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USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE METRICS |
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SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG |
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OUTLOOK |
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MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES UPDATE |
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MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES |
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ENDNOTES |
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CAUTIONARY NOTES |
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2 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
All dollar figures are in United States dollars and tabular dollar amounts are in millions, unless otherwise noted.
For the year ended December 31, 2024.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of New Gold Inc. and its subsidiaries (“New Gold” or the “Company”). This MD&A should be read in conjunction with New Gold’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and related notes, which are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS Accounting Standards”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"). This MD&A contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, as discussed in the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" section at the end of this MD&A. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All dollar figures are in U.S. dollars and tabular dollar amounts are in millions, unless otherwise noted. Figures in some tables may not add due to rounding. This MD&A has been prepared as of February 19, 2025. Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company’s Annual Information Form, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
OUR BUSINESS
New Gold Inc. is an intermediate gold mining company engaged in the development and operation of mineral properties. The assets of the Company, directly or through its subsidiaries, are comprised of the Rainy River Mine in Ontario, Canada (“Rainy River”), and the New Afton Mine in British Columbia, Canada (“New Afton”). New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com.
EXTERNAL DOCUMENTS
References made in this MD&A to other documents or to information or documents available on a website do not constitute the incorporation by reference into this MD&A of such other documents or such other information or documents available on such website, unless such incorporation by reference is explicit.
ENDNOTES
Note references throughout the document are to endnotes which can be found on page
78 of this MD&A.
USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE METRICS
In this MD&A, we use the following non-GAAP financial performance measures: “Cash costs", "all-in sustaining costs" or "AISC", "adjusted net earnings/(loss)", "adjusted tax expense", "sustaining capital and sustaining leases”, “growth capital”, “average realized gold/copper price per ounce/pound”, "open pit net mining cost per operating tonne mined", "underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined", "processing costs per tonne processed", "G&A costs per tonne processed", "cash generated from operations before changes in non-cash operating working capital" and "free cash flow". For a detailed description of each non-GAAP financial performance measure used in this MD&A and a detailed reconciliation to the most directly comparable measures under IFRS Accounting Standards, please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” section of this MD&A starting on page
32. The non-GAAP financi
3 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
al performance measures in this MD&A are intended to provide additional information to investors and do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards. These measures may therefore not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
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Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
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2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
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OPERATING INFORMATION |
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Gold (ounces): |
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Produced(4) |
80,438 |
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79,187 |
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298,303 |
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321,178 |
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271,373 |
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Sold(4) |
77,281 |
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77,870 |
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296,846 |
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319,116 |
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269,147 |
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Copper (millions of pounds): |
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Produced(4) |
14.5 |
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12.0 |
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54.0 |
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47.4 |
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31.1 |
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Sold(4) |
13.6 |
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11.9 |
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50.0 |
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44.4 |
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30.2 |
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Revenue(10) |
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Gold ($/ounce) |
2,633 |
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1,977 |
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2,384 |
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1,920 |
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1,791 |
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Copper ($/pound) |
3.96 |
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3.52 |
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3.97 |
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3.61 |
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3.70 |
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Average realized price(1) |
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Gold ($/ounce) |
2,667 |
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2,001 |
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2,413 |
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1,944 |
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1,808 |
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Copper ($/pound) |
4.18 |
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3.72 |
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4.19 |
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3.84 |
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3.94 |
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Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-product)(3) |
1,093 |
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1,154 |
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1,091 |
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1,048 |
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1,025 |
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Operating expenses ($/lb copper, co-product)(3) |
2.04 |
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2.61 |
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2.25 |
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2.61 |
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3.52 |
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Depreciation and depletion ($/oz gold)(10) |
733 |
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851 |
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836 |
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736 |
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728 |
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Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(2) |
728 |
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994 |
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769 |
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891 |
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983 |
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All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(2) |
1,018 |
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1,481 |
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1,239 |
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1,434 |
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1,844 |
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4 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
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Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
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(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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Revenue |
262.2 |
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199.2 |
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924.5 |
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786.5 |
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604.4 |
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Revenue less cost of goods sold |
93.1 |
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12.4 |
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240.7 |
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101.9 |
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26.3 |
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Net earnings (loss) |
55.1 |
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(27.4) |
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102.6 |
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(64.5) |
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(66.8) |
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Adjusted net earnings (loss) (1) |
59.1 |
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(4.7) |
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153.4 |
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48.4 |
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(26.1) |
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Cash generated from operations |
109.6 |
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70.6 |
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392.8 |
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287.6 |
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190.7 |
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Cash generated from operations before changes in non-cash operating working capital(1) |
125.7 |
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64.9 |
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408.8 |
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293.4 |
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181.6 |
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Sustaining capital(1) |
10.3 |
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24.1 |
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87.5 |
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121.6 |
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183.6 |
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Growth capital(1) |
65.0 |
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36.5 |
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183.6 |
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144.3 |
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109.2 |
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Total mining interest capital expenditures |
75.3 |
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60.6 |
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271.1 |
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265.9 |
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292.8 |
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Free cash flow(1) |
22.1 |
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0.7 |
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84.9 |
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16.6 |
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(148.0) |
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Total assets |
2,003.8 |
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2,286.0 |
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2,003.8 |
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2,286.0 |
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2,243.5 |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
105.2 |
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185.5 |
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105.2 |
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185.5 |
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200.8 |
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Long-term debt |
397.0 |
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396.0 |
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397.0 |
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396.0 |
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394.9 |
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Non-current liabilities excluding long-term debt |
357.9 |
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871.8 |
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357.9 |
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871.8 |
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717.9 |
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Share Data |
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Earnings (loss) per share |
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Basic ($) |
0.07 |
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(0.04) |
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0.14 |
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(0.09) |
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(0.10) |
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Diluted ($) |
0.07 |
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(0.04) |
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0.14 |
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(0.09) |
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(0.10) |
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Adjusted net earnings (loss) per basic share ($)(1) |
0.07 |
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(0.01) |
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0.20 |
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0.07 |
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(0.04) |
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Share price as at December 31 (TSX - Canadian dollars) |
3.59 |
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1.92 |
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3.59 |
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1.92 |
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1.33 |
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Weighted average outstanding shares (basic) (millions) |
790.9 |
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685.1 |
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752.2 |
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684.0 |
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681.9 |
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Weighted average outstanding shares (diluted) (millions) |
797.2 |
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685.1 |
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758.4 |
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684.0 |
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681.9 |
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5 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
SUSTAINABILITY AND ESG
The Company is committed to responsible mining through the implementation of sound environmental, social and governance ("ESG") practices. The Company continues to work on its three sustainability anchors: Environment, Indigenous Rights and Community Engagement. The Company is also continuing to implement and report on the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining ("TSM") framework at all of its operating mines. New Gold continues to prioritize the health, safety and well-being of its people through the “Courage to Care” culture initiative.
Health and Safety
In 2024, an employee operating a piece of equipment in the open pit was fatally injured at the Rainy River Mine. The thoughts of management are with the family, friends and colleagues who have been impacted by this tragic incident.
Total recordable injury frequency rate ("TRIFR")12 was 0.72 for the year, a reduction of 10% compared to the prior-year, achieving the lowest on record consolidated TRIFR for the Company. In the fourth quarter of 2024, New Afton achieved a milestone of over 2.5 million hours without a Lost Time Injury.
In 2024, New Afton received the J.T Ryan Safety Award for British Columbia and Yukon, The British Columbia Mine Safety Technology Award, and British Columbia’s Safest Large Underground Mine award for having the lowest TRIFR for 2023 in the respective regions.
Environment
Water Management
Both sites achieved AAA, the highest rating in the TSM Water Stewardship Protocol for the second year in a row. New Afton successfully operated twelve evaporators in 2024 to support the pond removal initiative, exceeding the planned operating times. The pond removal as well as the C-Zone stabilization initiatives are ahead of schedule and expected to be completed in 2025. Rainy River achieved an annual discharge similar to the prior year period.
Climate Action
New Gold released an updated Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure ("TCFD") report in 2024, and intends to align climate-related disclosure with evolving practices. During the year, the New Gold Climate Committee continued to work on greenhouse gas ("GHG") reduction opportunities, performance against 2030 targets and the decarbonization roadmap. The Company also began developing a company-wide decarbonization roadmap, which will reflect the Company's efforts to date to improve energy efficiency and drive GHG reductions.
Tailings Management
Both Rainy River and New Afton achieved AAA, the highest rating in the TSM Tailings Management Protocol for the second year in a row. The Rainy River Tailings Management Area ("TMA") annual dam raise of 1.0 metres was completed ahead of schedule, carried out by the Company's internal workforce.
6 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Social
Indigenous & Community Relations
The Company acknowledges the importance of engaging meaningfully with local and Indigenous communities and recognizes that these communities provide the social license to operate at both New Afton and Rainy River. Community and Indigenous Relations teams engage regularly with interested partners and stakeholders to continue building and fostering relationships centered on trust and acceptance. These teams work with local communities to identify economic development opportunities in the form of employment and contracting opportunities, as well as other areas of support. New Afton, Rainy River, and the Corporate office continue to provide community and social development support through the Community Investment Program. This program focuses on providing financial and in-kind support for initiatives and projects that have sustainable and long-lasting impacts in the communities where New Gold operates.
Governance
ESG Disclosure
In June 2024, the Company published its annual ESG Report, providing detailed information about the Company’s 2023 performance and outcomes against material ESG topics and metrics. An additional ESG data factbook was developed to provide detailed data and show alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, the Mining Local Procurement Reporting Mechanism and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The collective ESG Report is published on New Gold's Sustainability microsite along with other relevant ESG information available at https://sustainability.newgold.com/esg-report/
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS
New Gold Announces Mine Life Extension at both New Afton and Rainy River; Outlines Strong Free Cash Flow Profile Over Next Three Years
On February 12, 2025, the Company released its three-year operational outlook and announced the filing of the Technical Reports for the New Afton and the Rainy River mines. The life-of-mine plans outline the Company's strong production profile while reducing costs, strong free cash flow generation and increasing net asset value.
At New Afton, the East Extension expansion adds high-grade material to a low risk, low-cost operation while C-Zone’s increased draw height extends mine life at no additional capital. At Rainy River, the Phase 5 expansion extends the open pit, accomplishing our main mine plan objectives to push processing of the low-grade stockpile into the future and keep the mill full to the end of 2029.
For further detail, please refer to the press release dated February 12, "New Gold announces mine life extension at both New Afton and Rainy River; outlines strong free cash flow profile over next three years".
New Afton's C-Zone Achieves Commercial Production and Rainy River Mined First Development Ore from Underground Main
In October 2024, C-Zone, New Afton’s fourth block cave, achieved commercial production ahead of schedule with the materials handling system coming online and the cave footprint reaching the targeted hydraulic radius for self-cave propagation.
7 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
In September 2024, first development ore was mined from Rainy River's Underground Main (“UG Main”). UG Main contains the majority of underground mineral reserves at Rainy River and is expected to be an important source of higher-grade production in the coming years to supplement mill feed from the open pit and the Intrepid underground zone.
For further detail, please refer to the press release dated October 29, 2024 "New Gold announces commercial production at New Afton's C-Zone and first ore from Rainy River Underground Main Ahead of Schedule".
New Afton Free Cash Flow Interest Amending Transaction
In May 2024, the Company entered into an amending agreement relating to its strategic partnership (the "Amending Agreement") with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (“Ontario Teachers’”) at New Afton. The Ontario Teachers’ free cash flow interest in New Afton was reduced to 19.9% from 46% in exchange for cash consideration of $255 million. The Company funded the cash payment with cash on hand, borrowings from its existing revolving credit facility (repaid before December 31, 2024), and proceeds from a concurrent bought deal equity financing through the issuance of 100,395,000 common shares at a price of $1.72 per common share for gross proceeds of $172.7 million. For further detail please refer to the press release dated May 13, 2024 "New Gold Increases Exposure in New Afton Copper/Gold Mine to 80% and Launches US$150 Million Bought Deal Financing".
Board of Directors Appointments
The Company has strengthened the Board of Directors with seasoned appointments. Richard O'Brien has been appointed as Chair of the Board and Christian Milau, Ross Bhappu and Sophie Bergeron as board members. Through their respective backgrounds in strategy and capital markets, technical and financial expertise, operational discipline, and focus on safety, the new Board appointments provides the Company with enhanced professional experience to advance the Company's long-term strategy.
OUTLOOK
The Company provided three-year production and operating guidance, which outlined higher production at significantly lower costs over the next three years. For a summary of the key assumptions and related risks associated with the 2025 guidance and three-year production, cost, capital, and exploration outlook, please refer to the press release dated February 12, 2025, "New Gold announces mine life extension at both New Afton and Rainy River; outlines strong free cash flow profile over next three years".
Consolidated Three-Year Operational Outlook
The Company has assumed $30.00 per silver ounce and $4.00 per copper pound, and a foreign exchange rate of $1.40 Canadian dollars to $1.00 US dollar in its outlook.
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Operational Estimates |
2025 Guidance |
2026 Guidance |
2027 Guidance |
Gold production (ounces)4 |
325,000 – 365,000 |
435,000 – 490,000 |
375,000 – 445,000 |
New Afton gold production (ounces)4 |
60,000 – 70,000 |
110,000 – 125,000 |
130,000 – 150,000 |
Rainy River gold production (ounces)4 |
265,000 – 295,000 |
325,000 – 365,000 |
245,000 – 295,000 |
Copper production (M lbs)4 |
50 – 60 |
85 – 100 |
95 – 115 |
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product)2 |
$600 - $700 |
$200 - $300 |
$125 - $225 |
8 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
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Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-product)3 |
$900 - $1,000 |
$700 - $800 |
$800 - $900 |
Operating expenses ($/lb copper, co-product)3 |
$1.75 - $2.25 |
$1.00 - $1.50 |
$1.00 - $1.50 |
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product)2 |
$1,025 - $1,125 |
$675 - $775 |
$400 - $500 |
Capital Investment |
2025 Guidance |
2026 Guidance |
2027 Guidance |
Total capital ($M)1 |
$270 - $315 |
$200 - $240 |
$70 - $95 |
Sustaining capital ($M)1,8 |
$95 - $110 |
$140 - $160 |
$40 - $55 |
Growth capital ($M)1,9 |
$175 - $205 |
$60 - $80 |
$30 - $40 |
2025 consolidated gold production is expected to increase by approximately 16% to 325,000 to 365,000 ounces in 2025, compared to 2024, driven by increasing production at Rainy River. Production is expected to strengthen in the second half of the year, with the first half of 2025 representing approximately 38% of annual production and the first quarter representing approximately 14%.
2025 copper production is expected to be in-line with 2024 at 50 to 60 million pounds as the ramp-up in C-Zone throughput is offset by planned lower grades from both the exhaustion of the B3 cave and first draw bells from C-Zone. Production is expected to strengthen in the second half of the year, with the first half of 2025 representing approximately 43% of annual production and the first quarter representing approximately 20%.
2025 all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease by $164 per ounce or 13% compared to 2024, driven by higher production and lower operating costs from the New Afton C-Zone crusher and conveyor system and as the Rainy River Phase 4 strip ratio decreases.
2025 total capital is expected to be $270 to $315 million, in-line with the 2024 guidance range, as New Afton C-Zone and Rainy River Underground Main continue to ramp up and as development starts at the New Afton East Extension and Rainy River Phase 5 expansions.
2026 and 2027 consolidated gold production is expected to be 55% higher (435,000 to 490,000 ounces) and 37% higher (375,000 to 445,000 ounces), respectively compared to 298,303 ounces in 2024 driven by increasing production profiles at both Rainy River and New Afton as growth projects are completed and ramped up in the near-term.
Copper production continues to increase with 2027 copper production expected to be between 95 to 115 million pounds, approximately 94% higher than 2024 driven by increased grade and throughput from New Afton’s C-Zone.
All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease by approximately 65% compared to 2024 to between $400 and $500 per ounce driven by lower total cash costs, higher production from both operations, higher copper by-product and lower sustaining capital as the Rainy River Phase 5 expansion is completed in 2026.
The higher production, lower costs, and lower capital spend over the 2025-2027 period are expected to drive increasing margins and generate significant free cash flow1 for the Company.
9 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
New Afton Operational Outlook
2025 New Afton Outlook
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Operational Estimates |
2025 Guidance |
Gold production (ounces)4 |
60,000 – 70,000 |
Copper production (Mlbs)4 |
50 - 60 |
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product)2 |
($675) – ($575) |
Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-product)3 |
$675 - $775 |
Operating expenses ($/lb copper, co-product)3 |
$1.75 - $2.25 |
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (co-product) 3 |
$725 - $825 |
Cash costs per copper pound sold (co-product) 3 |
$2.00 - $2.50 |
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product) 2 |
($625) – ($525) |
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (co-product) 3 |
$775 - $875 |
All-in sustaining costs per copper pound sold (co-product) 3 |
$2.00 - $2.50 |
Capital Investment |
2025 Guidance |
Total capital ($M)1 |
$115 - $135 |
Sustaining capital ($M)1,8 |
$5 - $10 |
Growth capital ($M)1,9 |
$110 - $125 |
Gold production4 is expected to be 60,000 to 70,000 ounces, in-line with 2024 (excluding gold produced from ore purchase agreements). Copper production4 is expected to be 50 to 60 million pounds, in-line with 2024. Higher throughput from C-Zone is offset by lower grades as the B3 cave is exhausted during the first half of 2025. C-Zone is expected to average approximately 8,300 tonnes per day in 2025 and remains on-track to reach the throughput rate of 16,000 tonnes per day in 2026. Production is expected to significantly strengthen in the second half of the year as the B3 cave is exhausted and C-Zone continues its ramp-up. The first half of 2025 is expected to represent approximately 45% of the annual gold and copper production, with the first quarter expected to represent approximately 20%.
Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease compared to 2024 to between ($675) and ($575) per ounce due to C-Zone production increasing at lower mining costs and as a result of the elimination of truck haulage from the B3 cave. All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease compared to the 2024 midpoint of guidance to between ($625) and ($525) per ounce due to lower total cash costs, higher production and lower sustaining capital. Total cash costs1 and all-in sustaining costs1,8 are expected to decrease on a quarterly basis throughout 2025 as throughput increases as C-Zone continues to ramp up.
Total capital is expected to be $115 to $135 million. Sustaining capital1,8 is expected to be $5 to $10 million, including approximately $5 million related to tailings management and $5 million related to equipment. Growth capital1,9 is expected to be $110 to $125 million related to the completion of the C-Zone project and starting the East Extension expansion. East Extension capital is expected to be $10 to $20 million. C-Zone project capital is primarily focused on mine development and other infrastructure installation, and continued progress on stabilization and includes $15 million of carry over from 2024. East Extension capital is primarily related to mine development and equipment purchases. Growth capital is expected to be generally consistent throughout the year, with C-zone spend the focus of the first half and East Extension the second half.
10 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
The exhaustion of B3 earlier in the year and the continued ramp-up of mining at C-Zone through the year position New Afton to generate increasing free cash flow quarter over quarter through 2025.
2025 New Afton Exploration Outlook
2025 exploration expenditures at New Afton are expected to be approximately $17 million. New Afton is continuing to advance its organic growth strategy focusing on new mining zones that have the potential to extend mine life with minimal capital investment. There is a strong focus on K-Zone in 2025, where the Company is strengthening its position to delineate the zone’s high-grade core and grow its overall footprint. 2025 K-Zone drilling will benefit from the development of a 700-metre exploration drift located at the 4500 level. The new drift will accelerate underground exploration drilling and provide ideal drill platforms for delineation. Drift development has commenced, and the first exploration drill bay is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2025, with full completion scheduled for the third quarter.
In addition, the Company is applying its vectoring knowledge to explore for new zones of copper-gold porphyry mineralization within its land package and advance other strategic opportunities for mine life extension. New Afton's processing plant, infrastructure and tailings storage facility have sufficient capacity to process significantly more ore beyond the current New Afton mine life.
Rainy River Operational Outlook
2025 Rainy River Outlook
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Operational Estimates |
2025 Guidance |
Gold production (ounces)2 |
265,000 – 295,000 |
Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-product)3 |
$945 - $1,045 |
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product)1 |
$875 - $975 |
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product)1 |
$1,250 - $1,350 |
Capital Investment |
2025 Guidance |
Total capital ($M)1 |
$155 - $180 |
Sustaining capital ($M)1 |
$90 - $100 |
Growth capital ($M)1 |
$65 - $80 |
Gold production4 is expected to be 265,000 to 295,000 ounces, an increase of 20% over the prior year due to a 25% increase in gold grade as the underground mining rate is expected to increase. Production is expected to significantly strengthen in the second half of the year as significant waste stripping activities are sequenced in the first quarter. The first half of 2025 is expected to represent approximately 37% of the annual production, with the first quarter expected to represent approximately 11%. Ore from the low-grade stockpile will be processed in the first quarter as Phase 4 stripping during the first quarter will set up the open pit for low strip, high ore extraction for the balance of this phase. After the first quarter, the remaining 2025 average Phase 4 strip ratio is expected to be approximately 1:1, increasing production for the balance of the year. Production in the second half of the year is expected to be consistent between the third and fourth quarter.
Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease by approximately 8% compared with the midpoint of the 2024 guidance range to $875 to $975 per ounce driven by higher production. All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)1 are expected to decrease by approximately 10% compared to the 2024 midpoint of guidance to $1,250 and $1,350 per ounce due to higher production. Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)2 and all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)2 are expected to decrease
11 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
significantly on a quarterly basis throughout 2025 as low strip, open pit production increases and as the underground contribution increases throughout the year.
Total capital is expected to be $155 to $180 million. Sustaining capital1,8 is expected to be $90 to $100 million, including $10 million related to Phase 5 expansion, approximately $40 million in Phase 4 capitalized waste (with Phase 4 stripping from 2024 $25 million below plan), $25 million towards the annual tailings dam raise, $10 million in capital parts and components replacement programs and $10 million related to equipment and other. Growth capital1,9 is expected to be $65 to $80 million, related to the continued development of the Intrepid and underground Main Zones and also includes $10 million in additional equipment purchases, to eliminate future rental costs and increase equipment availability, and $5 million carried forward from 2024. As the mine continues to update sequencing for 2025 production, an additional $25 million is included in growth capital for access meters and owners costs, that was previously planned as operating costs.
Sustaining capital1,8 is expected to be heavily first half weighted, trending lower in the second half of the year, with the first half of 2025 expected to represent approximately 75% of the 2025 sustaining capital spend. Similarly, growth capital1,9 is expected to be first half weighted, with the first half expected to represent approximately 65% of the growth capital spend.
2025 Rainy River Exploration Outlook
2025 exploration expenditures at Rainy River are expected to be approximately $14 million. The Company is pursuing its objective to increase high-tonnage open pit ore to keep the processing plant operating at full capacity beyond 2029. Near-surface exploration is continuing in 2025, building on recent exploration success at Phase 5 and NW Trend which saw both Mineral Reserve and Resource growth, respectively. In addition, the Company is reviewing the viability of additional pushbacks to the open pit which could represent significant additions to the life-of-mine without requiring additional exploration drilling.
The 2025 exploration strategy also includes initiatives to increase feed grades and enhance the production profile. This includes converting Inferred Resources within the ODM core, following up on high-grade intervals recently intersected down-plunge of existing ore zones, and growing strike-extents at Intrepid to increase the ounces per vertical metre. Exploration at Intrepid will benefit from an underground drilling platform being developed to accelerate exploration and definition drilling. The new underground platform is scheduled to be operational in the fourth quarter.
Looking beyond the existing operational footprint, the Company will explore for untested targets on the property, focusing on finding quality ounces that can quickly be added to Rainy River’s mine life. Soil and till geochemistry work will be carried out to generate targets, a proven method that led to the discovery of the Rainy River deposit.
2025 Sensitivities
A summary of key assumption sensitivities to all-in sustaining costs2 for 2025 can be found below:
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Sensitivities |
Copper Price |
CDN/USD |
Base Assumption |
$4.00 |
$1.40 |
Sensitivity |
+/- $0.25 |
+/- $0.05 |
12 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
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All-In Sustaining Cost2 Per Ounce Impact |
Rainy River |
- |
=+/-$40 |
New Afton |
+/- $200 |
=+/-$80 |
Consolidated |
+/- $40 |
=+/- $50 |
MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES UPDATE
The Company provided a mineral reserves and mineral resources update in February 2025. Refer to the press release dated February 12, 2025, "New Gold announces mine life extension at both New Afton and Rainy River; outlines strong free cash flow profile over next three years" for a summary of the key assumptions and related risks associated with the 2025 minerals reserves and mineral resource.
As of December 31, 2024, New Gold reported total Mineral Reserves of 2,954,000 ounces of gold, 7.8 million ounces of silver, and 631 million pounds of copper. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, exclusive of Mineral Reserves, totals 2,646,000 ounces of gold, 9.0 million ounces of silver and 1,100 million pounds of copper and Inferred Mineral Resources of 399,000 ounces of gold, 910,000 ounces of silver and 1 million pounds of copper.
New Afton reported Mineral Reserves of 828,000 ounces of gold and 631 million pounds of copper in the B3 and C-Zone block caves, and the newly incorporated East Extension, forming the basis for a reserves mine life to 2031. Mineral Reserves increased by 94,000 ounces of gold and 81 million pounds of copper in 2024 primarily due to the increase in C-Zone draw height and inclusion of East Extension, fully offsetting mining depletion for the year.
Rainy River reported total Mineral Reserves of 2,126,000 ounces of gold for year-end 2024. The impact of the updated block model and capping of Reserve blocks resulted in a reduction in remaining Phase 4 Mineral Reserves, partially offset by the Phase 5 design, which has been optimized to increase gold Mineral Reserves, adding 42,000 ounces of gold. Underground Mineral Reserves increased from 1,322,000 ounces of gold at the end of 2023 to 1,344,000 ounces of gold at the end of 2024, more than offsetting depletion from underground mining primarily as a result of exploration drilling completed in 2024 which has extended several zones at depth and along strike. Rainy River Indicated Mineral Resources increased 55% year-over-year in 2024, with a 470% increase in open pit resources primarily due to a potential pushback to the south of the open pit as a result of higher gold price assumptions and the inclusion of NW Trend following successful near-surface exploration.
The Company continues to target replacing mining depletion over the next few years, through extension of existing zones and inclusion of new mining zones.
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Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Summarya |
As at December 31, 2024b |
As at December 31, 2023 |
Gold koz |
Silver koz |
Copper Mlbs |
Gold koz |
Silver koz |
Copper Mlbs |
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves |
Rainy River |
2,126 |
5,535 |
- |
2,421 |
6,343 |
- |
Open Pit |
589 |
1,573 |
- |
867 |
1,947 |
- |
Underground |
1,344 |
2,829 |
- |
1,322 |
3,161 |
- |
Stockpile |
194 |
1,133 |
- |
233 |
1,235 |
- |
New Afton |
828 |
2,253 |
631 |
735 |
1,856 |
551 |
13 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
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Total Proven and Probable Mineral Reservesc |
2,954 |
7,788 |
631 |
3,156 |
8,199 |
551 |
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources (exclusive of Mineral Reserves)1 |
Rainy River |
1,294 |
4,573 |
- |
837 |
2,218 |
- |
Open Pit |
734 |
2,659 |
- |
128 |
159 |
- |
Underground |
560 |
1,914 |
- |
709 |
2,060 |
- |
New Afton |
1,352 |
4,431 |
1,100 |
1,350 |
5,093 |
1,147 |
Total Measured and Indicated Mineral Resourcesc |
2,646 |
9,004 |
1,100 |
2,187 |
7,312 |
1,147 |
Total Inferred Mineral Resourcesc |
399 |
910 |
1 |
230 |
563 |
101 |
a.Refer to the detailed Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource tables that follow at the end of this MD&A for the estimates as at December 31, 2024 and the Company’s Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2024 for estimates as at December 31, 2023.
b.The Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources stated above are as at December 31, 2024 and do not reflect any events subsequent to that date.
c.Numbers may not add due to rounding
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KEY PERFORMANCE DRIVERS
There is a range of key performance drivers that are critical to the successful implementation of New Gold’s strategy and the achievement of its goals. The key internal drivers are production volumes and costs. The key external drivers are the market prices of gold and copper as well as foreign exchange rates.
Production Volumes and Costs
For an analysis of the impact of production volumes and costs for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 relative to the prior-year periods, refer to the “Review of Operating Mines” section of this MD&A.
Commodity Prices
Gold Prices
The price of gold is the single largest factor affecting New Gold’s profitability and operating cash flows. As such, the current and future financial performance of the Company is expected to be closely related to the prevailing price of gold.
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, New Gold's gold revenue per ounce11 and average realized gold price per ounce1 were $2,633 and $2,667, respectively (December 31, 2023 - $1,977 and $2,001 respectively). This compared to the London Bullion Market ("LBMA") p.m. average gold price of $2,663 per ounce (December 31, 2023 - $1,971).
For the year ended December 31, 2024, New Gold's gold revenue per ounce11 and average realized gold price per ounce1 were $2,384 and $2,413, respectively (December 31, 2023 - $1,920 and $1,944 respectively). This compared to the LBMA p.m. average gold price of $2,386 per ounce (December 31, 2023 - $1,940).
Copper Prices
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, New Gold’s copper revenue per pound11 and average realized copper price per pound1 were $3.96 and $4.18, respectively (December 31, 2023 - $3.52 and
14 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
$3.72 respectively). This compared to the average London Metals Exchange ("LME") copper price of $4.17 per pound (December 31, 2023 - $3.71).
For the year ended December 31, 2024, New Gold’s copper revenue per pound11 and average realized copper price per pound1 were $3.97 and $4.19, respectively (December 31, 2023 - $3.61 and $3.84 respectively). This compared to the average LME copper price of $4.10 per pound (December 31, 2023 - $3.85).
Foreign Exchange Rates
While the Company’s key operations are in Canada, revenue is generated in U.S. dollars. As a result, the Company has foreign currency exposure with respect to costs not denominated in U.S. dollars. New Gold’s operating results and cash flows are influenced by changes in exchange rates against the U.S. dollar. The Company has exposure to the Canadian dollar through New Afton and Rainy River, as well as through corporate administration costs.
The annual average Canadian dollar rate weakened against the U.S. dollar during 2024 compared to the annual average rate in 2023. The weakening of the Canadian dollar impacts costs in U.S. dollar terms at the Company’s Canadian operations, as a significant portion of operating and capital costs are denominated in Canadian dollars.
For an analysis of the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on operating costs, refer to the relevant sections for Rainy River and New Afton under the heading “Review of Operating Mines”.
Economic Outlook
The LBMA p.m. gold price decreased by 1% during the fourth quarter of 2024, finishing the quarter at $2,609 per ounce. Gold prices initially increased to new record high prices over the quarter on uncertainties surrounding the U.S presidential election and continued elevated geopolitical risks before falling due to expectations of less accommodating monetary policy than previously forecasted. Looking forward, continued geopolitical risk may provide further support for gold prices.
Prospects for gold are impacted by several structural factors. Mine supply has been plateauing as high-quality deposits become more difficult to find and more expensive to develop and mine. Economic events can have significant effects on the price of gold, through currency rate fluctuations, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar, gold supply and demand, and other macroeconomic factors, such as interest rates and inflation expectations. Management anticipates that the long-term economic environment should provide support for gold and precious metals, and believes the prospects for the business are favourable.
The LME cash copper price decreased by 11% during the fourth quarter of 2024, finishing the quarter at $3.95 per pound. Prices fell over the quarter on expectations of a weaker outlook for Chinese demand and a stronger U.S dollar following the U.S presidential election. Over the longer-term, continued growth in the global economy could increase demand for copper and provide support for copper prices.
15 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Summary of Financial Results
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|
Three months ended December 31 |
|
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
FINANCIAL RESULTS |
|
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|
|
Revenues |
262.2 |
|
199.2 |
|
924.5 |
|
786.5 |
|
604.4 |
|
|
Operating expenses |
112.4 |
|
120.8 |
|
436.3 |
|
450.4 |
|
382.7 |
|
|
Depreciation and depletion |
56.7 |
|
66.0 |
|
247.5 |
|
234.2 |
|
195.4 |
|
|
Revenue less cost of goods sold |
93.1 |
|
12.4 |
|
240.7 |
|
101.9 |
|
26.3 |
|
|
Corporate administration |
8.2 |
|
6.6 |
|
24.9 |
|
24.5 |
|
21.3 |
|
|
Corporate restructuring |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2.1 |
|
|
Share-based payment expenses |
0.5 |
|
2.9 |
|
13.7 |
|
5.4 |
|
2.6 |
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
Exploration and business development |
7.2 |
|
2.5 |
|
19.8 |
|
10.2 |
|
16.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) from operations |
77.2 |
|
0.4 |
|
182.3 |
|
61.8 |
|
(15.7) |
|
|
Finance income |
1.3 |
|
1.9 |
|
6.9 |
|
7.5 |
|
3.8 |
|
|
Finance costs |
(9.6) |
|
(2.4) |
|
(17.1) |
|
(13.2) |
|
(27.8) |
|
|
Other gains and losses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange |
10.5 |
|
(3.4) |
|
13.0 |
|
(3.1) |
|
6.5 |
|
|
Loss on disposal of assets |
— |
|
— |
|
(1.3) |
|
(0.3) |
|
(2.0) |
|
|
(Loss) gain on revaluation of investments |
(1.7) |
|
0.5 |
|
(0.9) |
|
(4.4) |
|
(28.0) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized (loss) gain on revaluation of non-current derivative financial liabilities |
(6.2) |
|
(30.9) |
|
(130.6) |
|
(108.2) |
|
3.0 |
|
|
Gain on extinguishment of New Afton free cash flow interest obligation |
— |
|
— |
|
42.3 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
(Loss) gain on foreign exchange derivative |
(6.8) |
|
3.8 |
|
(9.3) |
|
3.0 |
|
(2.3) |
|
|
Gain (loss) on fuel hedge swap contracts |
0.6 |
|
(0.9) |
|
1.1 |
|
(1.4) |
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revaluation of CSP's reclamation and closure cost obligation |
— |
|
0.1 |
|
— |
|
(0.5) |
|
(2.1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
Other |
(0.7) |
|
0.1 |
|
(3.2) |
|
(0.4) |
|
(1.1) |
|
|
Earnings (loss) before taxes |
64.6 |
|
(30.8) |
|
83.2 |
|
(59.2) |
|
(65.4) |
|
|
Income tax (expense) recovery |
(9.5) |
|
3.4 |
|
19.4 |
|
(5.3) |
|
(1.4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings (loss) |
55.1 |
|
(27.4) |
|
102.6 |
|
(64.5) |
|
(66.8) |
|
|
Adjusted net earnings (loss)(1) |
59.1 |
|
(4.7) |
|
153.4 |
|
48.4 |
|
(26.1) |
|
|
16 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Revenue
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, the increase in revenue relative to the prior-year periods was due to higher gold and copper prices and higher copper sales volume, partially offset by lower gold sales volume.
Operating expenses
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, operating expenses were lower than the prior-year periods due to lower gold production at the Rainy River mine, and lower operating expenses at New Afton. For further information, please refer to the "Review of Operating Mines" section of this MD&A.
Depreciation and depletion
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, depreciation and depletion decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower gold production at Rainy River. For the year ended December 31, 2024 depreciation and depletion increased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher gold and copper production at New Afton, and the achievement of commercial production at C-Zone.
Revenue less cost of goods sold
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, revenue less costs of goods sold increased when compared to the prior-year periods primarily due to higher revenue.
Corporate administration
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, corporate administration was relatively consistent when compared to the prior-year periods.
Share-based payment expenses
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, share-based payment expenses were lower than the prior-year period as the prior-year period experienced an increase in the average share price during the quarter, whereas the average share price was constant during the current quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2024, share-based payment expenses increased when compared to the prior-year period due to an increase in the average share price.
Exploration and business development
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, exploration and business development expenses increased when compared to the prior-year periods due to the acceleration of exploration drilling programs at New Afton and Rainy River during the year.
Finance income
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, finance income decreased due to a decrease in interest rates when compared to the prior-year periods.
Finance costs
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, finance costs increased compared to the prior-year period, attributable to the New Afton C-Zone project achieving commercial production in the fourth quarter, and no longer considered a qualifying asset for the capitalization of borrowing costs.
17 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Other gains and losses
Foreign exchange
Movements in foreign exchange are primarily due to the revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities as at the balance sheet date, and the appreciation or depreciation of the Canadian dollar when compared to the U.S. dollar in the current periods.
Rainy River Gold stream obligation
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded an unrealized loss on the revaluation of the Rainy River gold stream obligation derivative instrument of $6.2 million and $51.6 million, respectively, driven by higher metal prices.
New Afton free cash flow interest obligation
In May 2024, the New Afton free cash flow interest obligation was derecognized as a fair value through profit and loss ("FVTPL") liability as the Company entered into an amending agreement ("Amending Agreement") with an affiliate of Ontario Teachers to reduce their cash flow interest from 46% to 19.9%.
In the first half of 2024, the Company recorded an unrealized loss on the revaluation of the New Afton free cash flow interest obligation of $79.0 million, prior to the derecognition of the FVTPL in May 2024. The Company recognized a gain of $42.3 million on the extinguishment of the New Afton Free Cash Flow Interest Obligation. Refer to Note 10 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Foreign exchange derivatives
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a loss on foreign exchange derivatives, associated with changes in forward prices on the Company's foreign exchange contracts.
Fuel hedge swap contracts
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded a gain associated with the Company's fuel hedge swap contracts.
The Other Gains and Losses listed above are added back for the purposes of calculating adjusted net earnings1. Adjusted net earnings1 is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section starting on page
32 of this MD&A for more details about adjusted net earnings.
Income tax
The current and prior-year income tax (expense) recovery relates primarily to current and deferred mineral taxes. Income tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2024 increased primarily due to an increase in revenues. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased primarily due to the derecognition of a deferred tax liability of $35.1 million associated with the partial disposal of the New Afton mining interest asset arising from the Amending Agreement on the New Afton Free Cash Flow Interest Obligation, partially offset higher British Columbia mining tax.
On an adjusted net earnings (loss)1 basis, the adjusted income tax expense1 for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2024 was $9.8 and $18.7 million, respectively, compared to an adjusted tax
18 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
expense of $4.6 and $7.7 million in the prior-year. Adjusted income tax (expense) recovery1 excludes the tax impact of other gains and losses on the consolidated income statement. Adjusted income tax (expense) recovery 1 is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please refer to the “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures” section on page
32 of this MD&A for more details.
Net earnings (loss)
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, there was an increase in net earnings compared to the prior-year periods, largely due to an increase in revenues and lower operating expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the increase in net earnings was also attributable to the gain recorded on the derecognition of the New Afton free cash flow interest obligation.
Adjusted net earnings (loss)1
Net earnings (loss) have been adjusted for Other Gains and Losses on the consolidated income statement. Key elements in Other Gains and Losses are the fair value changes for the gold stream obligation, fair value changes and gain on the disposal of the free cash flow interest obligation, foreign exchange gains/loss and fair value changes in investments. The adjusted entries are also impacted by tax expenses to the extent that the underlying entries are impacted for tax in the unadjusted net earnings. Adjusted net earnings is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section of this MD&A for more details.
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, adjusted net earnings1 increased compared to the prior-year period primarily due to higher revenue and lower operating expenses.
For further information on the Company’s liquidity and cash flow position, please refer to the “Liquidity and Cash Flow” section of this MD&A.
19 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Key Quarterly Operating and Financial Information
Selected financial and operating information for the current and previous quarters is as follows:
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|
|
|
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|
|
(in millions of U.S. dollars,
except where noted)
|
Q4 2024 |
Q3 2024 |
Q2 2024 |
Q1 2024 |
Q4 2023 |
Q3 2023 |
Q2 2023 |
Q1 2023 |
Q4 2022 |
OPERATING INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold production from operations (ounces)(4) |
80,438 |
|
78,369 |
|
68,598 |
|
70,898 |
|
79,187 |
|
82,986 |
|
76,527 |
|
82,477 |
|
80,694 |
|
Gold sales from operations (ounces)(4) |
77,281 |
|
81,791 |
|
67,697 |
|
70,077 |
|
77,870 |
|
79,821 |
|
74,219 |
|
87,206 |
|
78,507 |
|
Revenue |
262.2 |
|
252.0 |
|
218.2 |
|
192.1 |
|
199.2 |
|
201.3 |
|
184.4 |
|
201.6 |
|
162.8 |
|
Net earnings (loss) |
55.1 |
|
37.9 |
|
9.6 |
|
(43.5) |
|
(27.4) |
|
(2.7) |
|
(2.6) |
|
(31.8) |
|
(16.9) |
|
Per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic ($) |
0.07 |
|
0.05 |
|
0.07 |
|
(0.06) |
|
(0.04) |
|
(0.00) |
|
(0.00) |
|
(0.05) |
|
(0.02) |
|
Diluted ($) |
0.07 |
|
0.05 |
|
0.07 |
|
(0.06) |
|
(0.04) |
|
(0.00) |
|
(0.00) |
|
(0.05) |
|
(0.02) |
|
20 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
REVIEW OF OPERATING MINES
Rainy River Mine, Ontario, Canada
Rainy River is a gold mine located in Northwestern Ontario, Canada approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances, a town of approximately 8,000 people.
A summary of Rainy River’s operating results is provided below.
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Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
OPERATING INFORMATION |
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Open Pit |
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Ore mined (thousands of tonnes) |
2,003 |
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2,703 |
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7,354 |
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12,412 |
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Operating waste mined (thousands of tonnes) |
4,956 |
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4,401 |
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19,560 |
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19,545 |
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Capitalized waste mined (thousands of tonnes) |
— |
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3,067 |
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6,720 |
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12,008 |
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Waste mined (thousands of tonnes) |
4,956 |
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7,468 |
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26,280 |
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31,553 |
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Ratio of waste-to-ore |
2.47 |
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2.74 |
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3.57 |
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2.53 |
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Underground |
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Ore mined (thousands of tonnes) |
98 |
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79 |
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305 |
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313 |
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Lateral development (meters) |
1,602 |
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659 |
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5,235 |
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3,030 |
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Ore processed (thousands of tonnes) |
2,084 |
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2,304 |
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8,990 |
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8,764 |
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Average gold grade (grams/tonne) |
0.97 |
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0.94 |
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0.85 |
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0.99 |
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Gold recovery rate (%) |
93 |
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90 |
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92 |
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91 |
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Gold (ounces): |
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Produced(4) |
60,786 |
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62,692 |
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225,694 |
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253,745 |
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Sold(4) |
58,839 |
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61,086 |
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228,676 |
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254,932 |
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Gold Revenue ($/ounce) |
2,662 |
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1,999 |
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2,410 |
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1,939 |
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Average gold realized price ($/ounce)(1) |
2,662 |
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1,999 |
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2,410 |
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1,939 |
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Open pit net mining cost per operating tonne mined(1) |
5.11 |
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4.11 |
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4.47 |
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3.55 |
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Processing cost per tonne processed(1) |
10.35 |
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10.92 |
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10.07 |
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11.65 |
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G&A cost per tonne processed(1) |
5.67 |
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4.39 |
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4.62 |
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4.27 |
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Operating expenses ($/oz gold)(10) |
1,233 |
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1,254 |
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1,205 |
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1,117 |
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Depreciation and depletion ($/oz gold)(10) |
647 |
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788 |
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767 |
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655 |
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Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(2) |
1,172 |
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1,206 |
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1,141 |
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1,074 |
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All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(2) |
1,358 |
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1,593 |
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1,524 |
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1,547 |
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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Revenue |
160.2 |
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125.1 |
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565.8 |
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505.4 |
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Revenue less cost of goods sold |
49.4 |
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0.4 |
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114.8 |
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53.8 |
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Capital expenditures (sustaining capital)(1)(8) |
8.8 |
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20.2 |
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78.3 |
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102.8 |
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Capital expenditures (growth capital)(1)(9) |
21.0 |
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4.2 |
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52.8 |
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17.8 |
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Total mining interest capital expenditures |
29.8 |
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24.5 |
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131.1 |
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120.6 |
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Cash generated from operations |
77.6 |
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56.6 |
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256.0 |
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212.7 |
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Free cash flow(1) |
36.4 |
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23.6 |
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89.7 |
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55.0 |
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21 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Operating results
Production
Gold production4 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 60,786 ounces, a decrease over the prior-year period due to lower tonnes processed impacted by unexpected mechanical down-time on the crushing and conveying system in December, partially offset by higher grade and higher recovery. For the year ended December 31, 2024, gold production was 225,694 ounces, a decrease over the prior-year period due to lower gold grade, partially offset by higher tonnes processed and higher gold recovery. Gold production was slightly below the updated 2024 guidance range of 230,000 to 240,000 ounces.
Revenue
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, revenue increased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher average realized price partially offset by lower sales volume.
Revenue less cost of goods sold
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, revenue less cost of goods sold increased when compared to the prior-year periods primarily due to higher revenue.
Operating expenses, depreciation and depletion, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, capital expenditures and free cash flow Operating expense per gold ounce sold10 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year period due to lower processing cost associated with lower mill maintenance and mining consumables. For the year ended December 31, 2024, operating expenses per gold ounce sold increased over the prior-year period due to lower gold sales and lower capitalized waste stripping, partially offset by lower processing costs and an increase in the net realizable value of the low grade stockpile. Full year operating expenses per gold ounce sold was above the 2024 guidance range of $1,025 to $1,125 per gold ounce sold as a result of lower capitalized waste stripping.
Open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined1 for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2024 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower tonnes mined.
Processing costs per tonne processed1 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to a decrease in contractors and mill maintenance costs, partially offset by lower tonnes processed. Processing costs per tonne processed1 for the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower milling costs from lower contractors, mill maintenance, and consumable costs, and higher tonnes processed.
Depreciation and depletion per gold ounce sold11 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower mining activity. Depreciation and depletion per gold ounce sold10 for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to lower sales volume.
All-in sustaining costs1 per gold ounce sold for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year period primarily due to lower sustaining capital. Full year all-in sustaining costs1 per gold ounce sold was within the 2024 guidance range of $1,425 to $1,525 per gold ounce sold, despite lower production.
22 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Total capital expenditures for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024increased over the prior-year periods due to higher underground mine development meters, partially offset by lower capitalized waste in the year. Sustaining capital1 for the full year is primarily related to capitalized waste and tailings dam raise. Growth capital1 for the full year is related to underground development as the Underground Main and Intrepid zones continue to advance. Full year total capital is below the 2024 guidance range of $145 million to $165 million, due to efficient capital management, savings related to execution of the Rainy River tailings dam raise, and lower capitalized waste stripping with approximately $5 million deferred into 2025.
Cash generated from operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 increased when compared to the prior-year period due to an increase in revenue.
Free cash flow1 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 was $36.4 million and $89.7 million respectively, (net of stream payments of $11.3 million and $34.2 million respectively), an improvement over the prior-year periods primarily due to higher revenue and lower operating expenses.
Impact of foreign exchange on operations
Rainy River’s operations are impacted by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, the value of the U.S. dollar averaged $1.40 against the Canadian dollar, when compared to $1.36 in the prior-year period. This reduced total cash costs by $51 per gold ounce sold1 relative to the prior-year period.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the value of the U.S. dollar averaged $1.37 against the Canadian dollar, when compared to $1.35 in the prior-year period. This reduced total cash costs by $20 per gold ounce sold1 relative to the prior-year period.
Exploration activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, exploration activities at Rainy River focused on sustaining mill throughput beyond 2029, and targeting areas located nearby existing infrastructure which would likely require minimal capital investment to bring into production. As such, infill drilling of near-surface targets with potential for open pit extraction, including NW Trend, Zone 280, and ODM East, was conducted in the second quarter. Exploration drilling conducted from surface also tested the strike-extension of Intrepid and the down-plunge extension of ODM Main and 17 East Zones at depth, while underground drilling targeted the Gap zone located between the Intrepid and Main Zones. In September 2024, the Company provided an update on the ongoing Rainy River exploration program highlighting successful expansion of gold mineralized zones. For further detail, please refer to the press release dated September 11, 2024 "New Gold Expands Open Pit and Underground Mineralization at Rainy River, Demonstrates Strong Support For Mineral Resources Growth".
Exploration drilling in the three months ended December 31, 2024, continued testing the down-dip continuity of underground zones and conducted additional reverse circulation drilling on near-surface targets.
23 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
New Afton Mine, British Columbia, Canada
The New Afton mine is located in South-Central British Columbia near Kamloops, a city of approximately 90,000 people. A summary of New Afton’s operating results is provided below.
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Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
OPERATING INFORMATION |
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Ore mined (thousands of tonnes) |
1,092 |
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768 |
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3,871 |
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2,993 |
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Capitalized waste mined (thousands of tonnes) |
2 |
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125 |
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15 |
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552 |
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Waste mined (thousands of tonnes) |
2 |
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146 |
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15 |
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574 |
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Ore processed (thousands of tonnes) |
1,213 |
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761 |
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4,187 |
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3,065 |
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Average grade: |
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Gold (grams/tonne) |
0.58 |
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0.73 |
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0.61 |
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0.72 |
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Copper (%) |
0.62 |
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0.79 |
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0.65 |
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0.77 |
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Recovery rate (%): |
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Gold |
85 |
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90 |
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87 |
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90 |
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Copper |
87 |
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91 |
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89 |
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91 |
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Gold (ounces)(4): |
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Produced - New Afton Mine(4) |
19,310 |
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15,942 |
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71,551 |
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62,637 |
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Produced - Ore Purchase Agreements(4)(11) |
342 |
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553 |
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1,058 |
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4,796 |
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Produced - Total(4) |
19,652 |
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16,495 |
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72,609 |
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67,433 |
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Sold(4) |
18,442 |
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16,784 |
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68,170 |
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64,185 |
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Copper (millions of pounds): |
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Produced(4) |
14.5 |
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12.0 |
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54.0 |
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47.4 |
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Sold(4) |
13.6 |
11.9 |
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50.0 |
44.4 |
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Revenue |
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Gold ($/ounce) |
2,539 |
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1,898 |
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2,298 |
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1,846 |
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Copper ($/pound) |
3.96 |
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3.52 |
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3.97 |
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3.61 |
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Average realized price(1): |
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Gold ($/ounce) |
2,679 |
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2,009 |
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2,424 |
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1,964 |
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Copper ($/pound) |
4.18 |
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3.72 |
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4.19 |
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3.84 |
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Underground net mining cost per operating tonne mined(1) |
11.94 |
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20.90 |
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16.49 |
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22.04 |
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Processing cost per tonne processed(1) |
13.56 |
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21.21 |
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15.30 |
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19.61 |
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G&A cost per tonne processed(1) |
4.24 |
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7.45 |
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5.27 |
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6.64 |
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Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-product)(3)(10) |
647 |
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790 |
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707 |
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775 |
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Operating expenses ($/lb copper, co-product)(3)(10) |
2.04 |
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2.61 |
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2.25 |
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2.61 |
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Depreciation and depletion ($/oz gold)(10) |
1,000 |
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1,069 |
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1,057 |
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1,049 |
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Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(2) |
(691) |
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224 |
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(479) |
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166 |
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Cash costs per gold ounce sold (co-product)(3) |
721 |
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856 |
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778 |
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847 |
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Cash costs per copper pound sold (co-product)(3) |
2.27 |
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2.83 |
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2.47 |
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2.86 |
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All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold(by-product basis)(2) |
(540) |
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502 |
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(289) |
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502 |
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All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (co-product)(3) |
766 |
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939 |
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835 |
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948 |
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All-in sustaining costs per copper pound sold (co-product)(3) |
2.42 |
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3.10 |
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2.66 |
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3.20 |
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION: |
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Revenue |
102.0 |
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74.1 |
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358.7 |
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281.1 |
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Revenue less cost of goods sold |
43.7 |
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12.0 |
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125.9 |
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48.1 |
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Capital expenditures (sustaining capital)(1)(8) |
1.4 |
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3.8 |
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9.2 |
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18.7 |
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Capital expenditures (growth capital)(1)(9) |
44.0 |
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32.2 |
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130.8 |
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126.5 |
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Total mining interest capital expenditures |
45.4 |
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36.1 |
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139.9 |
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145.2 |
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Cash generated from operations |
39.6 |
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25.6 |
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165.2 |
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101.6 |
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Free cash flow(1) |
(6.4) |
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(10.8) |
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24.2 |
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(44.0) |
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24 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Operating results
Production
Production1 for gold and copper for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 19,652 ounces of gold (inclusive of ore purchase agreements) and 14.5 million pounds of copper respectively. Production1 for gold and copper for the year ended December 31 2024 was 72,609 ounces (inclusive of ore purchase agreements) and 54.0 million pounds of copper respectively. The increase over the prior-year periods was due to higher tonnes processed, partially offset by lower grade and recovery. Full year gold production exceeded the 2024 guidance range of 60,000 to 70,000 of gold ounces, and full year copper production is near the midpoint of 2024 guidance of 50 million to 60 million pounds.
Revenue
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, revenue increased when compared to the prior-year periods due to higher gold and copper sales volumes and higher average realized prices.
Revenue less cost of goods sold
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, revenue less cost of goods sold increased when compared to the prior-year periods, primarily due to higher revenue.
Operating expenses, depreciation and depletion, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, capital expenditures and free cash flow Operating expenses per gold ounce sold3,10 and per copper pound sold3,10 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year periods, primarily due to lower underground mining and processing costs, and higher gold and copper sales volumes. Full year operating expense per gold ounce sold was well below the 2024 guidance range of $720 to $820 per gold ounce sold, and operating expense per copper pound sold was within the 2024 guidance range of $1.90 to $2.40 per copper pound sold.
Underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined1 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year periods due to lower net mining cost and an increase in tonnes mined. Underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined trended downward through the year, in line with C-Zone performance, as the gyratory crusher was completed in October, reducing underground haulage costs.
Processing costs per tonne processed1 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year periods due to higher tonnes processed.
Depreciation and depletion per gold ounce sold10 for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased when compared to the prior-year period due to higher sales volume. Depreciation and depletion per gold ounce sold11 for the year ended December 31, 2024 was consistent with the prior-year period.
All-in sustaining costs2 per gold ounce sold (by-product basis) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 decreased over the prior-year periods, primarily due to higher sales volume, higher by-product revenues, and lower sustaining capital spend. Full year all-in sustaining costs1 per gold ounce sold (by-product basis) was well below the 2024 guidance range of $25 to $125 per gold ounce sold.
25 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Total capital expenditures for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $45.4 million which increased over the prior-year period, primarily from the increase in growth capital as C-Zone achieved commercial production in the fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2024, total capital was $140 million which decreased over the prior-year period, mainly from lower sustaining capital. Sustaining capital1 is primarily related to the continuation of tailings management and stabilization activities. Growth capital1 is primarily related to C-Zone underground mine development and cave construction. Full year total capital is below the 2024 guidance range of $145 million to $165 million, with approximately $15 million deferred into 2025.
Cash generated from operations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 increased over the prior-year periods primarily due to higher revenue and lower operating expenses.
Free cash flow1 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 was $(6.4) million and $24.2 million, respectively, an improvement over the prior-year period due to higher revenues and lower operating expenses.
Impact of foreign exchange on operations
New Afton’s operations are impacted by fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, the value of the U.S. dollar averaged $1.40 against the Canadian dollar, compared to $1.36 in the prior-year period. This reduced total cash costs by $89 per gold ounce sold1 relative to the prior-year period.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the value of the U.S. dollar averaged $1.37 relative to the Canadian dollar, compared to $1.35 in the prior-year period. This reduced total cash costs by $38 per gold ounce sold1 relative to the prior-year period.
Exploration activities
For the year ended December 31, 2024, exploration efforts at New Afton focused on near-mine zones located above the C-Zone extraction level, prioritizing opportunities with the potential to extend mine life with minimal capital investment. An exploration drift was developed from the base of the Lift 1 Cave to provide ideal drill platforms for the K-Zone and AI-Southeast targets. Drilling from the drift commenced as planned during the three months ended June 30 2024, along with additional exploration drilling to extend the D-Zone resource envelope. In September 2024, the Company provided an update on the ongoing exploration program at New Afton, highlighting positive exploration results in the eastern part of the mine where high-grade copper-gold porphyry mineralization was intersected. For further detail, please refer to the press release dated September 16, 2024 "New Gold Announces Continued Growth At New Afton's K-Zone And HW Zone".
Exploration efforts during the three months ended December 31, 2024 remained focused on potential near-mine copper-gold zones located above the C-Zone extraction level, including K-Zone.
26 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
FINANCIAL CONDITION REVIEW
Balance Sheet Review
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As at December 31 |
As at December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
2023 |
BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
105.2 |
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185.5 |
Other current assets |
168.9 |
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166.3 |
Non-current assets |
1,729.7 |
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1,934.2 |
Total assets |
2,003.8 |
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2,286.0 |
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Current liabilities |
196.6 |
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229.0 |
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Non-current liabilities excluding long-term debt |
357.9 |
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871.8 |
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Long-term debt |
397.0 |
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396.0 |
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Total liabilities |
951.5 |
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1,496.8 |
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Total equity |
1,052.3 |
|
789.2 |
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Total liabilities and equity |
2,003.8 |
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2,286.0 |
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Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents decreased compared to the prior-year period.
In May 2024, the Company completed a common share issuance for net proceeds of $164.6 million, drew down on its revolving Credit Facility by $100.0 million, and completed a partial buy-back of its New Afton's free cash flow interest for $257.5 million (inclusive of $2.5 million in transaction costs).
During the second half of 2024, the Company repaid $100.0 million of its revolving Credit Facility and made a final payment of $42.6 million to Ontario Teachers as part of the minimum cash guarantee under the terms of the Original Agreement.
Other current assets
Other current assets primarily consist of trade and other receivables, inventories, investments, and prepaid expenses. Other current assets increased relative to the prior-year period due to an increase in trade and other receivables and prepaid assets.
Non-current assets
Non-current assets primarily consist of mining interests, which include the Company’s mining properties, development projects and property, plant and equipment, as well as non-current inventories and deferred tax assets. The decrease relative to the prior-year period is primarily attributable to a $272.2 million deemed partial disposition of mineral property interests related to accounting for the Amending Agreement with Ontario Teachers for the New Afton free cash flow interest. This decrease was partially offset by a low-grade stockpile net realizable value inventory adjustment at Rainy River, and the Company's investments in New Afton's C-Zone and Rainy River's underground development.
27 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Current liabilities
Current liabilities consist primarily of trade and other payables. Current liabilities decreased due to a decrease in trade payables.
Non-current liabilities excluding long-term debt
Non-current liabilities excluding long-term debt consists primarily of reclamation and closure cost obligations, non-current derivative obligations, and deferred tax liabilities.
The Company's non-current derivative obligations reflect the Rainy River gold stream obligation. The Rainy River gold stream obligation has increased from the prior-year period primarily due to higher metal prices, partially offset by settlements.
In May 2024, the New Afton free cash flow interest obligation was derecognized as a FVTPL as the Company entered into an Amending Agreement with Ontario Teachers to reduce their free cash flow interest to 19.9%.
The Company’s asset retirement obligations consist of reclamation and closure costs for Rainy River and New Afton. Significant reclamation and closure activities include land rehabilitation, demolition of buildings and mine facilities, ongoing monitoring, and other costs. The long-term discounted portion of the liability as at December 31, 2024 was $117.8 million relative to $123.4 million as at December 31, 2023. The decrease was driven primarily by the change in foreign exchange rates.
The deferred income tax liability decreased from $74.8 million as at December 31, 2023 to $55.6 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease in deferred income tax liability was primarily driven by the revaluation of the New Afton free cash flow interest obligation.
Long-term debt and other financial liabilities containing financial covenants
Long-term debt includes the 2027 Unsecured Notes and the Company's revolving Credit Facility (each as defined below).
Senior Unsecured Notes - due July 15, 2027
As at December 31, 2024, the Company has $400.0 million of senior unsecured notes outstanding that mature and become due and payable on July 15, 2027 (the "2027 Unsecured Notes"). The 2027 Unsecured Notes are denominated in U.S. dollars and bear interest at the rate of 7.50% per annum. Interest is payable in arrears in equal semi-annual installments on January 15 and July 15 of each year.
The 2027 Unsecured Notes are subject to a minimum interest coverage incurrence covenant of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment, and other non-cash adjustments to interest of 2:1. The test is applied on a pro-forma basis prior to the Company incurring additional debt, entering into business combinations or acquiring significant assets, and certain corporate actions. There are no maintenance covenants.
Credit Facility
The Company holds a revolving credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with a maturity date of December 22, 2026 and a borrowing limit of $400.0 million. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company drew $100.0 million under the Credit Facility to partially fund the payment under Amending Agreement with
28 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Ontario Teachers. During the second half of 2024, the Company repaid the $100.0 million under the Credit Facility, reducing the outstanding amount to $nil as at December 31, 2024.
The Credit Facility contains various covenants customary for a loan facility of this nature, including limits on indebtedness, asset sales, and liens. The Credit Facility contains three covenant tests, all of which are measured on a rolling four-quarter basis at the end of every quarter:
•The minimum interest coverage ratio, being earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, exploration, impairment, and other non-cash adjustments (“Adjusted EBITDA”) to interest;
•The maximum net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (“Leverage Ratio”); and
•The maximum gross secured debt to Adjusted EBITDA (“Secured Leverage Ratio”).
Significant financial covenants are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twelve months ended December 31 |
Twelve months ended
December 31
|
|
Financial covenant |
2024 |
2023 |
FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
|
|
|
Minimum interest coverage ratio (Adjusted EBITDA to interest) |
>3.0 : 1.0 |
11.0 : 1 |
8.1 : 1 |
Maximum Leverage Ratio (net debt to Adjusted EBITDA) |
<4.5 : 1.0 |
1.1 : 1 |
1.4 : 1 |
Maximum Secured Leverage Ratio (secured debt to Adjusted EBITDA) |
<2.0 : 1.0 |
0.1 : 1 |
0.1 : 1 |
Liquidity and Cash Flow
As at December 31, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $105.2 million compared to $185.5 million as at December 31, 2023. The Company’s investment policy is to invest its surplus funds in permitted investments consisting of treasury bills, bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of Canada, the U.S. or any of the Canadian provinces with a minimum credit rating of R-1 mid from DBRS or an equivalent rating from Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s and with maturities of 12 months or less at the original date of acquisition. In addition, the Company is permitted to invest in bankers’ acceptances and other evidences of indebtedness of certain financial institutions. All investments must have a maximum term to maturity of 12 months and the average term will generally range from 7 days to 90 days. As per the investment policy, the Company is not permitted to make investments in asset-backed commercial paper.
The Company's investments in marketable equity securities are exposed to various risk factors including currency risk, market price risk, and liquidity risk.
The Company’s liquidity is impacted by several factors which include, but are not limited to, gold and copper production, gold and copper market prices, capital expenditures, operating costs, interest rates and foreign exchange rates. These factors are monitored by the Company on a regular basis and will continue to be reviewed.
The Company’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows, are summarized in the following table for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
29 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operating activities |
109.6 |
|
70.6 |
|
392.8 |
|
287.6 |
|
Cash used in investing activities |
(73.4) |
|
(58.8) |
|
(263.4) |
|
(234.0) |
|
Cash used in financing activities |
(62.2) |
|
(6.4) |
|
(207.8) |
|
(68.6) |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(1.4) |
|
0.7 |
|
(1.9) |
|
(0.3) |
|
Change in cash and cash equivalents |
(27.4) |
|
6.1 |
|
(80.3) |
|
(15.3) |
|
Operating Activities
The cash generated by operations is highly dependent on metal prices, including gold and copper, as well as other factors, including the Canadian/U.S. dollar exchange rate. For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, the increase in cash generated from operating activities was primarily due to higher revenue.
Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities is primarily for the continued capital investment in the Company’s operating mines and development projects.
The following table summarizes the capital expenditures (mining interests per the consolidated statement of cash flows) for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BY SITE |
|
|
|
|
Rainy River |
29.8 |
|
24.5 |
|
131.1 |
|
120.6 |
|
New Afton |
45.4 |
|
36.1 |
|
139.9 |
|
145.1 |
|
Other |
0.1 |
|
— |
|
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
75.3 |
|
60.6 |
|
271.1 |
|
265.9 |
|
Financing Activities
For the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, cash used in financing activities was $62.2 million and $207.8 million, respectively.
In May 2024, the Company completed a common share issuance for net proceeds of $164.6 million, a draw-down on its revolving Credit Facility for proceeds of $100.0 million, and completed a partial buy-back of its New Afton cash flow interest for total consideration of $257.5 million (inclusive of transaction costs of $2.5 million).
In July 2024, the Company made a payment of $42.6 million to Ontario Teachers as part of their minimum cash guarantee under the terms of the Original Agreement.
During the second half of 2024, the Company repaid $100.0 million under the Credit Facility, reducing the outstanding amount to $nil as at December 31, 2024.
30 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance as at December 31, 2024 of $105.2 million, together with $376.7 million available for drawdown under the Credit Facility as at December 31, 2024, provided the Company with $481.9 million of liquidity.
Assuming the stability of prevailing commodity prices and exchange rates, and operations performing in accordance with mine plans, the Company believes it has adequate liquidity to implement its operational plan and will be able to repay future indebtedness from internally generated cash flow. Additionally, the Company has a strong liquidity position, which management expects to be more than adequate to fund its business objectives.
Commitments
The Company has entered into a number of contractual commitments for capital items relating to operations and development. At December 31, 2024, these commitments totaled $63.7 million. This compares to commitments of $96.7 million as at December 31, 2023. Certain contractual commitments may contain cancellation clauses; however, the Company discloses its commitments based on management’s intent to fulfill the contracts.
Contingencies
In assessing the loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company and its legal counsel evaluate the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought. If the assessment of a contingency suggests that a loss is probable, and the amount can easily be estimated, then a loss is recorded. When a contingent loss is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but the amount of the loss cannot be reliably estimated, then details of the contingent loss are disclosed. Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the Company discloses the nature of the guarantees. If the Company is unable to resolve these disputes favourably, it may have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, cash flow and results of operations. As at December 31, 2024, there were no contingent losses recorded.
Related Party Transactions
The Company did not enter into any reportable related party transactions during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Outstanding Shares
As at February 19, 2025, there were 791.3 million common shares of the Company issued and outstanding. The Company had 0.5 million stock options outstanding under its stock option plan and 5.3 million performance share units outstanding under its long term incentive plan, exercisable for up to an additional 0.5 million common shares and up to an additional 5.3 million common shares, respectively.
31 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial performance measures in this MD&A. These measures are not defined under IFRS Accounting Standards and should not be considered in isolation. The Company has disclosed the following:
▪"Cash costs per gold ounce sold"
▪"Sustaining capital and sustaining leases",
▪"Growth capital"
▪"All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold" ("AISC")
▪"Adjusted net earnings (loss)", "adjusted net earnings (loss) per share", "adjusted tax expense (recovery)"
▪"Cash generated from operations, before changes in non-cash operating working capital"
▪"Free cash flow"
▪"Average realized price per gold ounce or copper pound sold"
▪"Open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined"
▪"Underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined"
▪"Processing costs per tonne processed"
▪"G&A costs per tonne processed"
Cash Costs per Gold Ounce sold
"Cash costs per gold ounce sold" is a common non-GAAP financial performance measure used in the gold mining industry but does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold reports cash costs on a sales basis and not on a production basis. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, this measure, along with sales, is a key indicator of the Company’s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. This measure allows investors to better evaluate corporate performance and the Company's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future capital exploration and working capital needs.
This measure is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. This measure is not necessarily indicative of cash generated from operations under IFRS Accounting Standards or operating costs presented under IFRS Accounting Standards.
Cash costs figures are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute, a worldwide association of suppliers of gold and gold products that ceased operations in 2002. Adoption of the standard is voluntary and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Cash costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and administration costs, royalties, and production taxes, but are exclusive of amortization, reclamation, capital and exploration costs and net of by-product revenue. Cash costs are then divided by gold ounces sold to arrive at the cash costs per gold ounce sold.
The Company produces copper and silver as by-products of its gold production. The calculation of cash costs per gold ounce for Rainy River is net of by-product silver sales revenue, and the calculation of cash costs per gold ounce sold for New Afton is net of by-product copper and silver sales revenue. New Gold
32 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
notes that in connection with New Afton, the by-product revenue is sufficiently large to result in a negative cash costs on a single mine basis. Notwithstanding this by-product contribution, as a Company focused on gold production, New Gold aims to assess the economic results of its operations in relation to gold, which is the primary driver of New Gold’s business. New Gold believes this metric is of interest to its investors, who invest in the Company primarily as a gold mining Company. To determine the relevant costs associated with gold only, New Gold believes it is appropriate to reflect all operating costs, as well as any revenue related to metals other than gold that are extracted in its operations.
To provide additional information to investors, New Gold has also calculated New Afton's cash costs on a co-product basis, which removes the impact of copper sales that are produced as a by-product of gold production and apportions the cash costs to each metal produced by 30% gold, 70% copper, and subsequently divides the amount by the total gold ounces, or pounds of copper sold, as the case may be, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. Unless indicated otherwise, all cash costs information in this MD&A is net of by-product sales.
Sustaining Capital and Sustaining Lease
"Sustaining capital" and "sustaining lease" are non-GAAP financial performance measures that do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold defines "sustaining capital" as net capital expenditures that are intended to maintain operation of its gold producing assets. Similarly, a "sustaining lease" is a lease payment that is sustaining in nature. To determine "sustaining capital" expenditures, New Gold uses cash flow related to mining interests from its consolidated statement of cash flows and deducts any expenditures that are capital expenditures to develop new operations or capital expenditures related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will significantly increase production. Management uses "sustaining capital" and "sustaining lease" to understand the aggregate net result of the drivers of all-in sustaining costs other than cash costs. These measures are intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
Growth Capital
"Growth capital" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold considers non-sustaining capital costs to be “growth capital”, which are capital expenditures to develop new operations or capital expenditures related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will significantly increase production. To determine "growth capital" expenditures, New Gold uses cash flow related to mining interests from its consolidated statement of cash flows and deducts any expenditures that are capital expenditures that are intended to maintain operation of its gold producing assets. Management uses "growth capital" to understand the cost to develop new operations or related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will significantly increase production. This measure is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards.
33 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
All-in Sustaining Costs per Gold Ounce Sold
“All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold” or ("AISC") is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold calculates "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold" based on guidance announced by the World Gold Council (“WGC”) in September 2013. The WGC is a non-profit association of the world’s leading gold mining companies established in 1987 to promote the use of gold to industry, consumers and investors. The WGC is not a regulatory body and does not have the authority to develop accounting standards or disclosure requirements. The WGC has worked with its member companies to develop a measure that expands on IFRS Accounting Standards measures to provide visibility into the economics of a gold mining company. Current IFRS Accounting Standards measures used in the gold industry, such as operating expenses, do not capture all of the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain gold production. New Gold believes that "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold" provides further transparency into costs associated with producing gold and will assist analysts, investors, and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing its operating performance, its ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and its overall value. In addition, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors uses "all-in sustaining costs", together with other measures, in its Company scorecard to set incentive compensation goals and assess performance.
"All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold" is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other mining companies. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. The measure is not necessarily indicative of cash flow from operations under IFRS Accounting Standards or operating costs presented under IFRS Accounting Standards.
New Gold defines all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold as the sum of cash costs, net capital expenditures that are sustaining in nature, corporate general and administrative costs, sustaining leases, capitalized and expensed exploration costs that are sustaining in nature, and environmental reclamation costs, all divided by the total gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure. To determine sustaining capital expenditures, New Gold uses cash flow related to mining interests from its consolidated statement of cash flows and deducts any expenditures that are non-sustaining (growth). Capital expenditures to develop new operations or capital expenditures related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will significantly benefit the operation are classified as growth and are excluded. The definition of sustaining versus non-sustaining is similarly applied to capitalized and expensed exploration costs. Exploration costs to develop new operations or that relate to major projects at existing operations where these projects are expected to significantly benefit the operation are classified as non-sustaining and are excluded.
Costs excluded from all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold are non-sustaining capital expenditures, non-sustaining lease payments and exploration costs, financing costs, tax expense, and transaction costs associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and any items that are deducted for the purposes of adjusted earnings.
To provide additional information to investors, the Company has also calculated all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold on a co-product basis for New Afton, which removes the impact of other metal sales that are produced as a by-product of gold production and apportions the all-in sustaining costs to each metal
34 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
produced on a percentage of revenue basis, and subsequently divides the amount by the total gold ounces, or pounds of copper sold, as the case may be, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. By including cash costs as a component of all-in sustaining costs, the measure deducts by-product revenue from gross cash costs.
Cash Costs and All-in Sustaining Costs per Gold Equivalent Ounce Reconciliation Tables
The following tables reconcile each of the non-GAAP financial performance measures described above to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measure on an aggregate and mine-by-mine basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
CONSOLIDATED OPEX, CASH COST AND AISC RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
112.4 |
|
120.8 |
|
436.3 |
|
450.4 |
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
5.7 |
|
4.3 |
|
19.8 |
|
18.1 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(4.7) |
|
(3.6) |
|
(18.5) |
|
(13.6) |
|
By-product copper revenue |
(57.1) |
|
(44.1) |
|
(209.4) |
|
(170.6) |
|
Cash costs net of by-product revenue |
56.3 |
|
77.4 |
|
228.2 |
|
284.3 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
77,281 |
|
77,870 |
|
296,846 |
|
319,116 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1) |
728 |
|
994 |
|
769 |
|
891 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8) |
10.3 |
|
24.1 |
|
87.5 |
|
121.6 |
|
Sustaining exploration - expensed(1) |
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
|
0.3 |
|
0.9 |
|
Sustaining leases(1) |
0.8 |
|
1.5 |
|
2.6 |
|
9.3 |
|
Corporate G&A including share-based compensation(7) |
8.4 |
|
9.2 |
|
37.9 |
|
29.3 |
|
Reclamation expenses |
2.9 |
|
2.8 |
|
11.2 |
|
12.1 |
|
Total all-in sustaining costs |
78.7 |
|
115.3 |
|
367.7 |
|
457.5 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
77,281 |
|
77,870 |
|
296,846 |
|
319,116 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1) |
1,018 |
|
1,481 |
|
1,239 |
|
1,434 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
35 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
36 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
RAINY RIVER CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
72.6 |
|
76.6 |
|
275.6 |
|
284.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By-product silver revenue |
(3.6) |
|
(2.9) |
|
(14.7) |
|
(11.0) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash costs net of by-product revenue |
69.0 |
|
73.7 |
|
260.9 |
|
273.7 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
58,839 |
|
61,086 |
|
228,676 |
|
254,932 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1) |
1,172 |
|
1,206 |
|
1,141 |
|
1,074 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8) |
8.8 |
|
20.2 |
|
78.3 |
|
102.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sustaining leases(1) |
— |
|
1.1 |
|
1.0 |
|
8.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclamation expenses |
2.2 |
|
2.3 |
|
8.4 |
|
9.6 |
|
Total all-in sustaining costs |
80.0 |
|
97.3 |
|
348.6 |
|
394.4 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
58,839 |
|
61,086 |
|
228,676 |
|
254,932 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1)(2) |
1,358 |
|
1,593 |
|
1,524 |
|
1,547 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
NEW AFTON CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
39.8 |
|
44.2 |
|
160.7 |
|
165.7 |
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
5.7 |
|
4.3 |
|
19.8 |
|
18.0 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(1.1) |
|
(0.6) |
|
(3.8) |
|
(2.5) |
|
By-product copper revenue |
(57.1) |
|
(44.1) |
|
(209.4) |
|
(170.6) |
|
Cash costs net of by-product revenue |
(12.7) |
|
3.8 |
|
(32.7) |
|
10.7 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
18,442 |
|
16,784 |
|
68,170 |
|
64,185 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1) |
(691) |
|
224 |
|
(479) |
|
166 |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8) |
1.4 |
|
3.8 |
|
9.2 |
|
18.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sustaining leases(1) |
0.6 |
|
0.3 |
|
1.1 |
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclamation expenses |
0.7 |
|
0.6 |
|
2.7 |
|
2.5 |
|
Total all-in sustaining costs |
(10.0) |
|
8.4 |
|
(19.7) |
|
32.2 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
18,442 |
|
16,784 |
|
68,170 |
|
64,185 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold (by-product basis)(1)(2) |
(540) |
|
502 |
|
(289) |
|
502 |
|
37 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31, 2024 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
Gold |
Copper |
Total |
NEW AFTON CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION (ON A CO-PRODUCT BASIS) |
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
11.9 |
|
27.9 |
|
39.8 |
|
Units of metal sold |
18,442 |
|
13.6 |
|
|
Operating expenses ($/oz gold or lb copper sold, co-product)(3)(10) |
647 |
|
2.04 |
|
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
1.7 |
|
4.0 |
|
5.7 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(0.3) |
|
(0.8) |
|
(1.1) |
|
Cash costs (co-product)(3) |
13.3 |
|
31.1 |
|
44.3 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
721 |
|
2.27 |
|
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8)(i) |
0.4 |
|
1.0 |
|
1.4 |
|
Sustaining leases(1) |
0.2 |
|
0.4 |
|
0.6 |
|
Reclamation expenses |
0.2 |
|
0.5 |
|
0.7 |
|
All-in sustaining costs (co-product)(1)(3) |
14.1 |
|
33.0 |
|
47.1 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
766 |
|
2.42 |
|
|
(i) Apportioned to each metal produced on a percentage of activity basis. For the above reconciliation table, 30% of operating costs were attributed to gold production and 70% of operating costs were attributed to copper production. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31, 2023 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
Gold |
Copper |
Total |
NEW AFTON CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION (ON A CO-PRODUCT BASIS) |
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
13.3 |
|
30.9 |
|
44.2 |
|
Units of metal sold |
16,784 |
|
11.9 |
|
|
Operating expenses ($/oz gold or lb copper sold, co-product)(3)(10) |
790 |
|
2.61 |
|
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
1.3 |
|
3.0 |
|
4.3 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(0.2) |
|
(0.5) |
|
(0.6) |
|
Cash costs (co-product)(3) |
14.4 |
|
33.5 |
|
47.9 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
856 |
|
2.83 |
|
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8)(i) |
1.2 |
|
2.7 |
|
3.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Reclamation expenses |
0.2 |
|
0.4 |
|
0.6 |
|
All-in sustaining costs (co-product)(1)(3) |
15.8 |
|
36.8 |
|
52.6 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
939 |
|
3.10 |
|
|
(i) Apportioned to each metal produced on a percentage of activity basis. For the above reconciliation table, 30% of operating costs were attributed to gold production and 70% of operating costs were attributed to copper production. |
38 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2024 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
Gold |
Copper |
Total |
NEW AFTON CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION (ON A CO-PRODUCT BASIS) |
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
48.2 |
|
112.5 |
|
160.7 |
|
Units of metal sold |
68,170 |
|
50.0 |
|
|
Operating expenses ($/oz gold or lb copper sold, co-product)(3)(10) |
707 |
|
2.25 |
|
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
5.9 |
|
13.8 |
|
19.7 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(1.1) |
|
(2.6) |
|
(3.7) |
|
Cash costs (co-product)(3) |
53.0 |
|
123.7 |
|
176.7 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
778 |
|
2.47 |
|
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8)(i) |
2.7 |
|
6.4 |
|
9.2 |
|
Sustaining leases(1) |
0.3 |
|
0.8 |
|
1.1 |
|
Reclamation expenses |
0.8 |
|
1.9 |
|
2.7 |
|
All-in sustaining costs (co-product)(1)(3) |
56.8 |
|
132.8 |
|
189.7 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
835 |
|
2.66 |
|
|
(i) Apportioned to each metal produced on a percentage of activity basis. For the above reconciliation table, 30% of operating costs were attributed to gold production and 70% of operating costs were attributed to copper production. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
Gold |
Copper |
Total |
NEW AFTON CASH COSTS AND AISC RECONCILIATION (ON A CO-PRODUCT BASIS) |
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
49.7 |
|
116.0 |
|
165.7 |
|
Units of metal sold |
64,185 |
|
44.4 |
|
|
Operating expenses ($/oz gold or lb copper sold, co-product)(3) |
775 |
|
2.61 |
|
|
Treatment and refining charges on concentrate sales |
5.4 |
|
12.6 |
|
18.0 |
|
By-product silver revenue |
(0.8) |
|
(1.8) |
|
(2.5) |
|
Cash costs (co-product)(3) |
54.4 |
|
126.9 |
|
181.2 |
|
Cash costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
847 |
|
2.86 |
|
|
Sustaining capital expenditures(1)(6)(8)(i) |
5.6 |
|
13.1 |
|
18.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Reclamation expenses |
0.8 |
|
1.8 |
|
2.5 |
|
All-in sustaining costs (co-product)(1)(3) |
60.8 |
|
142.0 |
|
202.8 |
|
All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold or lb copper sold (co-product)(1)(3) |
948 |
|
3.20 |
|
|
(i) Apportioned to each metal produced on a percentage of activity basis. For the above reconciliation table, 30% of operating costs were attributed to gold production and 70% of operating costs were attributed to copper production. |
39 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Sustaining Capital Expenditures Reconciliation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
TOTAL SUSTAINING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES |
|
|
|
|
Mining interests per consolidated statement of cash flows |
75.3 |
|
60.6 |
|
271.1 |
|
265.9 |
|
New Afton growth capital expenditures(9) |
(44.0) |
|
(32.2) |
|
(130.8) |
|
(126.5) |
|
Rainy River growth capital expenditures(9) |
(21.0) |
|
(4.2) |
|
(52.8) |
|
(17.8) |
|
Sustaining capital expenditures |
10.3 |
|
24.1 |
|
87.5 |
|
121.6 |
|
Open Pit Net Mining Costs per Operating Tonne Mined, Underground Net Mining Costs per Operating Tonne Mined, Processing Costs per Tonne Processed and G&A Cost per Tonne Processed
“Open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined,” “underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined,” “processing costs per tonne processed” and “G&A cost per tonne processed” are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards. "Open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined", "underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined", "processing costs per tonne processed" and "G&A costs per tonne" are defined as operating expenses less change in inventories, selling costs, royalties and other non production costs, as these costs are not directly related to tonnes mined or milled, and then dividing the residual respective mining, processing or G&A costs by tonnage of ore mined or processed. New Gold believes these non-GAAP financial performance measures provide further transparency and assist analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing the performance of mining operations by eliminating the impact of varying production levels. These measures do not have standardized meanings under IFRS accounting standards and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other mining companies. They should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. The following tables reconcile these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measures on an aggregate and mine-by-mine basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
RAINY RIVER COST PER TONNE |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
72.6 |
|
76.6 |
|
275.6 |
|
284.7 |
|
Change in inventory, selling costs and royalties and other |
(3.6) |
|
(12.1) |
|
(23.3) |
|
(31.7) |
|
Production costs |
69.0 |
|
64.5 |
|
252.3 |
|
253.0 |
|
Open pit net mining costs |
35.6 |
|
29.2 |
|
120.2 |
|
113.5 |
|
Processing costs |
21.6 |
|
25.2 |
|
90.6 |
|
102.1 |
|
Site G&A costs |
11.8 |
|
10.1 |
|
41.5 |
|
37.4 |
|
Ore and operating waste tonnes mined (thousands of tonnes) |
6,959 |
|
7,104 |
|
26,914 |
|
31,953 |
|
Ore processed (thousands of tonnes) |
2,084 |
|
2,304 |
|
8,990 |
|
8,764 |
|
Open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined ($/tonne) |
5.11 |
|
4.11 |
|
4.47 |
|
3.55 |
|
Processing costs per tonne processed ($/tonne) |
10.35 |
|
10.92 |
|
10.07 |
|
11.65 |
|
G&A cost per tonne processed ($/tonne) |
5.67 |
|
4.39 |
|
4.62 |
|
4.27 |
|
40 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
NEW AFTON COST PER TONNE |
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses |
39.8 |
|
44.2 |
|
160.7 |
|
165.7 |
|
Change in inventory, ore purchase costs, selling costs and royalties and other |
(4.9) |
|
(5.9) |
|
(10.1) |
|
(18.8) |
|
Production costs |
34.9 |
|
38.3 |
|
150.6 |
|
146.9 |
|
Underground net mining costs |
13.0 |
|
16.5 |
|
63.8 |
|
66.4 |
|
Processing costs |
16.6 |
|
16.1 |
|
64.5 |
|
60.1 |
|
Site G&A costs |
5.2 |
|
5.7 |
|
22.2 |
|
20.4 |
|
Ore and operating waste tonnes mined (thousands of tonnes) |
1,092 |
|
789 |
|
3,871 |
|
3,014 |
|
Ore processed (thousands of tonnes) |
1,228 |
|
761 |
|
4,219 |
|
3,065 |
|
Underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined ($/tonne) |
11.94 |
|
20.90 |
|
16.49 |
|
22.04 |
|
Processing costs per tonne processed ($/tonne) |
13.56 |
|
21.21 |
|
15.30 |
|
19.61 |
|
G&A cost per tonne processed ($/tonne) |
4.24 |
|
7.45 |
|
5.27 |
|
6.64 |
|
Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings per Share
“Adjusted net earnings” and “adjusted net earnings per share” are non-GAAP financial performance measures that do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Net earnings have been adjusted, including the associated tax impact, for loss on repayment of long-term debt, corporate restructuring and the group of costs in “Other gains and losses” as per Note 4 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Key entries in this grouping are: the fair value changes for the Rainy River gold stream obligation, fair value changes for copper price option contracts, foreign exchange gains/loss, fair value changes in investments. The income tax adjustments reflect the tax impact of the above adjustments and is referred to as "adjusted tax expense".
The Company uses "adjusted net earnings" for its own internal purposes. Management’s internal budgets and forecasts and public guidance do not reflect the items which have been excluded from the determination of "adjusted net earnings". Consequently, the presentation of "adjusted net earnings" enables investors to better understand the underlying operating performance of the Company's core mining business through the eyes of management. Management periodically evaluates the components of "adjusted net earnings" based on an internal assessment of performance measures that are useful for evaluating the operating performance of New Gold's business and a review of the non-GAAP financial performance measures used by mining industry analysts and other mining companies. "Adjusted net earnings" and "adjusted net earnings per share" are intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. These measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operations as determined under IFRS Accounting Standards. The following table reconciles these non-GAAP financial performance measures to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measure.
41 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS (LOSS) RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before taxes |
64.6 |
|
(30.8) |
|
83.2 |
|
(59.2) |
|
(65.4) |
|
|
Other losses |
4.3 |
|
30.7 |
|
88.9 |
|
115.3 |
|
25.7 |
|
|
Loss on repayment of long-term debt |
— |
|
— |
— |
|
— |
|
4.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate restructuring |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
2.1 |
|
|
Adjusted net earnings (loss) before taxes |
68.9 |
|
(0.1) |
|
172.1 |
|
56.1 |
|
(33.3) |
|
|
Income tax (expense) recovery |
(9.5) |
|
3.4 |
|
19.4 |
|
(5.3) |
|
(1.4) |
|
|
Income tax adjustments |
(0.3) |
|
(8.0) |
|
(38.1) |
|
(2.4) |
|
8.6 |
|
|
Adjusted income tax (expense) recovery (1) |
(9.8) |
|
(4.6) |
|
(18.7) |
|
(7.7) |
|
7.2 |
|
|
Adjusted net earnings (loss)(1) |
59.1 |
|
(4.7) |
|
153.4 |
|
48.4 |
|
(26.1) |
|
|
Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) ($/share) |
0.07 |
|
(0.01) |
|
0.20 |
|
0.07 |
|
(0.04) |
|
|
Cash Generated from Operations, before Changes in Non-Cash Operating Working Capital
“Cash generated from operations, before changes in non-cash operating working capital” is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently and this measure is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. "Cash generated from operations, before changes in non-cash operating working capital" excludes changes in non-cash operating working capital. New Gold believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides further transparency and assists analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash from its operations before temporary working capital changes.
Cash generated from operations, before non-cash changes in working capital is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. This measure is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operations as determined under IFRS Accounting Standards. The following table reconciles this non-GAAP financial performance measure to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
|
CASH RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
109.6 |
|
70.6 |
|
392.8 |
|
287.6 |
|
190.7 |
|
|
Change in non-cash operating working capital |
16.1 |
|
(5.7) |
|
16.0 |
|
5.8 |
|
(9.1) |
|
|
Cash generated from operations, before changes in non-cash operating working capital |
125.7 |
|
64.9 |
|
408.8 |
|
293.4 |
|
181.6 |
|
|
42 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Free Cash Flow
“Free cash flow” is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold defines "free cash flow" as cash generated from operations and proceeds of sale of other assets less capital expenditures on mining interests, lease payments, settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities which include the Rainy River gold stream obligation and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan free cash flow interest. New Gold believes this non-GAAP financial performance measure provides further transparency and assists analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing the Company's ability to generate cash flow from current operations. "Free cash flow" is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. This measure is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operations as determined under IFRS Accounting Standards. The following tables reconcile this non-GAAP financial performance measure to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measure on an aggregate and mine-by-mine basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31, 2024 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
Rainy River |
New Afton |
Other |
Total |
FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
77.6 |
|
39.6 |
|
(7.7) |
|
109.5 |
|
Less Mining interest capital expenditures |
(29.8) |
|
(45.4) |
|
(0.2) |
|
(75.4) |
|
Add Proceeds of sale from other assets |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Less Lease payments |
(0.1) |
|
(0.6) |
|
— |
|
(0.7) |
|
Less Cash settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities |
(11.3) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(11.3) |
|
Free Cash Flow1 |
36.4 |
|
(6.4) |
|
(7.9) |
|
22.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31, 2023 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
Rainy River |
New Afton |
Other |
Total |
FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
56.6 |
|
25.6 |
|
(11.6) |
|
70.6 |
|
Less Mining interest capital expenditures |
(24.5) |
|
(36.1) |
|
— |
|
(60.6) |
|
Add Proceeds of sale from other assets |
— |
|
— |
|
(0.1) |
|
(0.1) |
|
Less Lease payments |
(1.1) |
|
(0.3) |
|
(0.2) |
|
(1.6) |
|
Less Cash settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities |
(7.5) |
|
— |
|
(0.1) |
|
(7.6) |
|
Free Cash Flow1 |
23.6 |
|
(10.8) |
|
(12.0) |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
43 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2024 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
Rainy River |
New Afton |
Other |
Total |
FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
256.0 |
|
165.2 |
|
(28.5) |
|
392.8 |
|
Less Mining interest capital expenditures |
(131.1) |
|
(139.9) |
|
(0.1) |
|
(271.1) |
|
Add Proceeds of sale from other assets |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Less Lease payments |
(1.0) |
|
(1.1) |
|
(0.5) |
|
(2.6) |
|
Less Cash settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities |
(34.2) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(34.2) |
|
Free Cash Flow1 |
89.7 |
|
24.2 |
|
(29.0) |
|
84.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
Rainy River |
New Afton |
Other |
Total |
FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION |
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from operations |
212.7 |
|
101.6 |
|
(26.7) |
|
287.6 |
|
Less Mining interest capital expenditures |
(120.6) |
|
(145.2) |
|
(0.1) |
|
(265.9) |
|
Add Proceeds of sale from other assets |
— |
|
— |
|
0.1 |
|
0.1 |
|
Less Lease payments |
(8.3) |
|
(0.4) |
|
(0.6) |
|
(9.3) |
|
Less Cash settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities |
(28.9) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(28.9) |
|
Free Cash Flow1 |
55.0 |
|
(44.0) |
|
(27.6) |
|
(16.6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
44 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Average Realized Price
“Average realized price per ounce of gold sold” is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently and this measure is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Management uses this measure to better understand the price realized in each reporting period for gold sales. “Average realized price per ounce of gold sold” is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. The following tables reconcile this non-GAAP financial performance measure to the most directly comparable IFRS Accounting Standards measure on an aggregate and mine-by-mine basis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
TOTAL AVERAGE REALIZED PRICE |
|
|
|
|
Revenue from gold sales |
203.5 |
|
153.9 |
|
707.8 |
|
612.8 |
|
Treatment and refining charges on gold concentrate sales |
2.6 |
|
1.9 |
|
8.6 |
|
7.6 |
|
Gross revenue from gold sales |
206.1 |
|
155.8 |
|
716.4 |
|
620.4 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
77,281 |
|
77,870 |
|
296,846 |
|
319,116 |
|
Total average realized price per gold ounce sold ($/ounce) |
2,667 |
|
2,001 |
|
2,413 |
|
1,944 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
RAINY RIVER AVERAGE REALIZED PRICE |
|
|
|
|
Revenue from gold sales |
156.7 |
|
122.1 |
|
551.1 |
|
494.3 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
58,839 |
|
61,086 |
|
228,676 |
|
254,932 |
|
Rainy River average realized price per gold ounce sold ($/ounce) |
2,662 |
|
1,999 |
|
2,410 |
|
1,939 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three months ended December 31 |
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars, except where noted) |
2024 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 |
NEW AFTON AVERAGE REALIZED PRICE |
|
|
|
|
Revenue from gold sales |
46.8 |
|
31.9 |
|
156.6 |
|
118.5 |
|
Treatment and refining charges on gold concentrate sales |
2.6 |
|
1.9 |
|
8.6 |
|
7.6 |
|
Gross revenue from gold sales |
49.4 |
|
33.8 |
|
165.3 |
|
126.1 |
|
Gold ounces sold |
18,442 |
|
16,784 |
|
68,170 |
|
64,185 |
|
New Afton average realized price per gold ounce sold ($/ounce) |
2,679 |
|
2,009 |
|
2,424 |
|
1,964 |
|
45 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT AND RISK FACTORS
The Company is subject to various financial and other risks that could materially adversely affect the Company’s future business, operations and financial condition. For a comprehensive discussion of these and other risks facing the Company, please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
Financial Risk Management
The Company examines the various financial instrument risks to which it is exposed and assesses the impact and likelihood of those risks. These risks may include credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk and other price risks. Where material, these risks are reviewed and monitored by the Board of Directors. The Company determines the fair value of its financial instruments as outlined in Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements.
(a) Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of an unexpected loss if a party to the Company’s financial instruments fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company’s financial assets are primarily composed of cash and cash equivalents, and trade and other receivables. Credit risk is primarily associated with trade and other receivables; however, it also arises on cash and cash equivalents, foreign exchange forward contracts and fuel hedge swap contracts. To mitigate exposure to credit risk, the Company has established policies to limit the concentration of credit risk, to ensure counterparties demonstrate minimum acceptable credit worthiness, and to ensure liquidity of available funds.
The Company closely monitors its financial assets and does not have any significant concentration of credit risk. The Company sells its gold exclusively to large international organizations with strong credit ratings. The historical level of customer defaults is minimal and, as a result, the credit risk associated with gold and copper concentrate trade receivables at December 31, 2024 is not considered to be high.
The Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
2023 |
CREDIT RISK EXPOSURE |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
105.2 |
|
185.5 |
|
Trade and other receivables |
26.2 |
|
16.3 |
|
|
|
|
Total financial instrument exposure to credit risk |
131.4 |
|
201.8 |
|
A significant portion of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents is held in large Canadian financial institutions. Short-term investments (including those presented as part of cash and cash equivalents) are composed of financial instruments issued by Canadian banks with high investment-grade ratings and the governments of Canada and the U.S.
The Company employs a restrictive investment policy as detailed in the capital risk management section, which is described in Note 18 of the consolidated financial statements.
46 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
The aging of trade and other receivables is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
0-30 days |
31-60 days |
61-90 days |
91-120 days |
Over 120 days |
2024 Total |
2023 Total |
AGING TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rainy River |
10.2 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
10.2 |
|
4.0 |
|
New Afton |
16.6 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
16.6 |
|
10.8 |
|
Cerro San Pedro |
(0.8) |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
(0.8) |
|
0.5 |
|
Corporate |
0.2 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
0.2 |
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total trade and other receivables(1) |
26.2 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
26.2 |
|
16.3 |
|
1.For the year ended December 31, 2024 total trade and other receivables includes expected credit losses of $nil (2023 - $0.4 million).
The Company sells its gold and copper concentrate production from New Afton to three different customers under off-take contracts.
The Company is not economically dependent on a limited number of customers for the sale of its gold and other metals because gold and other metals can be sold through numerous commodity market traders worldwide.
(b) Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company manages liquidity risk through the management of its capital structure and financial leverage, as outlined in Note 18 of the consolidated financial statements.
The following table shows the contractual maturities of debt commitments. The amounts presented represent the future undiscounted principal and interest cash flows, and therefore, do not equate to the carrying amounts on the consolidated statements of financial position.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at December 31 |
|
|
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
< 1 year |
1-3 years |
4-5 years |
After 5 years |
2024 Total |
2023 Total |
|
|
DEBT COMMITMENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
139.4 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
139.4 |
|
182.0 |
|
|
|
Long-term debt |
— |
|
400.0 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
400.0 |
|
400.0 |
|
|
|
Interest payable on long-term debt |
30.0 |
|
60.0 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
90.0 |
|
120.0 |
|
|
|
New Afton free cash flow interest obligation |
— |
|
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
659.0 |
|
|
|
Rainy River gold stream obligation |
44.0 |
89.0 |
54.6 |
69.9 |
257.5 |
|
217.0 |
|
|
Total debt commitments |
213.4 |
|
549.0 |
|
54.6 |
|
69.9 |
|
886.9 |
|
1,578.0 |
|
|
|
The Company’s future operating cash flow and cash position are highly dependent on metal prices, including gold and copper, as well as other factors. Taking into consideration the Company’s current cash position, volatile equity markets, and global uncertainty in the capital markets, the Company is continually reviewing expenditures and assessing business opportunities to enhance liquidity in order to ensure adequate liquidity and flexibility to support its growth strategy, while continuing production at its current operations. A period of continuous low gold and copper prices may necessitate the deferral of capital expenditures which may impact the timing of development work and project completion, as well as
47 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
production from mining operations. In addition, in such a price environment, the Company may be required to adopt one or more alternatives to increase liquidity.
(c) Currency risk
The Company operates in Canada. As a result, the Company has foreign currency exposure with respect to items not denominated in U.S. dollars. The three main types of foreign exchange risk for the Company can be categorized as follows:
(i) Transaction exposure
The Company’s operations sell commodities and incur costs in different currencies. This creates exposure at the operational level, which may affect the Company’s profitability as exchange rates fluctuate. This risk is partially mitigated by the foreign exchange forward contracts entered into throughout 2024. These foreign exchange forward contracts will continue into 2025.
(ii) Exposure to currency risk
The Company is exposed to currency risk through the following assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar: cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accruals, reclamation and closure cost obligations. The Company has worked to manage its currency risk by entering into foreign exchange forward agreements.
The currencies of the Company’s financial instruments and other foreign currency denominated liabilities, based on notional amounts, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at As at December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
2023 |
|
|
CAD EXPOSURE TO CURRENCY RISK |
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
12.3 |
|
15.5 |
|
|
|
Trade and other receivables |
4.5 |
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
Investments |
5.1 |
|
7.1 |
|
|
|
Income tax receivable (payable) |
(0.5) |
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
Deferred tax asset |
8.7 |
|
4.9 |
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
(99.8) |
|
(126.2) |
|
|
|
Deferred tax liability |
(55.6) |
|
(74.8) |
|
|
|
Reclamation and closure cost obligations |
(117.8) |
|
(123.4) |
|
|
|
Share units |
(19.8) |
|
(9.90) |
|
|
|
Total exposure to currency risk |
(262.9) |
|
(300.1) |
|
|
|
(iii) Translation exposure
The Company’s operations translate their operating results to U.S. dollars. Therefore, exchange rate movements in the Canadian dollar can have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated operating results. A 10% strengthening (weakening) of the U.S. dollar against the following currencies would have increased (decreased) the Company’s net earnings from the financial instruments presented by the amounts shown below.
48 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As at Year ended December 31 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
2024 |
|
2023 |
IMPACT OF 10% CHANGE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES |
|
|
|
Canadian dollar |
26.3 |
|
|
30.5 |
|
(d) Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or the future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The majority of the Company’s outstanding debt obligations are fixed and are therefore not exposed to changes in market interest rates.
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on its cash and cash equivalents. Interest earned on cash and cash equivalents is based on prevailing money market and bank account interest rates which may fluctuate. A 1.0% change in the interest rate would result in a difference of approximately $1.1 million in interest earned by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024 (2023 - $1.9 million). The Company has not entered into any derivative contracts to manage this risk.
(e) Metal and Input Price Risk
The Company’s earnings, cash flows and financial condition are subject to price risk due to fluctuations in the market price of gold and copper.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s revenue and cash flows were impacted by gold prices and copper prices. Metal price declines could cause continued development of, and production from, the Company’s properties to be uneconomic. There is a time lag between the shipment of gold and copper concentrate and final pricing, and changes in pricing can impact the Company’s revenue and working capital position.
Reserve calculations and mine plans using significantly lower gold, silver and copper prices could result in significant reductions in mineral reserve and resource estimates and revisions in the Company’s life-of-mine plans, which in turn could result in material write-downs of its investments in mining properties and increased depletion, reclamation and closure charges. Depending on the price of gold or other metals, the Company may determine that it is impractical to commence or, if commenced, to continue commercial production at a particular site. Metal price fluctuations also create adjustments to the provisional prices of sales made in previous periods that have not yet been subject to final pricing, and these adjustments could have an adverse impact on the Company’s financial results and financial condition. Any of these factors could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
The Company is also subject to price risk for fluctuations in the cost of energy, principally electricity and purchased petroleum products. The Company’s costs are affected by the prices and availability of commodities and other inputs it consumes or uses in its operations. The prices and availability of such commodities and inputs are influenced by inflation and supply and demand trends affecting the mining industry in general and other factors outside the Company’s control. Increases in the price for materials consumed in the Company’s mining and production activities could materially adversely affect its results of operations and financial condition. The Company’s short term exposure to changes in fuel prices have been reduced as the Company entered into fuel hedge swap contracts.
49 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
An increase in gold and copper prices would increase the Company’s net earnings whereas an increase in fuel and electricity prices would decrease the Company’s net earnings and vice versa. A 10% change in commodity prices and fuel and electricity prices would impact the Company’s net earnings as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, 2024 |
|
Year ended December 31, 2023 |
(in millions of U.S. dollars) |
|
Net Earnings |
|
Net Loss |
IMPACT OF 10% CHANGE IN COMMODITY PRICES |
|
|
|
|
Gold price |
|
71.6 |
|
|
62.0 |
|
Copper price |
|
21.0 |
|
|
17.0 |
|
Fuel and electricity price |
|
5.4 |
|
|
5.9 |
|
Other Risks
Production Estimates
Forecasts of future production are estimates based on interpretation and assumptions, and actual production may be less than estimated. Unless otherwise noted, the Company’s production forecasts are based on planned production being achieved at all of its mines. The Company’s ability to achieve and maintain full production rates at these mines is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, the occurrence of any of which could result in delays, slowdowns or suspensions and ultimately, the failure to achieve and maintain full production rates. The Company’s production estimates are dependent on, among other things, the accuracy of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, the accuracy of its life of mine plans, the accuracy of assumptions regarding ore grades and recovery rates, weather conditions and minimizing the impacts of extreme weather events, ground conditions, physical characteristics of ores, such as hardness and the presence or absence of particular metallurgical characteristics, the accuracy of estimated rates and costs of mining and processing, including without limitation, operating expenses, cash costs and all-in sustaining costs, mill availability, reliability of equipment and machinery, the accuracy of assumptions and estimates relating to tailings storage facility capacity, the performance of the processing circuit or other processes, water supply and/or quality, the receipt and maintenance of permits and the availability of a sufficient amount of people to perform the work necessary to maintain production as estimated. The Company’s actual production and other projected economic and operating parameters may not be realized for a variety of reasons, including those identified under the heading “Operating Risks” below. The failure of the Company to achieve its production estimates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Cost Estimates
The Company prepares estimates of operating costs, capital costs and closure costs for each operation and project. The Company’s actual costs are dependent on a number of factors, including the exchange rate between the United States dollar and the Canadian dollar, smelting and refining charges, penalty elements in concentrates, royalties, the price of gold and byproduct metals, the cost of inputs used in mining operations and production levels.
New Gold’s actual costs may vary from estimates for a variety of reasons, including changing waste-to-ore ratios, ore grade metallurgy, weather conditions, ground conditions, labour and other input costs, commodity prices, general inflationary pressures and currency exchange rates, as well as those risks
50 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
identified under the heading “Operating Risks” below. Failure to achieve cost estimates or material increases in costs could have an adverse impact on New Gold’s future cash flows, profitability, results of operations, ability to execute its strategic plans and financial condition.
Operating Risks
Mining operations generally involve a high degree of risk. The Company’s operations are subject to all the hazards and risks normally encountered in the exploration, development and production of gold, copper and silver including unusual and unexpected ground conditions or geologic formations, seismic activity, fracturing, rock bursts, rock slides, mud rushes, water inflow events, air blasts, cave-ins, slope or pit wall failures, rock falls, flooding, fire, explosions, dust emissions, metal losses, theft, periodic interruption due to inclement or hazardous weather conditions, equipment failure and other conditions that would impact the drilling and removal of material or otherwise impact the safety and efficiency of mine operations and the individuals who work within such mining operations. Block caving activities, including at the New Afton Mine, generally result in surface subsidence. The configuration of subsidence expression at surface is thought to be influenced by bedrock and structural geologic features such as weaker rock mass or faults. Subsidence is being monitored and evaluated on an ongoing basis. Surface subsidence or any of the above hazards and risks could result in reduced production, damage to, or destruction of, mines and other producing facilities, damage to life or property, environmental damage and possible legal liability. In addition, production may be adversely impacted by theft, fraud or industrial accidents, as well as other potential issues such as actual ore mined varying from estimates of grade or tonnage, dilution, block cave performance and metallurgical or other characteristics, significant increases or decreases in precipitation resulting in an over or under supply of water, treated water quality that is too low to allow for discharge when needed, interruptions in or shortages of electrical power, interruptions in delivery or shortages of required inputs or supplies, labour shortages or strikes, claims by or disagreements with First Nations and other Indigenous groups, restrictions or regulations imposed by government agencies or changes in the regulatory environment. The Company’s milling operations are subject to risks and hazards such as equipment failure, skilled worker shortages or failure of retaining dams around tailings disposal areas, which could lead to environmental pollution and consequent liability, and all of which could result in interruptions to mill availability and impact the Company's results of operations. In addition, short-term operating factors, such as the need for orderly development of the ore bodies or the processing of new or different ore grades, may cause a mining operation to be unprofitable in any particular accounting period.
The Company’s operations may encounter delays in or losses of production due to the deterioration, malfunction, misuse, breakdown or failure of its mobile or fixed equipment. Further, this equipment may require a long time to procure, build, install or repair due to delays in the delivery or lack of availability of equipment, spare parts or technicians with applicable expertise, which may impede maintenance activities on equipment. In addition, equipment may be subject to aging if not replaced, or through inappropriate use or misuse, or improper or unavailable storage conditions may become obsolete, which could adversely impact the Company’s operations, profitability and financial results.
The occurrence of one or more of these events may result in the death of, or personal injury to, employees, other personnel or third parties, the loss or theft of mining equipment, damage to or destruction of mineral properties or production facilities, monetary losses, deferral or unanticipated fluctuations in production, suspension, curtailment or termination of operations, environmental damage
51 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
and potential legal liabilities, any of which may adversely affect the Company’s business, reputation, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Permitting Risks
The Company’s operations, development projects, closure sites and exploration activities are subject to receiving and maintaining licenses, permits and approvals, including regulatory relief or amendments, (collectively, “permits”) from appropriate governmental authorities. Before any development on any of its properties, the Company must receive numerous permits, and continued operations at the Company’s mines are also dependent on maintaining, complying with and renewing required permits or obtaining additional permits.
New Gold may be unable to obtain on a timely basis or maintain in the future all necessary permits required to explore and develop its properties, commence construction or operation of mining facilities and properties or maintain continued operations. Delays may occur in connection with obtaining necessary renewals of permits for the Company’s existing operations and activities, additional permits for existing or future operations or activities, or additional permits associated with new or amended laws or regulations. It is possible that previously issued permits may be suspended, revoked or lapse for a variety of reasons, including through government or court action, such as the Supreme Court of Canada’s October 2023 decision that the federal Impact Assessment Act ("IAA") is unconstitutional in part.
In the past there have been challenges to the Company’s permits that were temporarily successful as well as delays in the renewal of certain permits or in receiving additional required permits. There can be no assurance that the Company will receive or continue to hold all permits necessary to develop or continue operating at any particular property or to pursue the Company’s exploration activities. To the extent that required permits cannot be obtained or maintained, the Company may be curtailed or prohibited from continuing its mining operations or from proceeding with planned exploration or development of mineral properties. Even if permits or renewals are available, the terms of such permits may be unattractive to the Company and result in the applicable operations or activities being financially unattractive or uneconomic. Any inability to obtain or maintain permits or to conduct mining operations pursuant to applicable permits could materially reduce the Company’s production and cash flow and could undermine its profitability.
Construction Risks
The capital expenditures and time required to develop new mines or new areas of operating mines are considerable and changes in cost or construction schedules can significantly increase both the time and capital required to build the project. As a result of the substantial expenditures involved in development projects, development projects are prone to material cost overruns versus budget.
Construction costs and timelines can be impacted by a wide variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These include, but are not limited to, weather conditions, ground conditions, performance of the mining fleet and availability of appropriate material and other supplies required for construction, availability and performance of contractors and suppliers, delivery and installation of equipment, design changes, accuracy of estimates and availability of accommodations for the workforce.
Project development schedules are also dependent on obtaining the governmental approvals necessary for the operation of a project. The timeline to obtain these government approvals is often beyond the control of the Company. A delay in start-up or commercial production of a development project would
52 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
increase capital costs and delay receipt of revenue and could impact the Company's ability to execute its strategic plans and the achievement of planned results.
While New Afton’s C-Zone reached hydraulic radius in the third quarter of 2024, marking the transition to steady state self-cave propagation (considered commercial production for C-Zone), the C-Zone project remains in the construction stage of its development, and at Rainy River, construction of the underground mine is ongoing. Given the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with mine development, there can be no assurance that the construction and development will continue in accordance with current expectations or at all, or that construction costs will be consistent with the budget, or that the mine will operate as planned.
Risk related to Strategic Plan Implementation
The Company conducts a strategic planning process that is intended to define short- and long-term objectives as well as execution strategies designed to achieve its objectives. These plans are reviewed on an ongoing basis and updated as current external and internal conditions change or are anticipated to change. The strategic plans are based upon certain assumptions around key variables as well as anticipated risks that can directly impact the validity of the strategy and the achievement of anticipated results.
If the assumptions and risk evaluation underlying the Company’s decision-making process becoming invalid as a result of unforeseen changes in business, operating and market conditions or otherwise prove incorrect, there can be no assurances that the Company’s management team will be successful in implementing its strategic plans or that past results will be reproduced going forward. This could result in a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, due to internal and external factors, the Company may not have sufficient capital resources, organizational skills and knowledge, or systems and processes in place to be able to execute its strategic plans in a timely, efficient or effective manner.
Government Regulation
The mining, processing, development, exploration and reclamation and closure activities of the Company are subject to various laws governing prospecting, development, production, exports, imports, taxes, labour standards and occupational health and safety, mine safety, toxic substances, waste disposal, environmental protection and remediation, protection of endangered and protected species, land use, water use, land claims of local people, relations with local First Nations and other matters. As a public company listed on stock exchanges in Canada and the U.S., the Company is also required to comply with a number of public company obligations imposed by securities commissions and stock exchanges, compliance with which can be timing consuming and costly. No assurance can be given that new rules and regulations will not be enacted or that existing rules and regulations will not be applied in a manner which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations, including a negative impact on the market price of the Company's securities.
Amendments to current laws, regulations and permits governing the Company's business, operations or development activities and activities of mining and exploration companies, or the application of existing laws, regulations and permits (including a more stringent or different application), could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position, or could result in abandonment or delays in the development of new mining properties or the suspension or curtailment of operations at existing mines. Failure to comply with any applicable laws, regulations or permitting
53 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
requirements may result in enforcement actions against the Company, including orders issued by regulatory or judicial authorities causing operations or development activities to cease or be curtailed or suspended, and may include corrective measures requiring capital expenditures, installation of additional equipment or remedial actions (see also “Permitting Risks” above). Additionally, the Company could be forced to compensate those suffering loss or damage by reason of its business activities, mining operations or exploration or development activities and could face civil or criminal fines or penalties imposed for violations of applicable laws or regulations. Any such regulatory or judicial action could materially increase the Company’s operating costs, delay or curtail or otherwise negatively impact the Company’s operations and other activities and cause reputational harm. For example, the recent decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), may make staking and registering additional claims in British Columbia more complex and time consuming in the future, making it more difficult to acquire additional claims. Additionally, amendments to the Competition Act that became law on June 20, 2024 via Bill C-59 could subject the Company to substantial monetary penalties and reputational harm should the Company inadvertently fail to properly comply with the explicit provisions targeting misleading environmental benefit claims (greenwashing).
Dependence on the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine
The Company’s operations at the Rainy River and the New Afton Mines are expected to account for substantially all of the Company’s gold and copper production in 2025. Any adverse condition affecting mining or milling conditions at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial performance and results of operations.
Unless the Company acquires or develops other significant gold-producing assets, the Company will continue to be dependent on its operations at the Rainy River and the New Afton Mines for its cash flow provided by operating activities.
Exploration and Development Risks
The exploration for, and development of, mineral deposits involves significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge cannot eliminate. While the discovery of an ore body may result in substantial rewards, few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Once a site with mineralization is discovered, it may take several years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change. Major expenses may be required to locate and establish Mineral Reserves, to develop metallurgical processes and to construct mining and processing facilities at a particular site. It is impossible to ensure that the exploration or development programs planned by the Company will result in a profitable commercial mining operation.
Whether a mineral deposit will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as accuracy of estimated size, continuity of mineralization, average grade and metallurgical characteristics (see “Uncertainty in the Estimation of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources” below); proximity to infrastructure; metal prices, which are highly cyclical (see "Metal and Input Price Risk" above); and government regulations, including regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting of minerals and environmental protection (see "Government Regulation" above). The exact effect of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but the combination of these factors may result in the Company being unable to receive an adequate return on invested capital.
54 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Development projects are uncertain and capital cost estimates, projected operating costs, production rates, recovery rates, mine life and other operating parameters and economic returns may differ significantly from those estimated for a project. Development projects rely on the accuracy of predicted factors including capital and operating costs, metallurgical recoveries, reserve estimates and future metal prices. Development projects also rely on diligent capital management to prevent overspending. In addition, there can be no assurance that gold, copper or silver recoveries in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.
At New Afton, the Company transitioned the C-Zone block cave from production ramp-up phase to commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2024. Additionally, it is exploring the eastern part of the mine, including the K-Zone, HW Zone, AI-Southeast target and the East Extension. At Rainy River, the Company is developing the underground mine and open pit expansion as well as further exploring the Intrepid, ODM East, 17 East, Gap Area, NW Trend and 280 Zone regional opportunities to develop new mining zones outside the current mine footprint. The Company may engage in other development and expansion activities at its operating mines from time to time. Expansion projects, including development and expansions of facilities and extensions to new ore bodies or new portions of existing ore bodies, have risks and uncertainties similar to development projects.
A project is subject to numerous risks during development including, but not limited to, the accuracy of feasibility studies, obtaining and complying with required permits, changes in environmental or other government regulations, securing all necessary surface and land tenure rights, consulting and accommodating First Nations and other Indigenous groups and financing risks. Unforeseen circumstances, including those related to the amount and nature of the mineralization at the development site, technological impediments to extraction and processing, legal challenges or restrictions or governmental intervention, infrastructure limitations, supply chain issues, environmental issues, unexpected ground conditions or other unforeseen development challenges, commodity prices, disputes with local communities or other events, could result in one or more of New Gold’s planned developments becoming impractical or uneconomic to complete or could otherwise impact the Company’s ability to execute its strategic plans. Any such occurrence could have an adverse impact on New Gold’s growth, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company’s expansion and development projects will continue in accordance with current expectations or at all. See also “Permitting Risks” above.
Water Management Risks
Changes in climate have the potential to result in more extreme precipitation levels and extreme weather events that can affect the Company’s operations (see “Climate Change Risks” below). For example, in 2023, British Columbia experienced the most devastating wildfire season on record, and drought conditions and elevated forest fire risk and activity has impacted both sites in a number of recent years. In the 2021 to 2022 hydrological year, the area surrounding the Rainy River Mine experienced annual precipitation approaching a "1 in 100" year wet event and resulted in operational difficulties addressing the water surplus. In 2021, an atmospheric river event occurred on the lower mainland of British Columbia, which caused severe flooding and mudslides that led to a number of the major highways, bridges, roads and similar infrastructure being flooded, taken out or otherwise becoming inaccessible, which impacted supply chain processes and concentrate sales for the New Afton Mine. Water is a critical resource for the Company’s operations and inadequate water management and stewardship could have a material adverse effect on the Company and its operations. While certain aspects relating to water
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management are within the Company’s control, extreme weather events can negatively impact the Company’s water management practices. These can consequently impact operations, disrupt production, increase costs and damage site and ancillary infrastructure.
The Company’s production estimates are dependent on, among other things, water supply, water storage and water quality, and production may be adversely impacted by availability of any of those conditions. Inadequate water supply or poor water management can directly affect capital and operating costs. New Gold could encounter business disruptions and operational difficulties in addressing too much water, such as what was experienced at the Rainy River Mine in 2022, or too little water resulting in an under supply of water at the Company’s operations, which the mills require to operate. Both of which could lead to production and other disruptions and impact the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations.
Mining, processing, development and exploration activities are dependent on adequate infrastructure and reliable water supply and water management. Failure to properly manage water levels or properly treat water can lead to treated water quality that is too low to allow for discharge when needed or other challenges in the ability to store water in the amounts required. The Company may also not be able to discharge water when needed for regulatory reasons outside of its control, including drought conditions where the receiving environment has insufficient capacity. Poor water management and discharge control may not only result in contaminants exceeding permitted limits, but also the suspension of operations at the Company’s mine sites. The Company has instituted water management plans but there can be no guarantees that the water management plans will be sufficient or perform as intended, and there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to discharge water when needed, which could subject the Company to liability and affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Insufficient water management practices could lead to damage to site infrastructure and have a direct impact on the Company’s operations and production. Underperformance or ineffective maintenance of the stabilization and dewatering of its tailings storage facility structures, including the New Afton Tailngs Storage Facility ("NATSF") or improper management of site water could contribute to dam failure or tailings release and may also result in damage or injury to people or property (see “Tailings Risks” below).
Tailings
Mining companies also face innate risks in their operations with respect to tailings storage facilities and structures built for the containment of processed rock that remains after the target minerals are extracted, known as tailings, which exposes the Company to a number of risks. Unexpected failings or breaches of tailings storage facilities, such as slope failures, foundation failures or erosion, could release tailings and result in extensive environmental damage to the surrounding area as well as damage to property, personal injury or death. Tailings storage facility failures or indications of potential future failures can result in the immediate suspension of mining operations by government authorities and lead to significant costs and expenses, write offs of material assets and the recognition of provisions for remediation, which could affect the Company’s operations and statements of financial position.
The Company seeks to maintain its tailing storage facilities through the stabilization and effective maintenance of such facilities. Stabilization, which includes dewatering, of its tailings storage facilities, such as the NATSF, has been and continues to be an important undertaking for the Company as underperformance or ineffective maintenance, failing to complete stabilization projects according to plan or improper management of site water could contribute to tailings storage facility failure or tailings release.
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In the case of New Afton, a stabilization and dewatering schedule must be adhered to as C-Zone mining is expected to cause subsidence of the tailings storage facilities. Stabilization is expected to be completed prior to C-Zone subsidence impacts; however, too much water in the tailings storage facility, including as a result of failing to sufficiently dewater the tailings storage facility or sufficiently remove the pond of water on the surface of the tailings storage facility, could require additional time and result in a disruption in production. In 2023, the Company completed the final commissioning of all 29 dewatering wells at the NATSF. In 2024, successful permitting and operations of twelve evaporators, combined with other water reduction opportunities and stabilization activities, have helped increased certainty around meeting stabilization objectives. There can be no assurances that the dewatering wells or other stabilization infrastructure will continue to operate and perform as intended nor that they will operate and perform without interruption. Should the NATSF fail to be stabilized as planned, to protect against an unexpected failure of the tailings storage facility the Company could be forced to pause or reduce production until stabilization is completed, or otherwise lead to a disruption in production. Any such pause or disruption could have a negative impact on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations.
The unexpected failure of a tailings storage facility could subject the Company to any or all of the potential impacts discussed below in “Environmental Risks” and as described under “Geotechnical Risks” in New Gold’s Annual Information Form, among others. A major spill or failure of the tailings facilities (including as a result of matters beyond the Company’s control such as extreme weather, a seismic event or other incident) could cause damage to the Company's workers, the environment and the surrounding communities. Failure to comply with existing or new environmental, health and safety laws and regulations could lead to injunctions, fines, suspension or revocation of permits and other penalties. The costs and delays associated with compliance with these laws, regulations and permits may prevent the Company from proceeding with the development of a project or the operation or further development of a mine or increase the costs of development or production or otherwise impact the Company’s ability to execute its strategic plans, and may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company could also be held responsible for the costs associated with investigating and addressing contamination (including claims for natural resource damages) or for fines or penalties from governmental authorities relating to contamination issues at current or former sites, either owned directly or by third parties. The Company could also be found liable for claims relating to exposure to hazardous and toxic substances and major spills, breach or other failure of the tailing facilities. The costs associated with such responsibilities and liabilities could be significant, be higher than estimated and may involve a time consuming clean-up. Furthermore, in the event that the Company is deemed liable for any damage caused by overflow, the Company’s losses or consequences of regulatory action might not be sufficiently covered by insurance policies. Should the Company be unable to fully fund the cost of remedying such environmental concerns, the Company could be required to temporarily or permanently suspend operations. If any such risks were to occur, this could materially and adversely affect the Company’s reputation and its ability to conduct its operations, and could subject the Company to liability and result in a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Financing Risks
The Company’s mining, processing, development and exploration activities may require additional external financing. There can be no assurance that additional capital or other types of financing will be
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available when needed or that, if available, the terms of such financing will be acceptable to the Company. Furthermore, if the Company raises additional capital by offering equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, any additional financing may involve substantial dilution to existing shareholders. If raised through asset sales, the terms of such sales may not be favourable to the Company, and may reduce the assets and future economic performance of the Company. Failure to obtain sufficient financing could result in the delay or indefinite postponement of exploration, development, construction or production of any or all of the Company’s mineral properties or otherwise impact the Company's strategic plans. The cost and terms of such financing may significantly reduce the expected benefits from new developments or render such developments uneconomic.
Need for Additional Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
Because mines have limited lives based on Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves, the Company continually seeks to replace and expand its Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources. The Company’s ability to maintain or increase its annual production of gold, copper and silver depends in significant part on its ability to find or acquire new Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and bring new mines into production, and to expand Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources at existing mines. Exploration is inherently speculative. New Gold’s exploration projects involve many risks and exploration is frequently unsuccessful. See “Exploration and Development Risks” above. There is a risk that depletion of reserves will not be offset by discoveries or acquisitions. The mineral base of New Gold may decline if reserves are mined without adequate replacement.
Uncertainty in the Estimation of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are estimates only and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved, that the indicated level of recovery will be realized or that Mineral Reserves can be mined or processed profitably. Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, geotechnical factors (such as pit slope angles), marketing and other risks and relevant issues. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Such estimation is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any Mineral Reserve or Mineral Resource estimate is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, the accuracy of assumptions, the nature of the ore body and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation. These estimates may require adjustments or downward revisions based upon further exploration or development work, drilling or actual production experience.
Fluctuations in gold, copper and silver prices, results of drilling, metallurgical testing and production, the evaluation of mine plans after the date of any estimate, permitting requirements or unforeseen technical or operational difficulties may require revision of Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates. Prolonged declines in the market price of gold (or applicable by-product metal prices) may render Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources containing relatively lower grades of mineralization uneconomical to recover and could materially reduce the Company’s Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources. Mineral Resource estimates for properties that have not commenced production or at deposits that have not yet been exploited are based, in most instances, on very limited and widely-spaced drill hole information, which is not necessarily indicative of conditions between and around the drill holes. There may also be outliers in the representative samples that may disproportionately skew the estimates. In a block cave mine, as a cave exhausts its reserves, it may experience dilution of grade. Accordingly, such Mineral Resource estimates may require revision as more geologic and drilling information becomes available
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and as actual production experience is gained. Should reductions in the Company's Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves occur, the Company may be required to take a material write-down of its investment in mining properties, reduce the carrying value of one or more of its assets or delay or discontinue production or the development of new projects, resulting in reduced net earnings or increased net losses and reduced cash flow. Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves should not be interpreted as assurances of mine life or of the profitability of current or future operations. In addition, the estimates of Mineral Resources, Mineral Reserves and economic projections rely in part on third-party reports and investigations. There is a degree of uncertainty attributable to the calculation and estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and corresponding grades being mined and, as a result, the volume and grade of Mineral Reserves mined and processed and recovery rates may not be the same as currently anticipated. Any material reductions in estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, or of the Company’s ability to extract these Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s projects, results of operations and financial condition.
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have a greater degree of uncertainty as to their existence and feasibility. There is no assurance that Mineral Resources will be upgraded to Proven or Probable Mineral Reserves.
Uncertainty Relating to Inferred Mineral Resources
Inferred Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty which may attach to Inferred Mineral Resources, there is no assurance that Inferred Mineral Resources will be upgraded through further exploration to the measured and indicated resource classification level of confidence necessary for their potential conversion to proven or probable Mineral Reserves as a result of a pre-feasibility or feasibility level technical study.
Impairment
On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews and evaluates its mining interests for indicators of impairment or impairment reversals. In the past, New Gold has recognized material impairment losses. Impairment assessments are conducted at the level of cash-generating units (“CGU”). A CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. Each operating mine, development and exploration project represents a separate CGU. If an indication of impairment exists, the recoverable amount of the CGU is estimated. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of the CGU is in excess of its recoverable amount. The assessment for impairment is subjective and requires management to make significant judgments and assumptions in respect of a number of factors, including prolonged significant changes in commodity prices, per ounce in-situ multiples, significant change to life-of-mine plans, significant changes in discount rates, and if applicable, the factors which lead to a prolonged and sustained market capitalization deficiencies. It is possible that the actual fair value could be significantly different than those estimates. In addition, should management’s estimate of the future not reflect actual events, further impairment charges may materialize, and the timing and amount of such impairment charges is difficult to predict.
Title Claims and Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Certain of New Gold’s properties may be subject to the rights or the asserted rights of various community stakeholders, including First Nations and other Indigenous peoples. The presence of community stakeholders may impact the Company’s ability to develop or operate its mining properties and its projects
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or to conduct exploration activities. For example, as a result of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Gitxaala v. British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), and the resulting proposed draft Mineral Claim Consultation Framework in British Columbia, the Company’s ability to stake and register additional claims in British Columbia may become more complex and time consuming in the future making it more difficult to acquire additional claims. Accordingly, the Company is subject to the risk that one or more groups may oppose the continued operation, further development or new development or exploration of the Company’s current or future mining properties and projects. Such opposition may be directed through legal or administrative proceedings, or through protests or other campaigns against the Company’s activities.
Governments in many jurisdictions must consult with, or require the Company to consult with, indigenous peoples with respect to grants of mineral rights and the issuance or amendment of project authorizations. In British Columbia, the provincial government enacted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in November 2019, which may affect consultation requirements in that jurisdiction. Additionally, on July 21, 2021, the federal government’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act came into force marking Canada’s first substantive step towards ensuring Canadian federal laws reflect the standards outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is yet to be determined what near-term impacts and changes, if any, will follow; however, such legislation may potentially have numerous implications for indigenous groups, government authorities and natural resource project proponents. The Company is party to, and has impact benefit agreements in place with, certain First Nations near the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine, each of which require the Company to comply with predetermined obligations and requirements. There is the risk that the Company may not fulfill all of its obligation under such impact benefit agreements which could cause it to lose the support of the affected First Nations group and otherwise impact its reputation, business and operations.
Consultation and other rights of Indigenous peoples may require accommodation including undertakings regarding employment, royalty payments and other matters. This may affect the Company’s ability to acquire within a reasonable time frame effective mineral titles, permits or licenses in certain jurisdictions, including in some parts of Canada and Mexico in which title or other rights are claimed by First Nations and other Indigenous peoples, and may affect the timetable and costs of development and operation of mineral properties in these jurisdictions. The risk of unforeseen title claims by indigenous peoples also could affect existing operations as well as development projects. These legal requirements may also affect the Company’s ability to expand or transfer existing operations or to develop new projects.
Environmental Risk
The Company is subject to environmental regulation in Canada and Mexico where it operates or has exploration or development activities. In addition, the Company will be subject to environmental regulation in any other jurisdictions in which it may operate or have exploration or development properties. These regulations address, among other things, endangered and protected species, emissions, noise, air and water quality standards, land use and reclamation. They also set out limitations on the generation, transportation, storage and disposal of solid, liquid and hazardous waste or potentially hazardous substances such as fuel, lime or cyanide.
60 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD The Company expends significant resources to comply with environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements, and expects to continue to do so in the future. Failure to comply with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permitting requirements may result in injunctions, damages, suspension or revocation of permits and imposition of penalties. There can be no assurance that:
•the Company has been or will be at all times in complete compliance with such laws, regulations and permitting requirements, or with any new or amended laws, regulations and permitting requirements that may be imposed from time to time;
•the Company’s compliance will not be challenged; or
•the costs of compliance will be economic and will not materially or adversely affect the Company’s future cash flow, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company may be subject to proceedings in respect of alleged failures to comply with environmental laws, regulations or permitting requirements or of posing a threat to or of having caused hazards or damage to the environment or to persons or property. While any such proceedings are in process, the Company could suffer delays or impediments to or suspension of development and construction of the Company’s projects and operations and, even if the Company is ultimately successful, it may not be compensated for the losses resulting from any such proceedings or delays.
Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner, which will involve, in certain jurisdictions, stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors and employees. No certainty exists that future changes in environmental regulation, or the application of such regulations, if any, will not adversely affect the Company’s operations or development properties or exploration activities. The Company cannot give any assurance that, notwithstanding its precautions, breaches of environmental laws (even if inadvertent) or environmental pollution will not materially and adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations. Environmental hazards may exist on the Company’s properties which are unknown to management at present and which have been caused by previous owners or operators of the properties. Changes in weather conditions can also cause environmental hazards, such as increased precipitation leading to possible tailings storage facility failures or other heightened risk of environmental incidents and need for water management mitigation. Increased precipitation can also affect compliance with environmental regulations and affect operations. In addition, measures taken to address and mitigate known environmental hazards or risks may not be fully successful, and such hazards or risks may materialize.
There may be existing environmental hazards, contamination or damage at the Company's mines or projects that the Company is unaware of. The Company may also acquire properties with known or undiscovered environmental risks. Any indemnification from the entity from which the Company acquires such properties may not be adequate to pay all the fines, penalties and costs (such as clean-up and restoration costs) incurred with respect to such properties. The Company may also be held responsible for addressing environmental hazards, contamination or damage caused by current or former activities at our mines or projects or exposure to hazardous substances, regardless of whether or not the hazard, damage, contamination or exposure was caused by its activities or by previous owners or operators of the property, past or present owners of adjacent properties or by natural conditions, and whether or not such
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hazard, damage, contamination or exposure was unknown or undetectable. The New Afton Mine has also been used for mining and related operations for many years before the Company acquired it and was acquired "as is" or with assumed environmental liabilities from previous owners or operators.
Any finding of liability in proceedings pursuant to environmental laws, regulations or permitting requirements could result in additional substantial costs, delays in the exploration, development and operation of the Company’s properties and other penalties and liabilities, including, but not limited to:
•monetary penalties (including fines);
•restrictions on or suspension of activities;
•loss of rights, permits and property;
•completion of extensive remedial cleanup or paying for government or third-party remedial cleanup;
•premature reclamation of operating sites; and
•seizure of funds or forfeiture of bonds.
The cost of addressing environmental conditions or risks, and liabilities associated with environmental damage, may be significant, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. Production at New Gold’s mines involves the use of various chemicals, including certain chemicals that are designated as hazardous substances. Contamination from hazardous substances, either at the Company’s own properties or other locations for which it may be responsible, may subject the Company to liability for the investigation or remediation of contamination, as well as for claims seeking to recover for related property damage, personal injury or damage to natural resources. The occurrence of any of these adverse events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects, results of operations and financial position.
Production at the Rainy River Mine involves the use of sodium cyanide which is a hazardous material. Should sodium cyanide solution leak or otherwise be discharged from the containment system, the Company may become subject to liability for cleanup work that may not be insured, in addition to liability for any damage caused. Such liability could be material.
Risks relating to ESG practices and reporting
There is a number of analysts, reviewing agencies and consultants (“ESG Reviewers”) involved in evaluating the Company’s performance on specific ESG matters and issuing reports and ratings regarding such performance. There is a wide variety of ESG reporting frameworks which are continuing to evolve and limited standardization on reporting metrics within the global ESG reporting space. There is also a wide variety of methodologies employed by ESG Reviewers, which are not fully transparent regarding the selection and weighting of metrics relied upon in generating a particular report or ranking. The Company has systems in place to manage ESG matters and to help ensure proper and complete reporting thereof. However, given the wide variety in ESG reporting frameworks and ESG Reviewer methodologies, there can be no assurances that the Company’s efforts will be successful or meet the standards set by a given ESG Reviewer. ESG reporting frameworks and ESG-related factors, including climate change, can be a relevant metrics for institutional investors in reviewing and assessing the performance of the Company and ultimately in making investment decisions. There can be no assurances that the Company’s systems will be able to reliably manage potential impacts of ESG reports and rankings on the Company’s ability to attract investments at a reasonable cost. If reporting is not well
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managed, there is also a risk that the Company could face litigation related to its ESG reporting or performance claims as regulators and third parties are increasingly turning their attention to greenwashing practices in the business world. For example, amendments to the Competition Act that became law on June 20, 2024 via Bill C-59 could subject the Company to substantial monetary penalties and reputational harm should the Company inadvertently fail to properly comply with the explicit provisions targeting misleading environmental benefit claims. Each of these events could have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business and financial condition.
Insurance and Uninsured Risks
New Gold’s business is subject to a number of risks and hazards generally including adverse environmental conditions, industrial accidents, labour disputes, loss or theft of its products, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground or slope or wall failures, cave-ins, metallurgical or other processing problems, fires, operational problems, 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 or other property, personal injury or death, environmental damage to the Company's properties or the properties of others, delays in mining, supply chain disruptions, government service disruptions, monetary losses and possible legal liability.
Although the Company maintains insurance to protect against certain risks in such amounts as it considers reasonable, such insurance will not cover all the potential risks associated with the Company’s operations. The Company may also be unable to maintain insurance to cover these risks at economically feasible premiums. Insurance coverage may not continue to be available on acceptable terms 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, development and production is not generally available to the Company or to other companies in the mining industry on acceptable terms. New Gold may also become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards which may not be insured against or which the Company may elect not to insure against because of premium costs or other reasons. Losses from these events may cause the Company to incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on results of operations and financial condition.
Reclamation Costs
The Company’s operations are subject to closure and reclamation plans that establish its obligations to reclaim properties after minerals have been mined from a site. These obligations represent significant future costs for the Company. It may be necessary to revise reclamation timing, concepts and plans, which could increase costs.
Reclamation bonds or other forms of financial assurance are often required to secure reclamation activities. Governing authorities require companies to periodically recalculate the amount of a reclamation bond and may require bond amounts to be increased. It may be necessary to revise the planned reclamation expenditures and the operating plan for a mine in order to fund an increase to a reclamation bond. In addition, reclamation bonds may be issued under the Company’s credit facilities. Increases in the amount of reclamation bonds will decrease the amount of the Credit Facility available for other purposes.
Reclamation bonds may represent only a portion of the total amount of money that will be spent on reclamation over the life of a mine operation. The actual costs of reclamation set out in mine plans are
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estimates only and may not represent the actual amounts that will be required to complete all reclamation activity. Obtaining regulatory approval of the Company's reclamation activity may also add additional time and costs to reclamation. If actual costs are significantly higher than the Company’s estimates, then its results of operations and financial position could be materially adversely affected.
Inflation Risks
Inflation rates in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates have increased in recent years. A significant portion of the upward pressure on prices has been attributed to the rising costs of labour and energy, the fiscal and monetary stimuli provided by governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as continuing global supply-chain disruptions, with global energy costs increasing significantly following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Moreover, the Middle East is an important contributor to global oil supplies and any instability in the region, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict that commenced in October 2023, can cause price hikes due to anticipated supply disruptions, which can in turn affect global inflation rates and trade balances. While inflation rates have trended down most recently, they remain subject to volatility and the increased prices resulting from inflation have remained. These inflationary pressures have affected the Company’s labour, commodity and other input costs and such pressures may or may not be transitory. The Company has made assumptions around the expected costs of key inputs; however, actual costs in an inflationary environment may differ materially from those assumptions. Any continued upward trajectory in the inflation rate for the Company’s inputs may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating and capital expenditures for the development of its projects as well as its financial condition and results of operations.
Tariffs
Tariffs imposed by one country on goods or services being imported into that country from another country can cause disruption in global trade that affects prices, exchange rates, availability of tariffed goods or services in certain countries and changes in consumption and production levels on tariffed goods or services. Often when one country imposes tariffs on another country, that other country imposes retaliatory tariffs in response. There is currently a rise in threatened and imposed tariffs as well as threatened or imposed retaliatory between countries. The Company can be affected by tariffs and the consequent disruptions in global trade in several ways, including increased cost or decreased availability of supplies, impacts on exchange rates that affects costs and potential reduction in revenue or ability to sell its products if tariffs are imposed on the gold or copper it is selling in the market.
Global Financial Conditions
Global financial conditions have been subject to continued volatility, such as most recently when considering the numerous interest rate hikes in Canada, the U.S. and other countries around the world in recent years and the significant fluctuations in fuel and energy costs and metal prices. Government debt, the risk of sovereign defaults, political instability and wider economic concerns in many countries have been causing significant uncertainties in the markets. Disruptions in the credit and capital markets can have a negative impact on the availability and terms of credit and capital. Uncertainties in these markets could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, ability to raise capital and cost of capital. High levels of volatility and market turmoil could also adversely impact commodity prices, demand for metals, including gold, exchange rates and interest rates and have a detrimental effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and financial performance, including a possible negative impact on the market price of the Company’s securities.
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Debt and Liquidity Risk
As at December 31, 2024, the Company had long-term debt comprised of one series of notes in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million. In addition, the Company has the Credit Facility. The Company’s ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest on or to refinance its indebtedness depends on the Company’s future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors many of which are not under the control of New Gold. The Company is exposed to interest rate risk on variable rate debt, if any. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they become due, including, among others, debt repayments, interest payments and contractual commitments.
In the future, the Company may not continue to generate cash flow from operations sufficient to service its debt and make necessary or planned capital expenditures. If the Company is unable to generate such cash flow, it may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, borrowing additional funds, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. The Company’s ability to borrow additional funds or refinance its indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and its financial condition at such time. The Company may not be able to engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on its debt obligations. In addition, if New Gold is unable to maintain its indebtedness and financial ratios at levels acceptable to its credit rating agencies, or should New Gold’s business prospects deteriorate, the ratings currently assigned to New Gold by Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services could be downgraded, which could adversely affect the value of New Gold’s outstanding securities and existing debt and its ability to obtain new financing on favourable terms, and New Gold’s borrowing cost would likely increase as a result.
If the Company’s cash flow and other sources of liquidity are not sufficient to continue operations and make necessary and planned capital expenditures, the Company may cancel or defer capital expenditures and/or suspend or curtail operations. Such an action may impact production at mining operations and/or the timelines and cost associated with development projects, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
The terms of the Company’s Credit Facility and stream agreement with Royal Gold Inc. (“Royal Gold”) require the Company to satisfy various affirmative and negative covenants and to meet certain financial ratios and tests. In addition, the terms of the Company’s 2027 Unsecured Notes require the Company to satisfy various affirmative and negative covenants. These covenants limit, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, create certain liens on assets or engage in certain types of transactions. There are no assurances that in the future, the Company will not, as a result of these covenants, be limited in its ability to respond to changes in its business or competitive activities or be restricted in its ability to engage in mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of assets. Furthermore, a failure to comply with these covenants, including, in the case of the Credit Facility and stream agreement with Royal Gold, or a failure to meet the financial tests or ratios, would likely result in an event of default under the Credit Facility and/or the 2027 Unsecured Notes and/or stream agreement and would allow the lenders or noteholders or other contractual counterparty, as the case may be, to accelerate the debt or other obligations as the case may be.
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Impact of Pandemic Disease on Global Economic Conditions and Performance
The Company’s operations are subject to the risk of emerging infectious diseases or the threat of outbreaks of viruses or other contagions or epidemic diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These infectious disease risks may not be adequately responded to locally, nationally or internationally due to lack of preparedness to detect and respond to outbreaks or respond to significant pandemic threats. As such, there are potentially significant economic and social impacts of infectious disease risks, including the inability of the Company’s mining and exploration operations to operate as intended due to a shortage of skilled employees, shortages or disruptions in supply chains, inability of employees to access sufficient healthcare, significant social upheavals, government or regulatory actions or inactions, including introducing new, or modifying existing, laws, regulations, orders or other measures that could impact the Company and its ability to operate, decreased demand or the inability to sell precious metals or declines in the price of precious metals, capital market volatility or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. These infectious disease risks could also impact the Company’s ability to meet expected timelines for development and expansion projects and its anticipated production, costs and capital guidance or otherwise affect the Company’s suppliers or customers. There are also potentially significant economic losses from infectious disease outbreaks that can extend far beyond the initial location of an infectious disease outbreak. The extent to which an infectious disease outbreak will have an impact on the Company's business, results of operations, future cash flows, earnings, liquidity and financial condition will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and difficult to predict. The Company may not be able to accurately predict the quantum of such risks.
Taxation
New Gold has operations and conducts business in a number of different jurisdictions and is accordingly subject to the taxation laws of each such jurisdiction, as well as tax reviews and assessments in the ordinary course. Taxation laws are complex, subject to interpretation and subject to change. Any such changes in taxation law or reviews and assessments could result in higher taxes being payable by the Company, which could adversely affect its profitability. Taxes may also adversely affect the Company’s ability to repatriate earnings and otherwise deploy its assets. Additionally, the Company may structure certain transactions so as to make use of beneficial taxation laws, such as through the use of flow through shares; however, there can be no assurances that such benefits will be realized by the Company.
Risks Related to Further Processing
The Company’s operations produce concentrate, doré or other products that are not refined metals (“Unrefined Product”) and generally require further processing at a smelter and/or a refinery to become marketable metal. Such Unrefined Product contains metals and other elements and impurities that require removal, some of which may limit the smelters or brokers who can or will purchase or process the Unrefined Product and the refineries who will process the Unrefined Product, or negatively impact the terms of such purchase or processing arrangements. Assay results of gold, copper and deleterious elements may vary in different samples and this may negatively affect the amount the Company receives for a shipment of concentrate, particularly if native copper particles are not adequately sampled in supergene ore from the New Afton Mine. In addition, treatment and refining charges are subject to fluctuations, which could negatively impact the Company’s revenue or expenses.
In addition, the Company is generally responsible for transporting Unrefined Products either to the smelter or refinery or to a designated point where risk of loss is transferred. The Company is exposed to risks
66 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
related to the loss of Unrefined Product during its loading, transportation and storage as well as the cost and availability of transportation and storage arrangements for its Unrefined Products. In engaging certain third parties to transport the Unrefined Products, including by way of road, railway and ocean freight, the Company is also exposed to logistical risks. While the Company takes steps to ensure it has different logistical options available, there can be no assurances that the third parties it engages will not be impacted by occurrences outside of their control. In July and August of 2023 and again in November 2024, as a result of the labour dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association and the resulting strike, the Company was unable to deliver to or ship its Unrefined Products from the British Columbia ports. In August 2024, as a result of the labour dispute that resulted in freight railway operations being shut down, the Company was unable to deliver or transport its Unrefined Products by rail. The Company was able to ship its Unrefined Products by rail during the port strike and was able to ship its Unrefined Products by ocean freight during the rail strike; however, in the future the Company may not be able to meet all of its transportation obligations or make alternative transportation or storage arrangements on reasonable commercial terms or at all. The Company has a limited number of transportation and storage options for its Unrefined Product and should any of such options become unavailable, it could cause significant delays and otherwise impact the Company’s operations, profitability and ability to meet its contractual obligations.
In addition, the Company has doré inventory at refineries and could incur a loss arising from the refineries’ failure to fulfill their contractual obligations as well as the risk that a refinery does not satisfy its delivery obligations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to transport and store or sell and process its Unrefined Product on reasonable commercial terms or at all. If the Company is unable to sell its production in an efficient manner, on account of transportation difficulties, unforeseen circumstances, issues with its refineries or otherwise, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial performance.
Climate Change Risks
Changes in climate conditions could adversely affect the Company’s business and operations through the impact of (i) more extreme temperatures, energy disruptions, precipitation levels and other weather events; (ii) changes to laws and regulations, including disclosure requirements, related to climate change; and (iii) changes in the price or availability of goods and services required by our business.
Climate change may lead to more extremes in temperatures, energy disruptions, precipitation levels and other weather events, and cause both direct and indirect impacts on the Company’s business and operations. Extreme high or low temperatures could impact the operation of equipment and the safety of personnel at the Company’s sites, which could result in damage to equipment, injury to personnel, cost increases and production disruptions. Extreme high or low temperatures could also impact the surrounding areas and communities leading to more difficult living conditions and potentially resulting in labour shortages or disruptions, particularly given that a number of Company employees who work at the sites come from such surrounding areas and communities. Energy disruptions could affect operations at the Company’s sites, including the ability to operate essential machinery, technology and other equipment, and lead to production interruptions. When considering the impact to surrounding areas, energy disruptions could cause area-wide blackouts and brownouts making it difficult for those employees working from home or otherwise working remotely to continue working. There could also be a need for IT
67 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
back-up systems to be in multiple locations to create redundancy in the event of widespread power outages, which would in turn result in increased costs.
Water is a key resource in the Company's operations. Changes in precipitation levels may impact the availability of water at the Company’s operations, which the mills require to operate, potentially leading to production disruptions. With the impact of climate change on water levels and precipitation, without adequate water management and stewardship, New Gold could encounter difficulties dealing with too much or too little water at its sites. Low precipitation also increases the risk of large forest fires, as occurred in proximity to the Company’s operations in British Columbia in recent years, which could cause production disruptions or damage site infrastructure. Low precipitation and increased temperatures also increases the risk of forest fires impacts not only the Company’s sites, but the surrounding areas and communities as well.
Increases in precipitation levels could also lead to water management challenges, including challenging the Company’s our ability to hold or treat and discharge water in the amounts required. In the surrounding areas, increases in precipitation levels could lead to a number of day-to day challenges and cause transportation delays and other disruptions.
Extreme weather events, such as forest fires, severe storms or floods, all of which may be more probable and more extreme due to climate change, may negatively impact operations, disrupt production, increase costs and damage site infrastructure. Such extreme weather events can also lead to community evacuations, temporary labour shortages, delays in receiving critical supplies and shipping the Company’s products, some of which were experienced in 2023 during the most devastating wildfire season on record in British Columbia and late 2021 during an atmospheric river event that occurred on the lower mainland of British Columbia which caused severe flooding and mudslides and led to numerous transportation and supply chain routes to be inaccessible in northern British Columbia, close to where the New Afton Mine is located. As a result, the Company may not be able to produce or deliver in line with customer demands and may see unplanned costs increases. Significant capital investment may be required to address these occurrences and to adapt to changes in average operating conditions caused by these changes to the climate. The Company may also need to allocate more time and money to health and safety training and emergency response planning to ensure employees are adequately prepared for extreme weather caused by climate change.
Climate change may lead to new laws and regulations that affect the Company’s business and operations. Many governments and other stakeholders are seeking enhanced disclosure and are moving to enact climate change legislation and treaties at the international, national, state, provincial and local levels. One such example is the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board (“CSSB”) issued general requirements regarding sustainability-related financial information (CSDS 1) and climate-related disclosure (CSDS 2) in December 2024. The CSSB Standards are voluntary until mandated by provincial and territorial regulators. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) stated in its December 18, 2024 market update that it will publish a revised rule to NI 51-107 – Disclosure of Climate-related Matters for public comment which will determine how this will be implemented by companies in Canada. Where legislation already exists, regulations relating to GHG emission levels and energy efficiency are becoming
68 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
more stringent. Some of the transition and compliance costs associated with meeting more stringent regulations can be offset by increased energy efficiency and technological innovation. However, if the current regulatory trend continues, meeting more stringent regulations is anticipated to result in increased costs. Additionally, the Company is heavily reliant on diesel fuel to power vehicles and equipment. If diesel prices increase due to more stringent fossil fuel regulation or taxation, the cost of doing business could increase as well. Transitioning away from diesel-powered vehicles and equipment and integrating new technology can be costly, especially for operations that are nearing the end of the mine lifecycle. Given that the Company’s operations are energy intensive and result in a carbon footprint (directly and indirectly) through the use of fossil-fuel based electricity, current and emerging regulations and policies relating to GHG emission levels, energy efficiency and reporting of climate related risks can directly impact the Company. There is significant uncertainty associated with the technology and regulatory changes necessary to transition to a decarbonized economy and the costs to comply are difficult to predict. The speed and disruptive nature of those changes, the policy and regulatory shifts to respond to those changes and the associated costs, may impact the Company’s business model, financial performance and operational results. If the Company is unable to effectively manage the transition, it could incur additional costs, delay the ability to meet investor, customer and regulatory requirements, and negatively impact the Company’s reputation.
Climate change may lead to changes in the price and availability of goods and services required for the Company’s operations, which require the regular supply of consumables such as diesel, electricity and sodium cyanide to operate efficiently. The Company’s operations also depend on service providers to transport these consumables and other goods to the operations and to transport doré and concentrate produced by the Company to refiners, smelters and other customers. The effects of extreme weather described above and changes in legislation and regulation on the Company’s suppliers and their industries may result in limited availability or higher prices for these goods and services, which could result in higher costs or production disruptions.
In following the TCFD’s guidance on risk management integration and disclosure, in late 2021, the Company undertook a climate risk assessment using scenario analysis to explore and identify physical and transitional risks associated with different climate scenarios, consider opportunities to reduce risk through climate mitigation and adaptation and identify areas for additional investigation and analysis. In 2022 and 2023, the Company continued to refine the risk assessment, focusing on a quantitative financial climate change risk assessment for its operations, to help support the Company in understanding the potential impacts of climate change on financial stability. In 2024, the climate risks and opportunities were monitored for any changes and any updates were incorporated into the enterprise risk assessment. While significant effort was made, there is the possibility that not all physical and transitional and resulting financial risks that could directly and indirectly impact the Company were identified. The Company can provide no assurance that efforts to mitigate the risks of climate changes will be effective and that the physical risks of climate change will not have an adverse effect on the Company’s operations and profitability. Additionally, the Company has disclosed certain climate strategy targets, goals and commitments, including New Gold’s GHG emissions reduction target, and failure to meet such targets, goals and commitments as well as meet societal or investor expectations could result in damage to the Company’s reputation, or reduce investor confidence or subject the Company to legal proceedings and
69 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
significant monetary penalties, which could result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations and future growth prospects (see “Community Relations, License to Operate and Reputation” in the Company’s Annual Information Form).
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
From time to time, New Gold is subject to legal claims, with and without merit. These claims may commence informally and reach a commercial settlement or may progress to a more formal dispute resolution process or legal proceedings. The causes of potential future claims cannot be known and may arise from, among other things, business activities, environmental laws, land use, contractor engagements, volatility in the stock price or alleged failures to comply with disclosure obligations. In particular, the complex activities and significant expenditures associated with construction activities may lead to various claims, some of which may be material. Defense and settlement costs may be substantial, even with respect to claims that have no merit. Due to the inherent uncertainty of the litigation and dispute resolution process, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular legal proceeding or dispute will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future cash flows, results of operations or financial condition.
Title Risks
The acquisition of title to mineral properties is a very detailed and time-consuming process. Title to mineral concessions may be disputed. Although the Company believes it has taken reasonable measures to ensure proper title to its properties, there is no guarantee that title to any of such properties will not be challenged or impaired. Third parties may have valid claims underlying portions of the Company's interest, including prior unregistered liens, agreements, transfers, royalties or claims, including land claims by First Nations or other Indigenous groups, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. In some cases, title to mineral rights and surface rights has been divided, and the Company may hold only surface rights or only mineral rights over a particular property, which can lead to potential conflict with the holder of the other rights. As a result of these issues, the Company may be constrained in its ability to operate its properties or unable to enforce its rights with respect to its properties, or the economics of its mineral properties may be impacted. An impairment to, or defect in, the Company’s title to its properties or a dispute regarding property or other related rights could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Hedging Risks
From time to time, the Company uses or may use certain derivative products to hedge or manage the risks associated with changes in gold prices, copper prices, silver prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and energy prices. The use of derivative instruments involves certain inherent risks including, among other things: (i) credit risk – the risk of an unexpected loss arising if a counterparty with which the Company has entered into transactions fails to meet its contractual obligations; (ii) market liquidity risk – the risk that the Company has entered into a derivative position that cannot be closed out quickly, by either liquidating such derivative instrument or by establishing an offsetting position; and (iii) unrealized mark-to-market risk – the risk that, in respect of certain derivative products, an adverse change in market prices for commodities, currencies or interest rates will result in the Company incurring an unrealized mark-to-market loss in respect of such derivative products.
70 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
There is no assurance that any hedging program or transactions which may be adopted or utilized by New Gold designed to reduce the risk associated with changes in gold prices, copper prices, silver prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates or energy prices will be successful. Although hedging may protect New Gold from an adverse price change, certain hedging strategies may also prevent New Gold from benefiting fully from a positive price change.
Reliance on Third-Party Contractors
It is common industry practice for certain aspects of mining operations including, but not limited to, drilling, blasting and construction, to be conducted by one or more outside contractors. Deficient or negligent work, or work not completed in a timely manner, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and operations. The Company is also subject to a number of risks associated with the use of such contractors, including, but not limited to: (a) the Company having reduced control over the aspects of the operations that are the responsibility of a contractor; (b) failure of the contractor to perform work properly or at a satisfactory level of quality and safety; (c) failure of a contractor to perform under its agreement(s), including, but not limited to, inability to meet the contractual timelines or to otherwise deliver in accordance with the terms of the contract; (d) inability to replace the contractor if the contractual relationship is terminated; (e) interruption of operations in the event the contractor ceases operations as a result of a contractual dispute with the Company or as a result of insolvency or other unforeseen events (including events of force majeure); (f) failure of the contractor to comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; and (g) inadequate contractor cybersecurity program or customer data management and privacy, exposing the Company to external attacks or leaking of the Company’s confidential information, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Investment Risk
Investment risk is the risk that a financial instrument’s value will deviate from the expected returns as a result of changes in market conditions, whether those changes are caused by factors specific to the individual investment or factors affecting all investments traded in the market. This includes interest rate risk, which is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Other aspects of investment risk include credit risk (the risk of unexpected loss arising if a counterparty with which the Company has entered into transactions fails to meet its contractual obligations) and liquidity risk (the risk that the Company has entered into an investment that cannot be closed out quickly). The Company has equity investments in other public mining companies not controlled by New Gold, which have early stage exploration, development and/or greenfield properties. These investments may fluctuate in value and the Company may incur losses in respect of such investments. Although the factors that affect investment risk are outside the Company’s control, the Company limits investment risk by limiting its investment exposure in terms of total funds to be invested and by being selective of high quality investments and by taking security for financial obligations where appropriate.
Acquisition and Integration Risks
As part of its business strategy, New Gold has sought and will continue to seek new operating, development and exploration opportunities in the mining industry. In pursuit of such opportunities, New Gold may fail to select appropriate acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable arrangements, including arrangements to finance acquisitions or integrate the acquired businesses and their personnel into New Gold. The Company cannot assure that it can complete any acquisition or business
71 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
arrangement that it pursues, or is pursuing, on favourable terms, if at all, or that any acquisition or business arrangement completed will ultimately benefit its business. Such acquisitions may be significant in size, may change the scale of the Company’s business and may expose the Company to new geographic, political, operating, financial or geological risks. Further, any acquisition the Company makes will require a significant amount of time and attention of New Gold management, as well as resources that otherwise could be spent on the operation and development of the Company’s existing business.
Any future acquisitions would be accompanied by risks, such as a significant decline in the relevant metal price after the Company commits to complete an acquisition on certain terms; the quality of the mineral deposit acquired proving to be lower than expected; the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of any acquired companies; the potential disruption of the Company’s ongoing business; the inability of management to realize anticipated synergies and maximize the Company’s financial and strategic position; the failure to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; the impairment of relationships with employees, customers and contractors as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and the potential for unknown or unanticipated liabilities associated with acquired assets and businesses, including tax, environmental or other liabilities. In addition, the Company may need additional capital to finance an acquisition. Debt financing related to any acquisition may expose the Company to the risks related to increased leverage, while equity financing may cause existing shareholders to suffer dilution. There can be no assurance that any business or assets acquired in the future will prove to be profitable, that New Gold will be able to integrate the acquired businesses or assets successfully or that it will identify all potential liabilities during the course of due diligence. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Information Systems Security Threats
New Gold has entered into agreements with third parties for hardware, software, telecommunications and other information technology (“IT”) services in connection with its operations. New Gold’s operations depend, in part, on how well the Company and its suppliers protect networks, equipment, IT systems and software against damage from a number of threats, including, but not limited to, cable cuts, damage to physical plants, natural disasters, terrorism, fire, power loss, hacking, phishing schemes, computer viruses, vandalism, fraud and theft. While the Company has certain preventative measures in place, there can be no assurances that the Company will not be subject to wire payment fraud, misappropriation of funds, erroneous payments or other human or technological errors resulting in loss of funds that cannot fully be redeemed. The Company’s operations also depend on the timely maintenance, upgrade and replacement of networks, equipment, IT systems and software, as well as pre-emptive interventions and expenditures to mitigate the risks of failures and other IT system disruptions. Any of these and other events could result in information systems failures, delays, increases in capital expenses and/or otherwise negatively impact the Company’s ability to operate. The failure of information systems or a component of information systems could, depending on the nature of any such failure, adversely impact the Company’s reputation and results of operations.
Although the Company has not experienced any material losses relating to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches to date, there can be no assurance that New Gold will not incur such losses or be subject to such breaches in the future, any of which could cause production downtime, operational delays, the compromising of confidential or otherwise protected information, reputational impacts and destruction or corruption of data. The Company’s risk and exposure to these matters cannot be fully
72 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
mitigated because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats. As a result, cyber security and the continued development and enhancement of controls, processes and practices designed to protect systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Company may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance protective measures or to investigate and remediate any security vulnerabilities. Such efforts may require continuous monitoring and the reliance on third party service providers and are not guaranteed to be successful in preventing or mitigating the potential impacts of cyber-attacks.
CRITICAL JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTIES
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by IASB requires the Company’s management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions about the future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and related notes to the financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on management’s experience and other facts and circumstances. Revisions to estimates and the resulting effects on the carrying amounts of the Company’s assets and liabilities are accounted for prospectively.
The areas which require management to make significant judgments, estimates and assumptions in determining carrying values are described in Note 3 of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company's material accounting policies and future changes in accounting policies are presented in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, under the supervision of its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) and in National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Filings, as of December 31, 2024. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the appropriate time periods.
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
New Gold’s management, with the participation of its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. Internal controls over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers
73 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. New Gold’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 based on the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and has concluded that New Gold’s internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of December 31, 2024.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 has been audited by Deloitte LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report immediately preceding the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Limitations of Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, believe that any internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Furthermore, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Due to the inherent limitations of all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented and/or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by unauthorized override control. The design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in the Company’s design of internal controls and procedures over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this MD&A.
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MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES
Mineral Reserves
New Gold’s Mineral Reserve estimates as at December 31, 2024, are presented in the following table.
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Tonnes 000s |
Grade |
Contained Metal |
Gold g/t |
Silver g/t |
Copper % |
Gold koz |
Silver koz |
Copper Mlb |
RAINY RIVER |
Open Pit |
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|
|
|
Proven |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Probable |
20,816 |
|
0.88 |
|
2.35 |
|
— |
|
589 |
|
1,573 |
|
— |
|
Proven & Probable |
20,816 |
|
0.88 |
|
2.35 |
|
— |
|
589 |
|
1,573 |
|
— |
|
Underground |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proven |
250 |
|
3.69 |
|
29.67 |
|
— |
|
30 |
|
238 |
|
— |
|
Probable |
16,175 |
|
2.53 |
|
4.98 |
|
— |
|
1,314 |
|
2,591 |
|
— |
|
Proven & Probable |
16,424 |
|
2.54 |
|
5.36 |
|
— |
|
1,344 |
|
2,829 |
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— |
|
Stockpile |
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Proven |
15,685 |
|
0.38 |
|
2.25 |
|
— |
|
194 |
|
1,133 |
|
— |
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Probable |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Proven & Probable |
15,685 |
|
0.38 |
|
2.25 |
|
— |
|
194 |
|
1,133 |
|
— |
|
Total Rainy River |
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|
|
Proven |
15,935 |
|
0.44 |
|
2.68 |
|
— |
|
223 |
|
1,371 |
|
— |
|
Probable |
36,991 |
|
1.60 |
|
3.50 |
|
— |
|
1,903 |
|
4,164 |
|
— |
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Proven & Probable |
52,926 |
|
1.25 |
|
3.25 |
|
— |
|
2,126 |
|
5,535 |
|
— |
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NEW AFTON |
B3 |
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Proven |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
|
— |
|
Probable |
941 |
|
0.49 |
|
1.08 |
|
0.57 |
|
15 |
|
33 |
|
12 |
|
Proven & Probable |
941 |
|
0.49 |
|
1.08 |
|
0.57 |
|
15 |
|
33 |
|
12 |
|
C-Zone |
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Proven |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Probable |
37,664 |
|
0.64 |
|
1.62 |
|
0.70 |
|
772 |
|
1,957 |
|
585 |
|
Proven & Probable |
37,664 |
|
0.64 |
|
1.62 |
|
0.70 |
|
772 |
|
1,957 |
|
585 |
|
Total New Afton |
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Proven |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
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— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Probable |
962 |
|
1.31 |
|
8.51 |
|
1.63 |
|
41 |
|
263 |
|
35 |
|
Proven & Probable |
962 |
|
1.31 |
|
8.51 |
|
1.63 |
|
41 |
|
263 |
|
35 |
|
TOTAL NEW GOLD |
Probable |
|
|
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|
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|
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Proven & Probable |
|
|
|
|
3156 |
8,199 |
|
551 |
75 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Mineral Resources (Exclusive of Mineral Reserves)
Mineral Resource estimates as at December 31, 2024 (exclusive of Mineral Reserves) are presented in the following tables:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tonnes 000s |
Grade |
Contained Metal |
Gold g/t |
Silver g/t |
Copper % |
Gold koz |
Silver koz |
Copper Mlb |
RAINY RIVER |
Open Pit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Indicated |
25,216 |
|
0.90 |
|
3.28 |
|
|
734 |
|
2,659 |
|
|
Measured & Indicated |
25,216 |
|
0.90 |
|
3.28 |
|
— |
|
734 |
|
2,659 |
|
— |
|
Inferred |
2,198 |
|
0.59 |
|
1.52 |
|
— |
|
42 |
|
107 |
|
— |
|
Underground |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
310 |
|
2.74 |
|
26.38 |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
263 |
|
— |
|
Indicated |
9,556 |
|
1.74 |
|
5.37 |
|
— |
|
533 |
|
1,651 |
|
— |
|
Measured & Indicated |
9,866 |
|
1.77 |
|
6.03 |
|
— |
|
560 |
|
1,914 |
|
— |
|
Inferred |
5,465 |
|
2.03 |
|
4.56 |
|
— |
|
356 |
|
800 |
|
— |
|
Total Rainy River |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
310 |
|
2.74 |
|
26.38 |
|
— |
|
27 |
|
263 |
|
— |
|
Indicated |
34,772 |
|
1.13 |
|
3.86 |
|
— |
|
1,267 |
|
4,310 |
|
— |
|
Measured & Indicated |
35,083 |
|
1.15 |
|
4.05 |
|
— |
|
1,294 |
|
4,573 |
|
— |
|
Inferred |
7,663 |
|
1.62 |
|
3.68 |
|
— |
|
398 |
|
908 |
|
— |
|
NEW AFTON |
Underground (Bulk) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
51,195 |
|
0.58 |
|
1.81 |
|
0.67 |
|
958 |
|
2,976 |
|
758 |
|
Indicated |
29,101 |
|
0.37 |
|
1.33 |
|
0.48 |
|
349 |
|
1,242 |
|
308 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
80,297 |
|
0.51 |
|
1.63 |
|
0.60 |
|
1,307 |
|
4,217 |
|
1,066 |
|
Inferred |
132 |
|
0.19 |
|
0.54 |
|
0.19 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
Underground (Stope) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Indicated |
1,346 |
|
1.02 |
|
4.93 |
|
1.14 |
|
44 |
|
213 |
|
34 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
1,346 |
|
1.02 |
|
4.93 |
|
1.14 |
|
44 |
|
213 |
|
34 |
|
Inferred |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
Total New Afton |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Measured |
37,399 |
|
0.64 |
|
2.29 |
|
0.80 |
|
768 |
|
2,759 |
|
663 |
|
Indicated |
36,578 |
|
0.49 |
|
1.99 |
|
0.60 |
|
582 |
|
2,335 |
|
484 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
73,976 |
|
0.57 |
|
2.14 |
|
0.70 |
|
1,350 |
|
5,093 |
|
1,147 |
|
Inferred |
10,219 |
|
0.33 |
|
1.36 |
|
0.45 |
|
107 |
|
448 |
|
101 |
|
TOTAL NEW GOLD |
Measured & Indicated |
|
|
|
|
2,187 |
|
7,312 |
|
1,147 |
|
Inferred |
|
|
|
|
230 |
|
563 |
|
101 |
|
76 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Notes to Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates
1.New Gold's Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources have been estimated in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (May 2014).
2.Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources have been estimated based on the following metal price assumptions and foreign exchange rate criteria:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold Price
$/ounce
|
Silver Price
$/ounce
|
Copper Price
$/pound
|
Exchange Rate
CAD:USD
|
Mineral Reserves |
1,650 |
20.00 |
3.50 |
1.30 |
Mineral Resources |
1,980 |
24.00 |
4.20 |
1.30 |
3. Cut-offs for Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources are outlined in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral Property |
|
Mineral Reserves |
Mineral Resources |
Rainy River |
Open Pit |
0.30 g/t AuEq |
0.3 g/t AuEq |
|
Underground |
1.74 g/t AuEq |
1.70 g/t AuEq |
New Afton |
Bulk Mining |
24.00 $/t |
0.40% CuEq |
|
Stoping |
100.00 $/t |
0.98$ CuEq |
4. New Gold reports its Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources exclusive of Mineral Reserves. Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Numbers may not add due to rounding.
5. Additional details regarding Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimation, classification, reporting parameters, key assumptions and associated risks for each of New Gold’s material properties are provided in the respective NI 43-101 Technical Reports, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov).
6. The preparation of New Gold's Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources has been completed under the review and oversight of the following New Gold employees, all of whom are "Qualified Persons" as defined by NI 43-101.
77 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral Reserves |
Mineral Resources |
Rainy River |
Open Pit |
Mr. Jason Chiasson, P.Eng Chief Open Pit Engineer, Rainy River Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Jason Chiasson, P.Eng Chief Open Pit Engineer, Rainy River Mine |
Underground |
Mr. Alexander Alousis, P.Eng Manager, Underground Mine, Rainy River Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Alexander Alousis, P.Eng Manager, Underground Mine, Rainy River Mine |
New Afton |
Mr. Joshua Parsons, P.Eng Principal Mine Engineer, New Afton Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Joshua Parsons, P.Eng Principal Mine Engineer, New Afton Mine |
78 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
ENDNOTES
1."Cash costs per gold ounce sold", "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold" (or "AISC"), "adjusted net earnings/(loss)", "adjusted tax expense", "sustaining capital and sustaining leases”, “growth capital”, “average realized gold/copper price per ounce/pound”,"cash generated from operations before changes in non-cash operating working capital", "free cash flow" "open pit net mining costs per operating tonne mined", "underground net mining costs per operating tonne mined", "processing costs per tonne processed", and "G&A costs per tonne processed" are all non-GAAP financial performance measures that are used in this MD&A. These measures do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards, as issued by the IASB, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For more information about these measures, why they are used by the Company, and a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure under IFRS Accounting Standards, see the “Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section of this MD&A starting on page 32.
2.The Company produces copper and silver as by-products of its gold production. All-in sustaining costs based on a by-product basis, which includes silver and copper net revenues as by-product credits to the total costs. These are extraction concepts, as the commodities produced represent commodities sold in the course of the Company’s ordinary activities.
3.Co-product basis includes net silver sales revenues as by-product credits, and apportions net costs to each metal produced by 30% gold, 70% copper, and subsequently dividing the amount by the total gold ounces sold, or pounds of copper sold, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. These are extraction concepts, as the commodities produced represent commodities sold in the course of the Company’s ordinary activities
4.Production is shown on a total contained basis while sales are shown on a net payable basis, including final product inventory and smelter payable adjustments, where applicable.
5.A detailed discussion of production is included in the “Review of Operating Mines” section of this MD&A.
6.See “Sustaining Capital Expenditures Reconciliation Table” for a reconciliation of sustaining capital expenditures to mining interests per the consolidated statement of cash flows.
7.Includes the sum of corporate administration costs and share-based payment expense per the consolidated income statement, net of any non-cash depreciation within those figures.
8.Sustaining capital expenditures are net of proceeds from disposal of assets.
9.Growth capital expenditures at New Afton in the current period and prior-year period relate to project advancement for the C-Zone. Growth capital expenditures at Rainy River in the current and prior period relate to underground development.
10.These are supplementary financial measures which are calculated as follows: "Revenue gold ($/ounce)" and "Revenue copper ($/pound)" is total gold revenue divided by total gold ounces sold and total copper revenue divided by copper pounds sold, respectively, "Operating expenses ($/oz gold, co-
79 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD product)" is total operating expenses apportioned to gold based on a percentage of activity basis divided by total gold ounces sold, "Operating expenses ($/lb copper, co-product)" is total operating expenses apportioned to copper based on a percentage of activity basis divided by total copper pounds sold; "Depreciation and depletion ($/oz gold)" is depreciation and depletion expenses divided by total gold ounces sold.
11. Key performance indicator data for the three and year ended December 31, 2024 is exclusive of ounces from ore purchase agreements for New Afton. The New Afton Mine purchases small amounts of ore from local operations, subject to certain grade and other criteria. These ounces represented approximately 1% of total gold ounces produced using New Afton’s excess mill capacity. All other ounces are mined and produced at New Afton.
12. Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) is calculated as recorded incidents × 200,000 / total number of hours worked.
CAUTIONARY NOTES
Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Concerning Estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
Disclosure regarding Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates included in this MD&A was prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) generally applicable to U.S. companies. For example, the terms “mineral reserve”, “proven mineral reserve”, “probable mineral reserve”, “mineral resource”, “measured mineral resource”, “indicated mineral resource” and “inferred mineral resource” are defined in NI 43-101. These definitions differ from the definitions in the disclosure requirements promulgated by the SEC. Accordingly, information contained in this MD&A will not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies reporting pursuant to SEC disclosure requirements.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this MD&A, including any information relating to New Gold’s future financial or operating performance are “forward-looking”. All statements in this MD&A, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are “forward-looking statements”. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “projects”, “potential”, “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved” or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this MD&A include, among others, those in the sections "Sustainability and ESG", "Outlook for 2025", “Corporate Development”; “Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources Update” and "Key Performance Drivers - Economic Outlook" as well as statements with respect to: the Company’s expectations and guidance with respect to production, operational estimates, capital investment estimates and exploration expense estimates on a mine-by-mine and consolidated basis, and the factors and timing contributing to those expectations; planned activities and timing for 2025 and future years at the Rainy River Mine and
80 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
the New Afton Mine, including planned development and exploration activities and related expenses; successfully extending the open pit mine life at Rainy River by approximately one year; the current and future financial performance of the Company as it relates to the prevailing price of gold; the successful development of the decarbonization roadmap; the Company’s ability to extend the New Afton mine life beyond 2031; the continuation of prevailing commodity prices and exchange rates, the continuation of operations performing in accordance with mine plans; anticipated factors impacting the Company’s liquidity and the continued review thereof; the Company’s ability to successfully increase production, lower costs and capital spend to generate significant cash flow therefrom over the coming years; the Company’s ability to implement its near-term operational plan and to repay future indebtedness; planned continued advancement of C-Zone development at New Afton and the significant capital expenditures expected to result therefrom; the Company’s expectations regarding its liquidity position and its ability to fund its business objectives; the anticipated timing with respect to the Company’s contractual commitments becoming due; the sufficiency of the Company’s financial performance measures in evaluating the underlying performance of the Company; expectations that foreign exchange forward contracts will continue into 2025; any statements about potential tariffs and their potential impact; expectations regarding the management and mitigation of risk factors and the possible impacts on the Company; and the Company’s continued focus on the health, safety and well-being of its people.
All forward-looking statements in this MD&A are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold’s ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this MD&A, its most recent Annual Information Form and NI 43-101 Technical Reports on the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this MD&A are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold’s operations, including material disruptions to the Company's supply chain, workforce or otherwise; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold’s current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold’s current Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the grade of gold, silver and copper expected to be mined; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, and to a lesser extent, the Mexican Peso, and commodity prices being approximately consistent with current levels and expectations for the purposes of 2024 guidance and otherwise; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold’s current expectations; (7) arrangements with First Nations and other Indigenous groups in respect of the New Afton Mine and the Rainy River Mine being consistent with New Gold’s current expectations; (8) all required permits, licenses and authorizations being obtained from the relevant governments and other relevant stakeholders within the expected timelines and the absence of material negative comments or obstacles during the applicable regulatory processes; and (9) the results of the life of mine plans for the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine being realized.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: price volatility in the spot and
81 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
forward markets for metals and other commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated costs, between actual and estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; equipment malfunction, failure or unavailability; accidents; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changing costs, timelines and development schedules as it relates to construction; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine on the anticipated timeline or at all; the ability to successfully implement strategic plans; volatility in the market price of the Company’s securities; changes in national and local government legislation in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; compliance with public company disclosure obligations; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; the Company’s dependence on the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine; the Company not being able to complete its exploration drilling programs on the anticipated timeline or at all; inadequate water management and stewardship; tailings storage facilities and structure failures; failing to complete stabilization projects according to plan; geotechnical instability and conditions; disruptions to the Company’s workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both;
significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; diminishing quantities or grades of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the Technical Reports for the Rainy River Mine and the New Afton Mine; impairment; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of First Nations and other Indigenous groups; climate change, environmental risks and hazards and the Company’s response thereto; ability to obtain and maintain sufficient insurance; management and reporting of ESG matters; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; global economic and financial conditions and any global or local natural events that may impede the economy or New Gold’s ability to carry on business in the normal course; inflation; compliance with debt obligations and maintaining sufficient liquidity; the responses of the relevant governments to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak not being sufficient to contain the impact of such outbreak; disruptions to the Company’s supply chain and workforce due to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak that materially adversely affects the Company’s operations or liquidity position; taxation; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; transportation and processing of unrefined products; rising costs or availability of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; information systems security threats; adequate infrastructure; relationships with communities, governments and other stakeholders; perceived reputation amongst stakeholders; labour disputes; effectiveness of supply chain due diligence; the uncertainties inherent in current and future legal challenges to which New Gold is or may become a party; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; use of derivative products and hedging transactions; reliance on third-party contractors; counterparty risk and the performance of third party service providers; investment
82 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
risks and uncertainty relating to the value of equity investments in public companies held by the Company from time to time; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; conflicts of interest; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign operations and legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; and the successful acquisitions and integration of business arrangements and realizing the intended benefits therefrom. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, construction, operation and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as “Risk Factors” included in New Gold’s Annual Information Form and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this MD&A are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Technical Information
The scientific and technical information relating to the Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources contained herein has been reviewed and approved by the following New Gold employees, all of whom are "Qualified Persons" for the purposes of NI 43-101.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mineral Reserves |
Mineral Resources |
Rainy River |
Open Pit |
Mr. Jason Chiasson, P.Eng Chief Open Pit Engineer, Rainy River Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Jason Chiasson, P.Eng Chief Open Pit Engineer, Rainy River Mine |
Underground |
Mr. Alexander Alousis, P.Eng Manager, Underground Mine, Rainy River Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Alexander Alousis, P.Eng Manager, Underground Mine, Rainy River Mine |
New Afton |
Mr. Joshua Parsons, P.Eng Principal Mine Engineer, New Afton Mine |
Mr. Vincent Nadeau-Benoit, P.Geo Director, Mineral Resources, Resource Geology, New Gold
Mr. Joshua Parsons, P.Eng Principal Mine Engineer, New Afton Mine |
All other scientific and technical information in this MD&A has been reviewed and approved by Travis Pastachak, Senior Director, Project Development of New Gold. Mr. Pastachak is a Professional
83 WWW.NEWGOLD.COM TSX:NGD NYSE American:NGD
Geoscientist, a member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Mr. Pastachak is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101. To the Company’s knowledge, each of the aforementioned persons holds less than 1% of the outstanding securities of the Company. The estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources discussed in this MD&A may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing and other risks and relevant issues. New Gold’s current NI 43-101 Technical Reports, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov), contain further information regarding Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, classification, reporting parameters, key assumptions and risks for each of New Gold's material mineral properties.