shares of the Company at US$5.50 per share for gross proceeds of US$75 million to Quantum Partners Ltd, a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC.
NovaGold Resources Inc. | ||
Q1-2010 | 12 |