UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May 2025
Commission File Number: 001-32210
NORTHERN DYNASTY MINERALS LTD. |
(Translation of registrant’s name into English) |
14th Floor - 1040 W Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 4H1
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ☐ Form 40-F ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ☐
SUBMITTED HEREWITH
Exhibits |
| Description |
| Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
| Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2025 |
2 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
|
||
(Registrant) |
|
||
|
|||
Date: May 12, 2025. | By: | /s/ M Peters |
|
| By: | Mark Peters |
|
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
|
3 |
EXHIBIT 99.1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED |
MARCH 31, 2025 AND 2024 |
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars) |
(Unaudited) |
Page | 1 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
(Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
|||
|
| Notes |
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Restricted Cash |
|
| 5(b) |
| $ | 992 |
|
| $ | 984 |
|
|
Mineral property, plant and equipment |
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 118,116 |
|
|
| 118,126 |
|
Total non-current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| 119,108 |
|
|
| 119,110 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses |
|
| 4 |
|
|
| 1,695 |
|
|
| 1,908 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
| 5(a) |
|
| 11,813 |
|
|
| 16,142 |
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| 13,508 |
|
|
| 18,050 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 132,616 |
|
| $ | 137,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital and reserves |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
|
| 6 |
|
| $ | 703,299 |
|
| $ | 702,755 |
|
Reserves |
|
| 6 |
|
|
| 126,834 |
|
|
| 127,312 |
|
Deficit |
|
|
|
|
|
| (773,244 | ) |
|
| (732,870 | ) |
Total equity |
|
|
|
|
|
| 56,889 |
|
|
| 97,197 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables |
|
| 9 |
|
|
| 507 |
|
|
| 548 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 507 |
|
|
| 548 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible notes liability |
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 2,854 |
|
|
| 2,750 |
|
Derivative on convertible notes |
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 69,781 |
|
|
| 35,305 |
|
Payables to related parties |
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 566 |
|
|
| 267 |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
| 9 |
|
|
| 2,019 |
|
|
| 1,093 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 75,220 |
|
|
| 39,415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 75,727 |
|
|
| 39,963 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Equity and Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 132,616 |
|
| $ | 137,160 |
|
Nature and continuance of operations (note 1) |
|||
Commitments and contingencies (note 14) |
|||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements. |
|||
These condensed consolidated interim financial statements are signed on the Company's behalf by: |
|||
/s/ Ronald W. Thiessen | /s/ Christian Milau |
||
Ronald W. Thiessen | Christian Milau | ||
Director | Director |
Page | 2 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Loss |
||||||||||||
(Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except for share information) |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
| Three months ended March 31 |
|
|||||||
|
| Notes |
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Exploration and evaluation expenses |
|
| 10,11 |
|
| $ | 2,033 |
|
| $ | 1,763 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
| 10,11 |
|
|
| 2,600 |
|
|
| 2,611 |
|
Legal, accounting and audit professional fees |
|
| 10 |
|
|
| 1,004 |
|
|
| 934 |
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
| 6(d),(e) |
|
| 135 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
Loss from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 5,772 |
|
|
| 5,313 |
|
Foreign exchange (gain) loss |
|
|
|
|
|
| 25 |
|
|
| (296 | ) |
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
| (128 | ) |
|
| (241 | ) |
Finance expense |
|
|
|
|
|
| 229 |
|
|
| 184 |
|
Loss on change in fair value of convertible notes derivative |
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 34,476 |
|
|
| 368 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 40,374 |
|
| $ | 5,328 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive loss (income) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange translation difference |
|
| 6(f) |
|
| 271 |
|
|
| (2,709 | ) | |
Other comprehensive loss (income) |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 271 |
|
| $ | (2,709 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 40,645 |
|
| $ | 2,619 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted loss per share |
|
| 12 |
|
| $ | 0.08 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements. |
Page | 3 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
| Three months ended March 31 |
|
|||||||
|
| Notes |
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net loss |
|
|
|
| $ | (40,374 | ) |
| $ | (5,328 | ) | |
Non-cash or non operating items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 44 |
|
|
| 41 |
|
Interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
| (128 | ) |
|
| (241 | ) |
Loss on change in fair value of convertible notes derivative |
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 34,476 |
|
|
| 368 |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
| 135 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Unrealized exchange gain |
|
|
|
|
|
| (1 | ) |
|
| (130 | ) |
Changes in working capital items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amounts receivable and prepaid expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| 217 |
|
|
| 1,006 |
|
Amounts receivable from related party |
|
|
|
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 17 |
|
Trade and other payables |
|
|
|
|
|
| 761 |
|
|
| 711 |
|
Payables to related parties |
|
|
|
|
|
| 172 |
|
|
| 215 |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| (4,698 | ) |
|
| (3,336 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest received on cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
| 85 |
|
|
| 157 |
|
Net cash from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 85 |
|
|
| 157 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from the exercise of share purchase options |
|
| 6(c) |
|
| 273 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
Proceeds from the exercise of share purchase warrants |
|
| 6(b) |
|
|
| 56 |
|
|
| – |
|
Payments of principal portion of lease liabilities |
|
| 9 |
|
|
| (48 | ) |
|
| (40 | ) |
Net cash from (used in) financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| 281 |
|
|
| (40 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
| (4,332 | ) |
|
| (3,219 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 198 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning balance |
|
|
|
|
|
| 16,142 |
|
|
| 18,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents - ending balance |
|
| 5(a) |
| $ | 11,813 |
|
| $ | 15,179 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements. |
Page | 4 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Equity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, except for share information) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
| Notes |
|
| Share capital |
|
| Reserves |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Equity - |
|
| Foreign |
|
|
|
| Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| settled |
|
| currency |
|
|
|
| purchase |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
| Number of |
|
|
|
| share-based |
|
| translation |
|
| Investment |
|
| options and |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
| shares |
|
|
|
| compensation |
|
| reserve |
|
| revaluation |
|
| warrants |
|
|
|
| Total |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
| (note 6(a)) |
|
| Amount |
|
| reserve |
|
| (note 6(f)) |
|
| reserve |
|
| (note 6(b)) |
|
| Deficit |
|
| equity |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
| 538,478,010 |
|
| $ | 702,950 |
|
| $ | 80,993 |
|
| $ | 35,233 |
|
| $ | (17 | ) |
| $ | 1,083 |
|
| $ | (696,958 | ) |
| $ | 123,284 |
|
|
Shares returned to treasury and cancelled |
|
|
|
|
| (753,729 | ) |
|
| (237 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 237 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
| 6(d) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| (5,328 | ) |
|
| (5,328 | ) |
Other comprehensive income net of tax |
|
|
|
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 2,709 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 2,709 |
|
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (2,619 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 537,724,281 |
|
| $ | 702,713 |
|
| $ | 80,998 |
|
| $ | 37,942 |
|
| $ | (17 | ) |
| $ | 1,083 |
|
| $ | (702,049 | ) |
| $ | 120,670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 537,791,881 |
|
| $ | 702,755 |
|
| $ | 81,011 |
|
| $ | 45,245 |
|
| $ | (17 | ) |
| $ | 1,073 |
|
| $ | (732,870 | ) |
| $ | 97,197 |
|
Shares issued on exercise of options per option plan |
|
| 6(c) |
|
| 664,700 |
|
|
| 471 |
|
|
| (198 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 273 |
|
|
Shares issued on exercise of warrants |
|
| 6(b) |
|
| 125,000 |
|
|
| 73 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| (17 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| 56 |
|
|
Share-based compensation |
|
| 6(d) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
Net loss |
|
|
|
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| (40,374 | ) |
|
| (40,374 | ) |
Other comprehensive loss net of tax |
|
|
|
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| (271 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| (271 | ) |
Total comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (40,645 | ) |
Balance at March 31, 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
| 538,581,581 |
|
| $ | 703,299 |
|
| $ | 80,821 |
|
| $ | 44,974 |
|
| $ | (17 | ) |
| $ | 1,056 |
|
| $ | (773,244 | ) |
| $ | 56,889 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
Page | 5 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
1. NATURE AND CONTINUANCE OF OPERATIONS
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (the "Company") is incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and its principal business activity is the exploration of mineral properties. The Company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "NDM" and on the NYSE American Exchange ("NYSE American") under the symbol "NAK". The Company’s corporate office is located at 1040 West Georgia Street, 14th floor, Vancouver, British Columbia.
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements ("Financial Statements") of the Company as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2025, include financial information for the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group" and individually as "Group entities"). The Company is the ultimate parent. The Group’s core mineral property interest is the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum-Silver-Rhenium Project (the "Pebble Project") located in Alaska, United States of America ("USA" or "US"). All US dollar amounts when presented are denoted "US$" and expressed in thousands, unless otherwise stated.
The Group is in the process of exploring and evaluating the Pebble Project and has not yet determined whether the Pebble Project contains mineral reserves that are economically recoverable. The Group’s continuing operations and the underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown for the Group’s mineral property interests is entirely dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves; the ability of the Group to obtain financing to complete the exploration and development of the Pebble Project; the Group obtaining the necessary permits to mine; and future profitable production or proceeds from the disposition of the Pebble Project.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group received $329 from the exercise of share purchase options and warrants.
As of March 31, 2025, the Group had $11,813 (December 31, 2024 – $16,142) in cash and cash equivalents for its operating requirements. However, the Company has a working capital deficit of (current assets minus current liabilities) of $61,712 (December 31, 2024 – working capital deficit of $21,365). Working capital is negatively impacted by the recognition in current liabilities of the convertible notes liability and derivative on convertible notes (note 7). These Financial Statements have been prepared based on a going concern, which assumes that the Group will be able to raise sufficient funds to continue its exploration and development activities and satisfy its obligations as they come due. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group incurred a net loss of $40,374 (2024 – $5,328) and had a deficit of $773,244 as of March 31, 2025 (December 31, 2024 – $732,870). The Group has prioritized the allocation of its financial resources to meet key corporate and Pebble Project expenditure requirements in the near term, including funding the Group’s challenge of the US Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA")’s final determination and the US Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") 2024 record of decision (discussed further below). Additional financing will be required to progress any material expenditure relating to the permitting of the Pebble Project. Additional financing may include any of or a combination of debt, equity (subject to terms of the convertible notes (note 7)), royalties and/or contributions from possible new Pebble Project participants. Under the terms of the November 2023 amendment to the royalty agreement, the royalty holder may, at its option, complete the remaining investment of US$36,000 in US$12,000 tranches by July 26, 2025. In return the royalty holder will receive 6% of the payable gold production and 18% of the silver production from the Pebble Project. There can be no assurances that the Group will be successful in receiving this additional investment or obtaining additional financing or funding when required. If the Group is unable to raise the necessary capital resources and generate sufficient cash flows to meet obligations as they come due, the Group may, at some point, consider reducing or curtailing its operations. As a result, there is material uncertainty that raises substantial doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.
These Financial Statements do not reflect adjustments to the carrying values and classification of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern, and such adjustments could be material.
Page | 6 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
The Group, through the Pebble Limited Partnership ("Pebble Partnership”), initiated federal and state permitting for the Pebble Project under the National Environmental Protection Act ("NEPA") by filing documentation for a Clean Water Act ("CWA") 404 permit with the USACE in December 2017. The USACE published a draft Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") in February 2019 and completed a 120-day public comment period thereon on July 2, 2019. In late July 2019, the EPA withdrew the determination initiated under Section 404(c) of the CWA in 2014 for the waters of Bristol Bay ("Proposed Determination"), which attempted to pre-emptively veto the Pebble Project before it received an objective, scientific regulatory review under NEPA. On July 24, 2020, the USACE published the final EIS. On November 25, 2020, the USACE issued a record of decision ("2020 ROD") rejecting the Pebble Partnership’s permit application, finding concerns with the proposed compensatory mitigation plan and determining the project would be contrary to the public interest. The 2020 ROD rejected the compensatory mitigation plan as ‘non-compliant’ and determined the project would cause ‘significant degradation’ and was contrary to the public interest. Based on this finding, the USACE rejected the Pebble Partnership’s permit application under the CWA. On January 19, 2021, the Pebble Partnership submitted its request for appeal of the 2020 ROD with the USACE Pacific Ocean Division ("USACE POD") (the "RFA"). On February 24, 2021, the USACE POD notified the Pebble Partnership that the RFA was complete and met the criteria for appeal and assigned a review officer ("RO") to oversee the administrative appeal process at that time but subsequently assigned a new RO. The USACE POD also indicated that due to the complexity of issues and volume of materials associated with the Pebble Project case, the review would take additional time than what federal regulations suggest, which was that the appeal should conclude within 90 days, and no case extend beyond one year. In June 2021, the USACE POD completed the ‘administrative record’ for the appeal and provided a copy to the Pebble Partnership, following which the Pebble Partnership and its legal counsel reviewed the voluminous record for completeness and relevance to the USACE’s permitting decision, and its sufficiency to support a fair, transparent, and efficient review. An appeal conference was held in July 2022. On April 25, 2023, the USACE POD issued its decision to remand the permit application denial to the USACE Alaska District (the "District") so the District can re-evaluate specific issues. As a result of the remand decision and in light of the EPA’s Final Determination (discussed below), the District was instructed to review the appeal decision and had 45 days to notify the parties how it plans to proceed. Six extensions were requested and granted. The District’s last extension was until the US Supreme Court acted on the State of Alaska’s bill of complaint challenging the EPA’s exercise of its CWA, Section 404(c) authority. On January 8, 2024, the US Supreme Court announced they would not hear the State’s complaint directly and it would have to go through the normal US federal court process. In April 2024, the District determined not to engage in the remand process. The District also issued a record of decision dated April 15, 2024, to deny the permit on the basis that the Pebble Project and portions of the required transportation and pipeline corridor fall within the "defined areas for prohibition" and the "defined area for restriction" in the EPA’s Final Determination. The further denial was stated by the District to be without prejudice and not subject to administrative appeal on the basis that the EPA’s Final Determination is a controlling factor that cannot be changed by a District decision maker. The District’s further determination is not based on the merits of the many technical issues raised in the Company’s appeal and is viewed by the Company as prejudicial to the Company and the Pebble Partnership as the EPA’s Final Determination is based on, in part, the rationale utilized by the District in its 2020 ROD which was not sustained by the administrative appeal decision.
On October 29, 2021, the court granted the EPA’s motion for remand and vacated the EPA’s 2019 withdrawal of the Proposed Determination decision, thus reinstating the Proposed Determination. The court declined to impose a schedule on the EPA’s proceedings on remand. On May 25, 2022, the EPA announced that it intended to advance its pre-emptive veto of the Pebble Project and issued a revised Proposed Determination. Public comments on the revised Proposed Determination closed on September 6, 2022. The Pebble Partnership submitted extensive comments on the Revised Proposed Determination, objecting to the EPA’s pre-emptive veto of the Pebble Project and stating its concerns about legal and factual flaws therein. On January 30, 2023, the EPA issued a Final Determination under Section 404(c) of the CWA, imposing limitations on the use of certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed as disposal sites for certain discharges of dredged or fill material associated with development of a mine at the Pebble deposit. This Final Determination is the concluding step in the administrative process set forth in 40 C.F.R. Part 231, which governs the EPA’s authority under Section 404(c) to veto permit decisions. The Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"), 5 USC §551 et seq., which governs judicial review of agency decisions, provides that individuals aggrieved by agency action may seek judicial review of any "final agency action." The EPA’s administrative determination can be challenged by filing a lawsuit in US federal district court seeking reversal of that decision. On March 15, 2024, the Company announced that two separate actions had been filed in the US federal courts challenging the federal government’s actions to prevent it and the Pebble Partnership from building a mine at the Pebble Project. One action, filed in Federal District Court in Alaska, seeks to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination to veto a development at Pebble. The second action, filed in the US Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC, claims the actions by the EPA constitute an unconstitutional "taking" of the Company’s and the Pebble Partnership’s property. On September 17, 2024 this "takings" action was stayed pending the outcome of the separate action to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination.
Page | 7 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
On June 7, 2024, the Company and the Pebble Partnership filed a motion to add the District as a defendant to the action filed against the EPA, and to amend the complaint to claim that the USACE’s permit decision was arbitrary and capricious. The amended complaint claims that the District’s initial permit denial, which informed the EPA’s Final Determination, was flawed in ways that the District itself subsequently acknowledged, including (i) that the project might damage the Bristol Bay fishery when the District's scientific review set forth in the final EIS had found just the opposite, and (ii) that there was risk of a catastrophic failure of the tailings facility when the final EIS concluded the opposite, determining the probability was very remote. The Company and the Pebble Partnership claim that the District’s refusal to proceed with the remand process is contradictory and prejudicial to the Company and the Pebble Partnership as the EPA’s Final Determination is based on the District’s conclusions which are, in part, required to be the reviewed under the remand process. In August 2024, the US Federal District Court in Alaska granted the motion to modify the existing complaint against the EPA by adding the District as an additional defendant.
On February 17, 2025, the Company announced that it had consented to a motion from the EPA and USACE to hold the litigation in abeyance for 90 days for the new agency leadership to decide how to proceed.
The State of Alaska filed a "takings" action in the US Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC, in March 2024. The State of Alaska filed an action in Federal District Court in Alaska seeking to vacate the EPA veto of a development at Pebble in April 2024. The former action has also been stayed pending the outcome of the latter.
In June 2024, Iliamna Natives Limited ("INL") and Alaska Peninsula Corporation ("APC") filed suit against the EPA for exceeding its authority with the veto action against the Pebble Project. Both INL and APC are Alaska Native Village corporations representing two of the communities closest to the Pebble Project.
The State’s action against the EPA’s veto and the INL/APC action have been consolidated by the court with the Company’s action, and those others are in abeyance alongside the Company’s action.
2. | MATERIAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
(a) | Statement of Compliance |
These Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, Interim Financial Reporting, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC"s). They do not include all of the information required by IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the IASB for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 annual financial statements"). These Financial Statements were authorized for issue by the Audit and Risk Committee on May 9, 2025.
Page | 8 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
(b) | Significant Accounting Estimates and Judgements |
In preparing these Financial Statements, management has made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
There was no change in the use of significant estimates and judgements during the current period as compared to those described in Note 2 in the 2024 annual financial statements, and two of which are discussed below:
Critical accounting judgements
These include:
| 1. | The Group used judgement in concluding that no impairment indicators exist in relation to the Pebble Project, notwithstanding the receipt of the ROD denial of the permit by the USACE for the Pebble Project and the Final Determination issued by the EPA that prohibits the disposal of dredged or fill material for the Pebble Project, both of which may be considered an indicator under IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources, for testing for impairment. Key to the Group’s judgement conclusion include the following: |
| · | The Group submitted an administrative appeal with the USACE POD on the permit denial and the USACE POD has remanded the permit decision to the USACE Alaska District to re-evaluate specific issues. Although the District has declined to engage in the remand process, citing the EPA intervening veto of development at Pebble, this decision is without prejudice and not based on the merits of the many technical issues raised in the Group’s appeal. The Group also filed a motion to amend its complaint against the EPA to include the District as an additional defendant, which was granted ; |
|
|
|
| · | The Group has legal avenues to challenge the EPA’s Final Determination and has filed actions thereto (see note 1); and |
|
|
|
| · | The Company’s market capitalization on March 31, 2025, and on the date the Financial Statements were authorized for issuance, exceeded the carrying value of the Pebble Project and the Group’s net asset value. |
| 2. | The Group used judgement that going concern is an appropriate basis for the preparation of the Financial Statements, as the Group considered existing financial resources in determining that such financial resources can meet key corporate and Pebble Project expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months (note 1). |
Page | 9 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
3. | MINERAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT |
The Group’s exploration and evaluation assets are comprised of the following:
Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
| Mineral Property Interest 1 |
|
| Plant and Equipment 2 |
|
| Total |
|
|||
Cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Beginning and ending balance |
| $ | 80,491 |
|
| $ | 2,606 |
|
| $ | 83,097 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance |
|
| – |
|
|
| (2,258 | ) |
|
| (2,258 | ) |
Depreciation charge for the period 3 |
|
| – |
|
|
| (44 | ) |
|
| (44 | ) |
Ending balance |
|
| – |
|
|
| (2,302 | ) |
|
| (2,302 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation difference |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance |
|
| 37,025 |
|
|
| 262 |
|
|
| 37,287 |
|
Movement for the period |
|
| 33 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 34 |
|
Ending balance |
|
| 37,058 |
|
|
| 263 |
|
|
| 37,321 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net carrying value – December 31, 2024 |
| $ | 117,516 |
|
| $ | 610 |
|
| $ | 118,126 |
|
Net carrying value – March 31, 2025 |
| $ | 117,549 |
|
| $ | 567 |
|
| $ | 118,116 |
|
Notes to table:
| 1. | Mineral Property Interest |
|
|
|
| Comprises the Pebble Project, a contiguous block of 1,840 mineral claims covering approximately 274 square miles located in southwest Alaska, 17 miles (30 kilometers) from the villages of Iliamna and Newhalen, and approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of the city of Anchorage. |
|
|
|
|
| 2. | Plant and Equipment include Right-of-Use Assets (“ROU Assets”) |
|
|
|
| ROU Assets, which relate to the use of office space, office equipment and yard storage are included under plant and equipment. The following comprises ROU Assets: |
Page | 10 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
| Land and Buildings |
|
| Equipment |
|
| Total |
|
|||
Cost |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Beginning and ending balance |
| $ | 1,185 |
|
| $ | 48 |
|
| $ | 1,233 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance |
|
| (620 | ) |
|
| (39 | ) |
|
| (659 | ) |
Depreciation charge for the period 3 |
|
| (42 | ) |
|
| (2 | ) |
|
| (44 | ) |
Ending balance |
|
| (662 | ) |
|
| (41 | ) |
|
| (703 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation difference |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning balance |
|
| 38 |
|
|
| (2 | ) |
|
| 36 |
|
Movement for the period |
|
| – |
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 1 |
|
Ending balance |
|
| 38 |
|
|
| (1 | ) |
|
| 37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net carrying value – December 31, 2024 |
| $ | 603 |
|
| $ | 7 |
|
| $ | 610 |
|
Net carrying value – March 31, 2025 |
| $ | 561 |
|
| $ | 6 |
|
| $ | 567 |
|
| 3. | Depreciation |
|
|
|
| For the three months ended March 31, 2025, total depreciation was $44 (2024 – $41) of which ROU Asset depreciation was $44 (2024 – $38). ROU Asset depreciation of $28 (2024 – $26) is included in general and administrative expenses (note 10(b)). The remainder of the depreciation is included in exploration and evaluation expenses under site expenses. |
4. | AMOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND PREPAID EXPENSES |
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Sales tax receivable |
| $ | 82 |
|
| $ | 49 |
|
Interest, refundable deposits, and other receivables |
|
| 101 |
|
|
| 103 |
|
Prepaid expenses 1 |
|
| 1,512 |
|
|
| 1,756 |
|
Total |
| $ | 1,695 |
|
| $ | 1,908 |
|
| Notes to table: |
|
|
|
|
| 1. | Includes prepaid insurance, which is amortized over the insurance term. |
Page | 11 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
5. | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH |
(a) | Cash and Cash Equivalents |
|
|
The Group’s cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, consisted of cash on hand and was invested in business and savings accounts. |
|
|
|
(b) | Restricted Cash |
|
|
The Group has cash deposited with a United States financial institution that has been pledged as collateral to the surety provider for a US$2,000 surety bond that was placed with the Alaskan regulatory authorities for a performance guarantee related to any potential reclamation liability as a condition of the Miscellaneous Land Use Permit granted to the Pebble Partnership for its ongoing activities on the Pebble Project. The cash deposit will be released once any required reclamation work has been performed and assessed by the Alaskan regulatory authorities. The cash is invested in a money market fund. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group earned income of $8 (2024 – $11) which was re-invested. |
Page | 12 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
6. | CAPITAL AND RESERVES |
(a) | Authorized Share Capital |
|
|
| At March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, authorized share capital consisted of an unlimited number of common shares (“Shares”) with no par value, of which 538,581,581 (December 31, 2024 – 537,791,281) Shares were issued and fully paid. |
|
|
(b) | Options not Issued under the Group’s Incentive Plan and Warrants |
Continuity |
| Number of options 1 |
|
| Number of Warrants 2 |
|
| Weighted average exercise price ($/option) |
|
|||
Balance December 31, 2023 |
|
| 37,600 |
|
|
| 8,555,000 |
|
|
| 0.29 |
|
Exercised |
|
| (37,600 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| 0.29 |
|
Balance December 31, 2024 |
|
| – |
|
|
| 8,555,000 |
|
|
| 0.45 |
|
Exercised |
|
| – |
|
|
| (125,000 | ) |
|
| 0.45 |
|
Balance March 31, 2025 |
|
| – |
|
|
| 8,430,000 |
|
|
| 0.45 |
|
Notes to the table: |
||
|
|
|
| 1. | The options were issued in exchange for the outstanding options in Cannon Point Resources Ltd. on the acquisition of the company in October 2015. |
|
|
|
| 2. | The Warrants were issued pursuant to the unit private placement in December 2023. They have a remaining life of 0.71 (December 31, 2024 – 0.95) years as they expire on December 14, 2025. |
(c) | Share Purchase Option Compensation Plan |
|
|
The following reconciles the issued and outstanding options for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and year ended December 31, 2024: |
Continuity of options |
| Number of options |
|
| Weighted average exercise price ($/option) |
|
||
Balance December 31, 2023 |
|
| 24,318,500 |
|
|
| 1.00 |
|
Exercised |
|
| (30,000 | ) |
|
| 0.41 |
|
Expired |
|
| (6,368,500 | ) |
|
| 0.99 |
|
Balance December 31, 2024 |
|
| 17,920,000 |
|
|
| 1.01 |
|
Exercised |
|
| (664,700 | ) |
|
| 0.41 |
|
Balance March 31, 2025 |
|
| 17,255,300 |
|
|
| 1.03 |
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, the Group did not recognize share-based compensation ("SBC") for options in the Statement of Comprehensive Loss as all options granted were fully vested in 2023. Currently, no additional options can be granted under the existing share purchase option plan.
Page | 13 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
The following table summarizes information on the remaining outstanding options as at the following dates:
|
|
| March 31, 2025 |
|
| December 31, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Exercise price ($) |
|
| Number of options outstanding |
|
| Number of options exercisable |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining contractual life (years) |
|
| Number of options outstanding |
|
| Number of options exercisable |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining contractual life (years) |
|
|||||||
| 0.41 |
|
|
| 10,559,300 |
|
|
| 10,559,300 |
|
|
| 2.38 |
|
|
| 11,224,000 |
|
|
| 11,224,000 |
|
|
| 2.63 |
|
| 2.01 |
|
|
| 6,696,000 |
|
|
| 6,696,000 |
|
|
| 0.30 |
|
|
| 6,696,000 |
|
|
| 6,696,000 |
|
|
| 0.55 |
|
Total |
|
|
| 17,255,300 |
|
|
| 17,255,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 17,920,000 |
|
|
| 17,920,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
The weighted average contractual life for options outstanding, which are all exercisable, is 1.57 (December 31, 2024 – 1.85) years per option.
(d) | Deferred Share Units ("DSUs") |
The following reconciles DSUs outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and year ended December 31, 2024:
Continuity of DSUs |
| Number of DSUs |
|
| Weighted average fair value ($/DSU) |
|
||
Balance December 31, 2023 |
|
| 470,347 |
|
|
| 0.59 |
|
Granted |
|
| 15,937 |
|
|
| 0.34 |
|
Balance March 31, 2024 |
|
| 486,284 |
|
|
| 0.58 |
|
Granted |
|
| 50,112 |
|
|
| 0.43 |
|
Balance December 31, 2024 |
|
| 536,396 |
|
|
| 0.57 |
|
Granted |
|
| 8,944 |
|
|
| 0.90 |
|
Balance March 31, 2025 |
|
| 545,340 |
|
|
| 0.57 |
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group recognized SBC of $8 (2024 – $5) for DSU grants in the Statement of Comprehensive Loss, based on the aggregate market value of Shares on grant date, with a corresponding increase in the equity-settled share payment reserve in equity.
(e) | Restricted Share Units (“RSUs”) |
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group granted a total of 1,170,000 RSUs to its executive directors, namely the Board Chair, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, as well as to senior management with a vesting term of two years from the date of grant. The Group has determined that this grant should be accounted for as cash-settled given that a previous grant was settled in cash. Accordingly, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group recognized $127 as share-based compensation with a corresponding increase in a RSU liability for this grant based on the TSX closing price of Shares as of the reporting date.
At the end of each reporting period, until the RSU liability is settled, the RSU liability’s fair value is remeasured based on the TSX closing price multiplied by the number of RSUs and amortized over the vesting period of the RSUs, with any change in in fair value charged to share-based compensation.
Page | 14 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
(f) | Foreign Currency Translation Reserve |
Continuity |
|
|
|
|
Balance December 31, 2023 |
| $ | 35,233 |
|
Gain on translation of foreign subsidiaries |
|
| 2,709 |
|
Balance March 31, 2024 |
|
| 37,942 |
|
Gain on translation of foreign subsidiaries |
|
| 7,303 |
|
Balance December 31, 2024 |
|
| 45,245 |
|
Loss on translation of foreign subsidiaries |
|
| (271 | ) |
Balance March 31, 2025 |
| $ | 44,974 |
|
The foreign currency translation reserve represents accumulated exchange differences arising on the translation of the results of operations and net assets of the Group’s subsidiaries with a US dollar functional currency into the Group’s presentation currency, the Canadian dollar.
7. | CONVERTIBLE NOTES LIABILITY AND DERIVATIVE ON CONVERTIBLE NOTES |
In December 2023, pursuant to an investment agreement, an investor, Kopernik Global Investors, LLC, on behalf of its clients (collectively the "Investor"), purchased convertible notes having an aggregate principal amount of US$15,000 (the "Notes"). The Notes have a term of 10 years from the date of issuance of December 18, 2023, and bear interest at a rate of 2.0% per annum, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on December 31 and June 30 of each year. The first two interest payments were made on June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The principal amount of the Notes is convertible at any time at the option of the Investor at a per share conversion price of US$0.3557 (the "Conversion Price"), subject to adjustment in certain circumstances (i.e., including a change of control). If the Group proceeds with an equity financing in the future, the terms of the Notes require that the Group redeem the Notes at 150% of the principal amount of the Notes, in cash or convert at the Conversion Price (the "financing redemption option"), at the election of the Investor, and pay any accrued but unpaid interest in cash. This financing is subject to customary exclusions for non-financing issuances of the Company’s equity securities. In addition, the Notes include change of control provisions under which (i) the Investor may elect to convert the Notes concurrent with a change of control transaction at the lower of the fixed Conversion Price and the price per common share implied by the change of control transaction, and (ii) if the Investor does not elect to convert, the Group will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at 101% of the principal amount ( the "CoC option"), plus accrued but unpaid interest.
As the amount of the Notes to be settled is a fixed US Dollar amount which when converted back to the Group’s functional currency results in a variable amount of cash (i.e., a variable carrying amount for the financial liability resulting from changes in the USD/CAD exchange rate), the fixed-for-fixed criterion for equity classification is not met. The conversion option, financing redemption option and the CoC option are derivative liabilities, with their value dependent on the USD/CAD exchange rate and so are embedded derivatives. The Notes as a result include a debt host, which is accounted for at amortised cost, and the embedded derivatives, which are separated from the debt host and accounted for at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Comprehensive Loss.
Transaction costs of $196 were incurred on the issue of the Notes of which $22 was allocated to the debt host with the balance recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss in the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.
As the conversion feature may be exercised by the Investor at any time, the Group does not have the right to defer its settlement for at least twelve months. Accordingly, the convertible notes liability and derivative on convertible notes are classified as current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position.
Page | 15 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
Convertible notes liability
The debt host has been accounted for at amortised cost with a 30.1% effective interest rate. The following reconcile movements at the reported dates:
Continuity |
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 2,750 |
|
| $ | 2,197 |
|
Interest accretion |
|
| 209 |
|
|
| 758 |
|
Interest paid and payable |
|
| (106 | ) |
|
| (411 | ) |
Exchange difference |
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 206 |
|
Ending balance |
| $ | 2,854 |
|
| $ | 2,750 |
|
Derivative on convertible notes
The following reconcile movements at the reported dates:
Continuity |
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 35,305 |
|
| $ | 16,687 |
|
Loss on change in fair value |
|
| 34,476 |
|
|
| 18,618 |
|
Ending balance |
| $ | 69,781 |
|
| $ | 35,305 |
|
The fair value of the conversion option was estimated using the Binomial Option Pricing Model with formulae based on the Cox-Ross-Rubenstein approach, with consideration to the intrinsic value, with the following inputs and assumptions:
Input/Assumption |
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Share price on valuation date |
| US$1.150 |
|
| US$0.582 |
|
||
Volatility |
|
| 95.9618% |
|
| 95.3360% | ||
Strike price on conversion |
| US$0.3557 |
|
| US$0.3557 |
|
||
Time to expiration |
| 3,184 days |
|
| 3,274 days |
|
||
Risk free interest rate |
|
| 4.256% |
|
| 4.447% | ||
Dividend Yield |
| Nil% |
|
| Nil% |
|
For the financing redemption and CoC options, the Group estimated the discounted cash flow ("DCF") value of the options assuming the events that trigger these options occur mid-point between the Notes issuance and maturity. The Group has estimated a 10% probability for the occurrence of each of the financing redemption and the CoC options with an 80% probability of conversion at the Conversion Price.
At March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the Group determined from the DCF analysis that there was no additional value provided by the redemption and CoC options over and above the conversion option. The estimated fair value of the conversion option, which was deep in the money at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, was determined using intrinsic value and was estimated at US$48,496 ($69,781) (December 31, 2024 – US$24,543 ($35,305)).
The Group has recorded a loss in the change in fair value of $34,476 (March 31, 2024 – loss of $368) for the embedded derivative.
Page | 16 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
8. | RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS |
The components of transactions to related parties are as follows:
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
Payables to related parties |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Key management personnel ("KMP") (a) |
| $ | 101 |
|
| $ | 48 |
|
HDSI (b) |
|
| 338 |
|
|
| 219 |
|
RSU Liabilities (note 6(e)) |
|
| 127 |
|
|
| – |
|
Total |
| $ | 566 |
|
| $ | 267 |
|
Balances and transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been eliminated on consolidation. Details between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below.
(a) | Transactions and Balances with Key Management Personnel |
The aggregate value of transactions with KMP, which are the Group’s directors and the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and senior management: the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Company Secretary and General Counsel, Executive Vice President ("EVP"), Environment and Sustainability, EVP, Corporate Development, Vice President ("VP"), Investor Relations, VP, Engineering, and the Pebble Partnership’s CEO, VP, Public Affairs and Senior Permitting Advisor, was as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024:
Transaction |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Amounts paid and payable to HDSI for services of KMP employed by HDSI 1 |
| $ | 540 |
|
| $ | 467 |
|
Amounts paid and payable to KMP 2 |
|
| 529 |
|
|
| 537 |
|
|
|
| 1,069 |
|
|
| 1,004 |
|
Share-based compensation 3 |
|
| 135 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Total compensation |
| $ | 1,204 |
|
| $ | 1,009 |
|
Notes to table:
| 1. | The Group’s CEO, CFO, Board Chair and senior management, other than disclosed in note 2 below, are employed by the Group through HDSI (refer (b) below). |
|
|
|
| 2. | Represents short-term employee benefits, including cash director’s fees paid to the Group’s independent directors, and salaries paid and payable to the Pebble Partnership’s CEO, VP, Public Affairs and Senior Permitting Advisor. |
|
|
|
| 3. | SBC relates to DSUs and RSUs granted during the respective periods (notes 6(d)-(e)). |
(b) | Transactions and Balances with other Related Parties |
HDSI is a private company that provides geological, engineering, environmental, corporate development, financial, administrative and management services to the Group and its subsidiaries at annually set rates pursuant to a management services agreement. The annually set rates also include a component of overhead costs such as office rent, information technology services and general administrative support services. HDSI also incurs third party costs on behalf of the Group, which are reimbursed by the Group at cost. Several directors and other key management personnel of HDSI, who are close business associates, are also key management personnel of the Group.
Page | 17 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, transactions with HDSI were as follows:
Transactions |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Services rendered by HDSI: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Technical 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Engineering |
| $ | 71 |
|
| $ | 54 |
|
Environmental |
|
| 32 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
Other technical services |
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 4 |
|
|
|
| 116 |
|
|
| 67 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management, consulting, corporate communications, secretarial, financial and administration |
|
| 707 |
|
|
| 632 |
|
Shareholder communication |
|
| 146 |
|
|
| 156 |
|
|
|
| 853 |
|
|
| 788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total for services rendered |
|
| 969 |
|
|
| 855 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reimbursement of third-party expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conferences and travel |
|
| 60 |
|
|
| 106 |
|
Insurance |
|
| 74 |
|
|
| 72 |
|
Office supplies and information technology 2 |
|
| 175 |
|
|
| 194 |
|
Total reimbursed |
|
| 309 |
|
|
| 372 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
| $ | 1,278 |
|
| $ | 1,227 |
|
Notes to table:
| 1. | Included in exploration and evaluation expenses. |
|
|
|
| 2. | Includes payments made for the use of offices and shared space of $48 (2024 – $48). The Company signed an office use agreement effective May 1, 2021, for a five-year term ending April 29, 2026. As of March 31, 2025, the remaining undiscounted commitment was $114 (note 14(d)). |
Pursuant to the management services agreement between HDSI and the Company, following a change of control, the Company is subject to termination payments if the management services agreement is terminated. The Company will be required to pay HDSI $2,800 and an aggregate amount equal to six months of annual salaries payable to certain individual service providers under the management services agreement and their respective employment agreements with HDSI.
Page | 18 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
9. | TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES |
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
Current liabilities |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Falling due within the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Trade |
| $ | 1,850 |
|
| $ | 917 |
|
Lease liabilities 1 |
|
| 169 |
|
|
| 176 |
|
Total |
| $ | 2,019 |
|
| $ | 1,093 |
|
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
Non-current liabilities |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Lease liabilities 1 |
| $ | 507 |
|
| $ | 548 |
|
Total |
| $ | 507 |
|
| $ | 548 |
|
Notes to tables:
| 1. | Lease liabilities relate to leases of offices, office equipment and for yard storage, which have remaining lease terms of 12 to 62 months and interest rates of 9.5% – 14% over the term of the leases. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Group recognized interest expense on lease liabilities of $20 (2024 – $11). |
The following summarizes lease liabilities for the reporting periods indicated:
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
Lease liabilities |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Beginning balance |
| $ | 724 |
|
| $ | 464 |
|
Interest expense |
|
| 20 |
|
|
| 65 |
|
Lease payments |
|
| (68 | ) |
|
| (211 | ) |
Lease recognition |
|
| – |
|
|
| 52 |
|
Modification of lease term |
|
| – |
|
|
| 305 |
|
Foreign currency translation difference |
|
| – |
|
|
| 49 |
|
Ending balance |
|
| 676 |
|
|
| 724 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion |
|
| 169 |
|
|
| 176 |
|
Non-current portion |
|
| 507 |
|
|
| 548 |
|
Total |
| $ | 676 |
|
| $ | 724 |
|
The following table provides the schedule of undiscounted lease liabilities as of March 31, 2025:
Period payable |
| Total |
|
|
Less than one year |
| $ | 236 |
|
One to three years |
|
| 391 |
|
Three to five years |
|
| 189 |
|
Later than 5 years |
|
| 15 |
|
Total undiscounted lease liabilities |
| $ | 831 |
|
The Group had no short-term lease commitments for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Page | 19 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
10. | EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGAL ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT EXPENSES |
|
|
(a) | Exploration and Evaluation Expenses ("E&E") |
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, E&E consisted of the following:
E&E |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Engineering |
| $ | 1,022 |
|
| $ | 932 |
|
Environmental |
|
| 127 |
|
|
| 103 |
|
Site activities |
|
| 157 |
|
|
| 234 |
|
Socio-economic |
|
| 692 |
|
|
| 465 |
|
Transportation |
|
| – |
|
|
| 10 |
|
Other activities and travel |
|
| 35 |
|
|
| 19 |
|
Total |
| $ | 2,033 |
|
| $ | 1,763 |
|
(b) | General and Administrative Expenses ("G&A") |
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, G&A consisted of the following:
G&A |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Conference and travel |
| $ | 306 |
|
| $ | 309 |
|
Consulting |
|
| 199 |
|
|
| 127 |
|
Depreciation of right-of-use assets |
|
| 28 |
|
|
| 26 |
|
Insurance |
|
| 490 |
|
|
| 653 |
|
Office costs, including information technology |
|
| 195 |
|
|
| 205 |
|
Management and administration |
|
| 922 |
|
|
| 894 |
|
Shareholder communication |
|
| 215 |
|
|
| 214 |
|
Trust and filing |
|
| 245 |
|
|
| 183 |
|
Total |
| $ | 2,600 |
|
| $ | 2,611 |
|
(c) | Legal, Accounting and Audit Expenses |
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, the following table provides further details:
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Legal |
| $ | 897 |
|
| $ | 771 |
|
Accounting |
|
| – |
|
|
| 46 |
|
Audit and reviews |
|
| 107 |
|
|
| 117 |
|
Total |
| $ | 1,004 |
|
| $ | 934 |
|
Page | 20 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
11. | EMPLOYMENT COSTS |
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, the Group recorded the following:
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Exploration and evaluation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Salaries and benefits |
| $ | 396 |
|
| $ | 365 |
|
Amounts paid for services by HDSI personnel (note 8(b)) |
|
| 116 |
|
|
| 67 |
|
|
|
| 512 |
|
|
| 432 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries and benefits |
|
| 376 |
|
|
| 364 |
|
Amounts paid for services by HDSI personnel (note 8(b)) |
|
| 644 |
|
|
| 657 |
|
|
|
| 1,020 |
|
|
| 1,021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based payments |
|
| 135 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
| $ | 1,667 |
|
| $ | 1,458 |
|
12. | BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE |
The calculation of basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was based on the following:
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Loss attributable to shareholders |
| $ | 40,374 |
|
| $ | 5,328 |
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (000s) |
|
| 538,171 |
|
|
| 538,205 |
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024, basic and diluted loss per share does not include the effect of employee share purchase options outstanding (2025 –17,225,300, 2024 – 24,318,500), non-employee share purchase options (2025 – nil, 2024 – 37,600), warrants (2025– 8,430,000, 2024 – 8,555,000), and DSUs (2025 – 545,340, 2024 – 486,284) as they were anti-dilutive.
13. | FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT |
The Group is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument-related risks. The Board approves and monitors the risk management processes, inclusive of documented investment policies, counterparty limits, and controlling and reporting structures. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is as follows:
(a) | Credit Risk |
Credit risk is the risk of potential loss to the Group if a counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its liquid financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and amounts receivable. The Group limits the exposure to credit risk by only investing its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash with high-credit quality financial institutions in business and saving accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, in government treasury bills, low risk corporate bonds and money market funds which are available on demand by the Group when required. Amounts receivable in the table below exclude receivable balances with government agencies (note 4). The Group’s maximum exposure was as follows:
Page | 21 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
Exposure |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Interest, refundable deposits, and other receivables |
| $ | 101 |
|
| $ | 103 |
|
Restricted cash |
|
| 992 |
|
|
| 984 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
| 11,813 |
|
|
| 16,142 |
|
Total exposure |
| $ | 12,906 |
|
| $ | 17,229 |
|
(b) | Liquidity Risk |
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations when they become due. The Group ensures, as far as reasonably possible, it will have sufficient capital to meet short-to-medium-term business requirements, after considering cash flows from operations and the Group’s holdings of cash and cash equivalents and any restricted cash which has not been pledged as collateral. The Group, however, has stated in Note 1 that there is material uncertainty that raises substantial doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern as there is no certainty that funds can be raised when needed, even though it has been successful in the past. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents at the reporting date were invested in business and savings accounts (note 5(a)).
The Group’s financial liabilities are comprised of current trade and other payables (note 9), payables to related parties (note 8), which are due for payment within 12 months from the reporting date, and non-current trade payables, which are due for payment more than 12 months from the reporting date. The convertible notes are convertible into common shares at a fixed conversion price at any time at the option of the Investor until December 18, 2033 (note 7). The carrying amounts of the Group’s financial liabilities represent the Group’s contractual obligations.
(c) | Foreign Exchange Risk |
The Company is subject to both currency transaction risk and currency translation risk: the Pebble Partnership, Pebble Services Inc. and U5 Resources Inc. have the US dollar as functional currency, and certain of the Company’s corporate expenses are incurred in US dollars. The operating results and financial position of the Group are reported in Canadian dollars in these Financial Statements. As a result, the fluctuation of the US dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar will have an impact upon the losses incurred by the Group as well as the value of the Group’s assets and the amount of shareholders’ equity. The Group has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to hedge possible currency risks.
Page | 22 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
The exposure of the Group's US dollar-denominated financial assets and liabilities to foreign exchange risk was as follows:
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Amounts receivable |
| $ | 212 |
|
| $ | 178 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
| 11,925 |
|
|
| 16,094 |
|
|
|
| 12,137 |
|
|
| 16,272 |
|
Financial liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current trade payables |
|
| (507 | ) |
|
| (548 | ) |
Convertible notes liability and derivative on convertible notes |
|
| (72,634 | ) |
|
| (38,055 | ) |
Current trade and other payables |
|
| (1,588 | ) |
|
| (915 | ) |
Payables to related parties |
|
| (112 | ) |
|
| (222 | ) |
|
|
| (74,841 | ) |
|
| (39,740 | ) |
Net financial liabilities exposed to foreign currency risk |
| $ | (62,704 | ) |
| $ | (23,468 | ) |
Based on the above net exposures and assuming all other variables remain constant, a 10% change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar would at the reported period result in a gain or loss of $6,270 (December 31, 2024 – $2,347). This sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items.
(d) | Interest Rate Risk |
The Group is subject to interest rate cash flow risk with respect to its investments in cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s policy is to invest cash at fixed rates of interest and cash reserves are to be maintained in cash and cash equivalents or short-term low risk investments to maintain liquidity, while achieving a satisfactory return for shareholders. Fluctuations in interest rates when cash and cash equivalents mature impact interest income earned.
Assuming all other variables remain constant; a 100 basis points change representing a 1% increase or decrease in interest rates would have resulted in a decrease or increase in loss of $34 (2024 – $41).
(e) | Capital Management |
The Group's policy is to maintain a strong capital base to maintain investor and creditor confidence and to sustain future development of the business. The capital structure of the Group consists of equity, comprising share capital and reserves, net of accumulated deficit. There were no changes in the Group's approach to capital management during the period. The Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.
(f) | Fair Value |
The fair value of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities approximates the carrying amount.
Financial instruments measured at fair value are classified into one of three levels in the fair value hierarchy according to the relative reliability of the inputs used to estimate the fair values. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
| · | Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; |
| · | Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and |
| · | Level 3 – Inputs that are not based on observable market data. |
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs and the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs. Fair value measurements, which are determined by using valuation techniques, are classified in their entirety as either Level 2 or Level 3 based on the lowest level input that is significant to the measurement.
Page | 23 |
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements For the three months ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (Unaudited - Expressed in thousands of Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated, and except per equity unit) |
The Group has categorized the fair value measurement of the derivative on the convertible notes within Level 2 of the hierarchy as it is exposed to market risk; it employs the quoted market price of the Company’s shares, and foreign exchange rates.
14. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
|
|
(a) | Legal Proceedings |
Grand Jury Subpoena
On February 5, 2021, the Company announced that the Pebble Partnership and Tom Collier, its former CEO, had each been served with a subpoena issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska to produce documents in connection with a grand jury investigation. The Company is not aware of any civil or criminal charges having been filed against any entity or individual in this matter. There has not been any recent activity relating to this matter.
The Company also self-reported this matter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and responded to a related inquiry being conducted by the enforcement staff of the SEC’s San Francisco Regional Office. On August 3, 2023, the SEC notified the Company that the SEC had terminated its investigation, which did not result in an enforcement action.
Indemnification Obligations
The Company is subject to certain indemnification obligations to both present and former officers and directors, including the Pebble Partnership’s former CEO, in respect to the legal proceedings described above. These indemnification obligations will be subject to limitations prescribed by law and the articles of the Company and may also be subject to contractual limitations.
(b) | Pipeline Right-of-Way Bond Commitment |
The Group has a bond of US$300 with the Alaskan regulatory authorities for a performance guarantee related to any potential reclamation liability as a condition for a pipeline right-of-way to a subsidiary of the Pebble Partnership, the Pebble Pipeline Corporation. The Group is liable to the surety provider for any funds drawn by the Alaskan regulatory authorities.
(c) | Pebble Performance Dividend Commitment |
The Group has a future commitment beginning at the outset of project construction at the Pebble Project to distribute cash generated from a 3% net profits royalty interest in the Pebble Project to adult residents of Bristol Bay villages that have subscribed as participants, with a guaranteed minimum aggregate annual payment of US$3,000 each year the Pebble mine operates.
(d) | Office Use Commitment |
The Company has an office use agreement with HDSI ending April 29, 2026 (note 8(b)). The commitment is a flow through cost at market rates. On March 31, 2025, the remaining undiscounted commitment was $114, and is summarized as follows:
|
| Total |
|
|
Less than one year |
| $ | 105 |
|
One to three years |
|
| 9 |
|
Total |
| $ | 114 |
|
(e) | Contingent Legal Fees Payable |
The Group has legal fees totaling US$635 payable to certain legal counsel on completion of a transaction that secures a partner for the Pebble Partnership.
Page | 24 |
EXHIBIT 99.2
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
Page | 1 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Contents
1.1 | Date | 3 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
1.2 | Overview | 8 |
||
1.2.1 | Pebble Project | 10 |
||
1.2.1.1 | Project Background and Status | 11 |
||
1.2.1.2 | CWA Permitting Process | 11 |
||
1.2.1.3 | EPA Proposed and Final Determinations | 13 |
||
1.2.1.4 | Technical Programs | 16 |
||
1.2.1.5 | Socioeconomic | 16 |
||
1.2.2 | Legal Matters | 17 |
||
1.2.3 | Financings | 18 |
||
1.2.4 | Market Trends | 20 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
1.3 | Selected Annual Information | 20 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.4 | Summary and Discussion of Quarterly Results | 21 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.5 | Results of Operations | 22 |
||
1.5.1 | Results of Operations – Three months and Year ended December 31, 2024 versus 2023 | 22 |
||
1.5.2 | Financial position as at December 31, 2024 versus December 31, 2023 | 23 |
||
1.5.3 | Plan of Operations | 23 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
1.6 | Liquidity | 24 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.7 | Capital Resources | 26 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.8 | Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements | 26 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.9 | Transactions with Related Parties | 26 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.10 | Fourth Quarter | 27 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.11 | Proposed Transactions | 27 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.12 | Critical Accounting Estimates | 27 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.13 | Changes in Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption | 27 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.14 | Financial Instruments and Other Instruments | 27 |
||
|
|
|
||
1.15 | Other MD&A Requirements | 29 |
||
1.15.1 | Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data | 30 |
||
1.15.2 | Disclosure Controls and Procedures | 30 |
||
1.15.3 | Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting ("ICFR") | 30 |
||
1.15.4 | Limitations of Controls and Procedures | 31 |
||
1.15.5 | Risk Factors | 31 |
||
1.15.6 | Qualified Persons | 41 |
||
1.15.7 | U.S. Securities Matters | 41 |
Page | 2 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.1 Date
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements (the "Financial Statements") of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") for the three months ended March 31, 2025, and the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Annual Financial Statements”), as filed under the Company’s profile on Sedarplus at www.sedarplus.ca.
The Company reports in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee. The following disclosures and associated Financial Statements are presented in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. This MD&A is prepared as of May 12, 2025.
All dollar amounts herein are expressed in millions of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified.
Glossary
Abbreviations commonly used in this MD&A: |
|
2020 Project Plan | The project plan as defined under the updated Project Description, as described in the final environmental impact statement for the Pebble Project |
2020 ROD | The Record of Decision issued by the USACE on November 20, 2020, denying the permit application of the Pebble Partnership under Section 404 of the CWA |
2023 PEA | The NI 43-101 technical report entitled, Pebble Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report Update and Preliminary Economic Assessment, Alaska, United States of America, Effective Date: August 21, 2023 Amended & Restated Report Date: September 18, 2023 by Robin Kalanchey, P.Eng., Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., Scott Weston, P. Geo., Ausenco Sustainability Inc., Graeme Roper, P. Geo., Tetra Tech Canada Inc., Greg Z. Mosher, P. Geo., Tetra Tech Canada Inc., Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng., Tetra Tech Canada Inc., Sabry Abdel Hafez, PhD, P.Eng., Worley Canada Services Ltd., Les Galbraith, P.Eng., P.E., Knight Piésold Ltd., Stuart J. Parks, P.E., NANA Worley, James Wescott Bott, P.E., HDR Alaska Inc., Steven R. Rowland, P.E., RECON LLC |
2024 ROD | The record of decision issued by the USACE on April 15, 2024, denying the permit on the basis that the Pebble Project and portions of the required transportation and pipeline corridor fall within the "defined areas for prohibition" and the "defined area for restriction" in the EPA’s Final Determination, as described in detail below under 1.2.1.2 CWA Permitting Process |
2025 Executive Order | The executive order of President Trump dated January 20, 2025 entitled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential” |
Administrative Appeal Decision | The administrative appeal decision of the USACE dated April 24, 2023, issued in respect of the appeal by the Pebble Partnership of the Alaska District’s 2020 ROD of the Pebble Partnership’s permit application under Section 404 of the CWA |
Alaska District | The Alaska District of the USACE |
CMP | Compensatory Mitigation Plan for the Pebble Project submitted by the Pebble Partnership to the USACE under the CWA permitting process |
Convertible Notes | The Convertible Notes issued in connection with the December 2023 Convertible Note financing, as described in Section 1.2.3 |
CWA | U.S. Clean Water Act |
EIS | Environmental Impact Statement |
EPA | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Final Determination | The final determination of the EPA issued on January 30, 2023, under the CWA |
June 2020 Revised Project Application | The revised permit application submitted to the USACE under NEPA in June 2020 |
NEPA | The United States National Environmental Policy Act |
NI 43-101 | National Instrument 43-101, a national instrument in Canada for Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects |
Original Proposed Determination | The original proposed determination issued by the Regional Administrator of the EPA Region 10 under Section 404(c) of the CWA in respect of the Pebble Project published in July 2014 |
Pebble Partnership | The Pebble Limited Partnership, an Alaskan registered limited partnership wholly owned by the Company |
Pebble Deposit | The copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium mineral deposit located in southwest Alaska on the mining claims and leasehold interests of the Pebble Partnership |
Pebble Project | The development of a mine producing copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium metals from the Pebble Deposit |
Project Description | The production plan and corresponding project configuration for the development of the Pebble Project, as presented in the original December 2017 Permit Application, subsequently amended, and reflected in the final EIS. |
Proposed Project | The development of the Pebble Project in accordance with the Project Description |
PIR | Public Interest Review under the CWA permitting process |
Remand Process | The remand process ordered by the USACE Pacific Ocean Division under its Administrative Appeal Decision on April 25, 2023, under which the Alaska District of the USACE was ordered to re-evaluate specific issues relating to the ROD |
Revised Proposed Determination | The revised proposed determination issued by the Regional Administrator of the EPA under Section 404(c) of the CWA in respect of the Pebble Project published in May 2022 |
ROD | A record of decision issued by the USACE in connection with the permitting process under Section 404 of the CWA |
Royalty Agreement | The royalty agreement, dated July 26, 2022, between the Pebble Partnership, together with certain other wholly owned subsidiaries of the Pebble Partnership, and the royalty holder, as subsequently amended (refer 1.2.3 Financings) |
Royalty Holder | The holder of a royalty granted under the Royalty Agreement |
SEC | The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. |
U.S. | United States |
USACE | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
Page | 3 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Forward Looking Statements
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe our future plans, strategies, expectations and objectives, and are generally, but not always, identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference into this MD&A include, without limitation, statements regarding:
· | our goal regarding the potential for securing the necessary permitting for the Pebble Project and our ability to establish that such a permitted mine can be economically developed; |
|
|
· | the success of (i) the action that has commenced in the U.S. federal court challenging the EPA’s actions and the 2020 ROD and the 2024 ROD issued by USACE in connection with the EPA’s Final Determination to prevent the Company and the Pebble Partnership from building a mine at the Pebble Project and our related litigation approach, and (ii) our action in the U.S. federal court asserting that the Final Determination constitutes an unconstitutional "taking" of property; |
|
|
· | if the challenge to the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2020 ROD and 2024 ROD are successful, our ability to obtain the issuance of a positive final ROD under section 404 of the CWA and obtain other federal and state permits required for the Pebble Project, including under the CWA, the NEPA, and relevant legislation; |
|
|
· | any actions that may be taken by the EPA further to the 2025 Executive Order; |
|
|
· | the outcome of the U.S. government investigation involving the Company; |
|
|
· | our plan of operations, including our plans to carry out and finance exploration and development activities and our budget for planned expenditures to be carried out during 2025; |
|
|
· | our ability to raise capital for the exploration, permitting and development activities and meet our working capital requirements; |
|
|
· | our expected financial performance in future periods; |
|
|
· | our expectations regarding the exploration and development potential of the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | the outcome of the legal proceedings in which we are engaged; |
|
|
· | the contribution of the Pebble Project to the U.S. federal, state and regional economies; |
|
|
· | that any additional prepayment investments will be made in connection with our gold and silver production Royalty Agreement (as defined above and as further described in 1.2.3 Financings below) for the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | uncertainties related to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; and |
|
|
· | factors relating to our investment decisions. |
Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management made considering their experience and their perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. We believe that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable.
Page | 4 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Key assumptions upon which the Company’s forward-looking information are based include:
· | that we will ultimately be able to demonstrate that the Pebble Project can be economically developed and operated in an environmentally sound and socially responsible manner, meeting all relevant federal, state and local regulatory requirements so that we will be ultimately able to obtain permits authorizing construction of the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | that we will be able to secure sufficient capital necessary for continued environmental assessment and permitting activities and engineering work which must be completed prior to any potential development of the Pebble Project which would then require engineering and financing to advance to ultimate construction; |
|
|
· | that we will be successful in challenging the Final Determination and the USACE’s 2020 ROD and 2024 ROD through the legal actions that we have commenced or that these decisions will be reversed; |
|
|
· | that, after such success, we will ultimately succeed in receiving a positive ROD from the USACE and the necessary permits for the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | that the market prices of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium will not significantly decline or stay depressed for a lengthy period; |
|
|
· | that our key personnel will continue their employment with us; and |
|
|
· | that we will continue to be able to secure adequate financing on acceptable terms. |
Such Forward Looking Statements related to the 2023 PEA also include (i) the project plan for the Pebble Project, as defined by the Proposed Project and various Potential Expansion Scenarios and including the financial results of the 2023 PEA, including estimated annual production, capital costs, operating cost, net present value and internal rates of return, and the ability of the Pebble Partnership to secure the financing to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project, including any stream financing and infrastructure outsourcing, projected metallurgical recoveries, plans for further development; (ii) the social integration of the Pebble Project into the Bristol Bay region and benefits for Alaska, (iii) the political and public support for the permitting process, (iv) the exploration potential of the Pebble Project, (v) the future demand for copper, gold and other metals; and (vi) the potential addition of partners in the Pebble Project. Additional assumptions we used to develop forward-looking statements related to the 2023 PEA include that (i) the Pebble Project will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses without undue delay, (ii) any feasibility studies prepared for the development of the Pebble Project will be positive, (iii) Northern Dynasty’s estimates of mineral resources will not change, and Northern Dynasty will be successful in converting mineral resources to mineral reserves, (iv) Northern Dynasty will be able to establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project and (v) third parties will be prepared to participate in the development of the Pebble Project through the undertaking of the development of infrastructure required for the mine (e.g., marine terminal, access roads, natural gas pipelines, mine site power plant). Although Northern Dynasty believes the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way be construed as guarantees that the Pebble Project will secure all required government permits, establish the commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project, achieve the required financing, or develop the Pebble Project. The 2023 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no assurance that the 2023 PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no assurance that the Pebble Project mineral resources will ever be upgraded to reserves.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions that may have been used. Forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties facing our business, any of which could have a material impact on our outlook. Some of the risks we face and the uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include:
· | we may be unsuccessful in the legal actions that we have commenced to challenge the Final Determination; |
|
|
· | we may be unsuccessful in seeking to challenge the USACE’s permitting decisions; |
Page | 5 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
· | even if we succeed in our legal actions to reverse the Final Determination and the USACE’s permitting decisions, we may be unsuccessful in receiving a positive ROD from the USACE and the necessary permits required for the Pebble Project and, specifically, we may be unsuccessful in our efforts to present a revised CMP to the Alaska District that will address the concerns of the Alaska District as to the impacts of the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | there is no assurance that the 2025 Executive Order will result in any change to the EPA’s Final Determination or the EPA’s defence of the legal actions that we have commenced to reverse the Final Determination and the USACE’s permitting decisions; |
|
|
· | our actual expenditures for 2025 may be more than we have budgeted; |
|
|
· | if we are successful in our “takings” case against the U.S. (currently paused while the actions to reverse the Final Determination and the USACE’s permitting decisions are proceeding), there is no assurance as to any amount that we would ultimately recover; |
|
|
· | our inability to ultimately obtain other permitting for the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | our inability to establish that the Pebble Project may be economically developed and mined or contain commercially viable deposits of mineralization based on a project plan for which government authorities are prepared to grant permits; |
|
|
· | despite resolving the shareholder class-action securities litigation claims that were filed against us in the U.S. and Canada, we may still need to litigate securities litigation claims that might be filed on an individual (non-class) basis with respect to any shareholders who “opted-out” of the U.S. class settlement; |
|
|
· | the uncertainty of the outcome of current or future government investigations and inquiries, including but not limited to, matters before a federal grand jury in Alaska; |
|
|
· | our ability to obtain funding for working capital and other corporate purposes associated with advancement of the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | the Royalty Holder under our gold and silver production Royalty Agreement may not increase its investment; |
|
|
· | an inability to continue to fund exploration and development activities and other operating costs; |
|
|
· | our actual operating expenses may be higher than projected; |
|
|
· | the highly cyclical and speculative nature of the mineral resource exploration business; |
|
|
· | the technical uncertainties of the Pebble Project and the lack of established reserves on the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | an inability to recover even the financial statement carrying values of the Pebble Project if we cease to continue as a going concern; |
|
|
· | the potential for loss of the services of key executive officers; |
|
|
· | a history of, and expectation of further, financial losses from operations impacting our ability to continue as a going concern; |
|
|
· | the volatility of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium prices and share prices of mining companies; |
|
|
· | uncertainty related to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; |
|
|
· | the impact of inflation on project costs and budgets going forward; |
|
|
· | stock market volatility and the impact on our ability to complete equity financings; |
|
|
· | the inherent risk involved in the exploration, development and production of minerals, and the presence of unknown geological and other physical and environmental hazards at the Pebble Project; |
Page | 6 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
· | the potential for changes in, or the introduction of new, government regulations relating to mining, including laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and project legal titles; |
|
|
· | potential claims by third parties to titles or rights involving the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | the uncertainty of the outcome of current or future litigation including but not limited to, our challenge of the Final Determination; |
|
|
· | the inability to insure our operations against all risks; |
|
|
· | the highly competitive nature of the mining business; |
|
|
· | the terms of the Convertible Notes may adversely impact our ability to complete future equity financings; |
|
|
· | the potential equity dilution to current shareholders due to future equity financings or from the exercise of outstanding share purchase options and warrants to purchase the Company’s common shares; and |
|
|
· | that we have never paid dividends and will not do so in the foreseeable future. |
The likelihood of future mining at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal objectives, including (i) obtaining necessary mining and construction permits, licenses and approvals without undue delay, including without delay due to third party opposition or changes in government policies, (ii) the finalization of the project plan for the Pebble Project, including the financial results of the 2023 PEA, (iii) the completion of feasibility studies demonstrating that any Pebble Project mineral resources that can be economically mined, (iv) the completion of all necessary engineering for mining, processing and infrastructure facilities, (v) our ability to secure a partner for the development of the Pebble Project, and (vi) our receipt of significant additional financing, including that associated with the full Royalty Agreement, to fund these objectives as well as funding mine construction.
While the effort was made to list the primary risk factors, this list should not be considered exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements or information. Also see 1.15.5 Risk Factors and the risk factors and related discussions in the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 AIF").
Our forward-looking statements and risk factors are based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date of this MD&A. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should appreciate the inherent uncertainty of and not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as, and to the extent required by, applicable securities laws.
For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company’s 2024 AIF and other continuous disclosure filings that are available on Sedarplus at www.sedarplus.ca, and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC available at www.sec.gov.
Page | 7 |
1.2 Overview
Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration company. The Company’s business in Alaska is operated through the Pebble Partnership. The Pebble Partnership, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, holds a 100% interest in mining claims that host the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum-Silver-Rhenium deposit, the basis of the Pebble Project in southwest Alaska, U.S.
The Pebble Project is an initiative to develop one of the world’s most important mineral resources, containing significant quantities of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium. The 2023 PEA presents positive projected financial results, excellent optionality and important economic benefits for Alaska from the potential mine development at Pebble. Further details are provided in 1.2.1.1 Project Background and Status.
The primary commodity in the Pebble deposit is copper, which is used extensively in power and electrification technologies. Molybdenum is used to enhance strength, toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance of materials used to construct wind turbines and solar panels, and recent research is also showing molybdenum’s potential to improve the durability of lithium-powered batteries1. In addition to their growing importance in the energy electrification transition, copper and molybdenum, and also silver, are widely used for industrial and other purposes. Rhenium is used in key applications such as jet engines and related military applications and as a catalyst in industrial applications such as the production of high-octane, lead-free gasoline.
Events around the world continue to demonstrate the fragility and insecurity of the global supply chain, and the need for the U.S. and other countries to secure access to important commodities that are part of the energy transition and support ongoing economic development. The Company believes the Pebble Project, if developed, could help the U.S. to meet its electrification targets and advance its stated goal of mineral security.
Permitting – Background and Status
The Pebble Partnership submitted a CWA Section 404 Permit Application for the Pebble Project to the USACE in December 2017 and the federal permitting process was initiated in January 2018. The final EIS was issued in July 2020, following intensive review. The final EIS was viewed by the Company as positive in that it found impacts to fish and wildlife would not be expected to affect harvest levels, there would be no measurable change to the commercial fishing industry, including prices, and there would be positive socioeconomic impacts on local communities. Nevertheless, in November 2020, the USACE issued the 2020 ROD, denying the permit. The Pebble Partnership submitted an extensive Record for Appeal of the 2020 ROD, which was accepted in February 2021. The USACE completed the administrative record for the appeal and provided a copy to the Pebble Partnership in June 2021. The USACE appointed a new Review Officer ("RO") in August 2021 and an appeal conference was held in July 2022.
The USACE Pacific Ocean Division issued an Administrative Appeal Decision on April 25, 2023, which did not sustain the permit denial decision on the Pebble Project that was originally made by the Alaska District and, instead, remanded the matter back to the Alaska District to re-evaluate specific issues2. In light of the remand decision and the EPA’s Final Determination issued in January 2023, the Alaska District was instructed to review the appeal decision and had 45 days to notify the parties how it planned to proceed. After months of successive delays, in April 2024 the USACE issued the 2024 ROD, declining to engage in the Remand Process related to the 2020 ROD, citing the EPA intervening veto of the development at Pebble.
The EPA’s Final Determination under Section 404(c) of the CWA was issued in January 2023. The events leading up to this decision and the limitations associated with it are further described in 1.2.1.3 EPA Proposed and Final Determinations. Although the Final Determination is the concluding step in the administrative process set forth in 40 C.F.R. Part 231, which governs EPA’s authority under Section 404(c) to veto permit decisions, the Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"), 5 USC §551 et seq., which governs judicial review of agency decisions, provides that individuals aggrieved by agency action may seek judicial review of any "final agency action."
1 https://phys.org/news/2018-03-batteries.html
2 Document is available at: https://www.pod.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Appeals/
Page | 8 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership are seeking judicial review of the Final Determination. In March 2024, two separate actions were filed in the federal courts challenging the federal government’s actions to prevent the Company and the Pebble Partnership from building a mine at the Pebble Project. This main focus of the legal actions, filed in Federal District Court in Alaska, seeks to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination to veto a development at Pebble. The second action, filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC, claims the actions by the EPA constitute an unconstitutional "taking" of Northern Dynasty’s and the Pebble Partnership’s property. On September 17, 2024, this “takings” action was stayed pending the results of the separate action to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination.
On April 15, 2024, the USACE issued its 2024 ROD denying the permit on the basis that the Pebble Project and portions of the required transportation and pipeline corridor fall within the "defined areas for prohibition" and the "defined area for restriction" in the EPA’s Final Determination, as described in detail below under 1.2.1.2 CWA Permitting Process.
In June 2024, the Company and the Pebble Partnership filed a further motion for leave to file an amended complaint in Federal District Court in Alaska to reverse the USACE decision to deny the project a permit. This motion to modify the existing complaint against the EPA by adding the USACE as an additional defendant was granted in August 2024.
In February 2025, the Company announced that it had responded to a motion from the EPA and USACE to hold the litigation in abeyance for 90 days to allow for leadership of the two agencies under the new U.S. administration to decide how to proceed. The Company consented to the abeyance.
For context, the Company’s decision on the abeyance was informed by an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025, and entitled "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential".3
The Order states that “[i]t is the policy of the United States to . . . efficiently and effectively maximize the development and production of the natural resources located on both Federal and State lands within Alaska.” It then directs all government agencies to “rescind, revoke, revise, amend, defer, or grant exemptions from any and all regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions that are inconsistent with” that policy.
An Executive Order is not a binding law that a private party can enforce. How each agency responds to a given Executive Order can vary, as can the timing of the response. A given response may also be subject to further legal challenge by parties that may oppose it, depending on the degree to which it complies with applicable law; that action was taken in fulfillment of an Executive Order is not necessarily a defense to such a challenge. Refer to the discussions below under 1.2.1.2 CWA Permitting Process and 1.2.1.3 EPA Proposed and Final Determinations for more details on these processes.
There is no assurance that the legal actions to challenge the Final Determination will be successful in overturning the Final Determination or securing financial damages in the Company’s favour. In addition, there is no assurance that the action to reverse the USACE decision to deny the Pebble Project a permit will ultimately be successful.
3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-alaskas-extraordinary-resource-potential/
Page | 9 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The State of Alaska filed a "takings" action in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC, in March 2024. The State of Alaska filed an action in Federal District Court in Alaska seeking to vacate the EPA veto of a development at Pebble in April 2024. The former action has been stayed pending the outcome of the latter.
In June 2024, Iliamna Natives Limited ("INL") and Alaska Peninsula Corporation ("APC") filed suit against the EPA for exceeding its authority with the veto action against Pebble. Both INL and APC are Alaska Native Village corporations representing two of the communities located closest to the Pebble Project.
The State’s action against the EPA’s veto and the INL/APC action have been consolidated by the court with the Company’s action, and those others are in abeyance alongside the Company’s action.
Other Activities
During the quarter, the Company’s technical and corporate teams continued to be engaged in providing input, as necessary, to the Company’s challenge of the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2024 ROD. The Company also continued to maintain an active corporate presence in Alaska to engage and consult with project stakeholders.
As reported in Q4 2024, the Company plans to complete a site maintenance program in 2025 that includes two components. The first is a continuation of the drill hole closing initiative that has been underway for several years. The second is to commence re-boxing drill core at the core storage yard in Iliamna. This latter item addresses the need to maintain the stored core to support future due diligence. Management has elected to carry out these programs this summer. The Pebble team is developing the execution details.
Ongoing corporate activities include corporate reporting, investor relations and discussions directed toward securing a partner with which to advance the overall development of the project.
Corporate
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $11.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and a negative working capital (current assets less current liabilities) of $61.7 million. Working capital has been negatively impacted by the classification of the Convertible Notes liability and its related derivative as current liabilities, as the holder may exercise the conversion feature at any time, preventing the Company from deferring settlement beyond twelve months.
The Company has prioritized the allocation of its available financial resources to meet key corporate and Pebble Project expenditure requirements in the near term, including the funding the Company’s challenge of the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2024 ROD, as well as other matters addressed in 1.5.3 Plan of Operations. The Company will require additional funds to meet all its business objectives. Pursuant to the Royalty Agreement, the Company can receive an additional three tranches of US$12 million each, until July 26, 2025, should the Royalty Holder exercise its right to purchase additional rights to future gold and silver production from the Pebble Project (see 1.2.3 Financings). However, there is no assurance that the Royalty Holder will exercise this right. Additional financing may include, as necessary, any or a combination of debt and equity (subject to terms of the Convertible Notes), royalties and/or contributions from possible new Pebble Project participants; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise the necessary capital resources to meet obligations as they come due, the Company will at some point have to reduce or curtail its operations.
1.2.1 Pebble Project
The Pebble Project is located in southwest Alaska, approximately 17 miles from the villages of Iliamna, Newhalen and Nondalton. The project is approximately 100 miles from Bristol Bay and 200 miles southwest of the city of Anchorage. Situated in an area of rolling hills approximately 1,000 feet above sea-level, the site conditions are generally favorable for the mine site and infrastructure development.
Page | 10 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.2.1.1 Project Background and Status
The Pebble deposit was originally discovered in 1989 and was acquired by Northern Dynasty in 2001. Subsequently Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership, in which Northern Dynasty currently owns a 100% interest, have completed significant mineral exploration, environmental baseline data collection, and engineering studies to advance the Pebble Project.
Exploration led to an expansion of the Pebble deposit, as well as the discovery of several other mineralized occurrences along an extensive northeast-trending mineralized system underlying the property. Over 1 million feet of drilling has been completed on the property, a large proportion of which has been focused on the Pebble deposit. The Pebble deposit contains considerable amounts of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and rhenium in mineral resources.
Comprehensive deposit delineation, environmental, socioeconomic, and engineering studies of the Pebble deposit began in 2004 and continued through 2013.
In September 2023, the Company announced the results of the 2023 PEA. The report is an independent review of the project that provides updated cost and price estimates to reflect current economic volatility. It includes an infrastructure plan that uses the “southern route” for project access as defined in the original permitting application for the Pebble Project. The 2023 PEA also updates the status of the EPA’s Final Determination and USACE Record of Decision Appeal processes to the date of the report.
The 2023 PEA includes production, financial and cost estimates for a proposed 20-year, 180,000 tons per day open pit operation with conventional processing producing three concentrates for the Pebble Project in Southwest Alaska, the Proposed Project as described in the Pebble Project permit application and its amendments. The study presents positive projected financial results, excellent optionality and important benefits for Alaska from the potential mine development at Pebble.
The 2023 PEA also examines potential expansions, which are presented to test the sensitivity of the project to such expansions and to demonstrate the optionality inherent in the polymetallic Pebble deposit by presenting a possible pathway for future mine development. It also assesses the potential future addition of a secondary recovery gold plant. These sensitivity analyses indicate the project life could be extended for periods of up to a century to extract slightly more than 70% of the mineral resource, with commensurate increases in metal production and, potentially, improved financial results.
The Company’s 2024 AIF and Form 40-F filing provide additional information on the 2023 PEA study and its results. For full details, see the 2023 PEA Technical Report under the Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca or as a 6-K filing on www.sec.gov. The 2023 PEA is also available on the Company’s website.
1.2.1.2 CWA Permitting Process
The Pebble Partnership developed a project design for the Pebble Project in 2017. This design was incorporated in the CWA 404 permit application submitted to the USACE on December 22, 2017, initiating federal review for the Pebble Project under NEPA. Over the following 2½ years, the project was the subject of intensive review by the USACE and eight federal cooperating agencies (including the EPA and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), three state cooperating agencies (including Alaska Department of Natural Resources and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation), the Lake & Peninsula Borough and federally recognized tribes. During this time, the 2017 design underwent several rounds of revision prior to the version upon which the final EIS was based.
Page | 11 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
On July 24, 2020, the USACE posted the final EIS on the Federal Registry. The final EIS was viewed by the Company as positive in that it found impacts to fish and wildlife would not be expected to affect harvest levels, there would be no measurable change to the commercial fishing industry, including prices, and there would be a number of positive socioeconomic impacts on local communities.
After consultation with the USACE over several years, a CMP was submitted to the USACE on November 4, 2020. Further details on the CMP can be found in the Company’s 2022 year-end filings.
On November 25, 2020, the USACE issued the 2020 ROD. The 2020 ROD rejected the CMP as "noncompliant" and determined the Pebble Project would cause "significant degradation" and was contrary to the public interest. Based on this finding, the USACE rejected Pebble Partnership’s permit application under the CWA.
The Pebble Partnership submitted a request for appeal of the 2020 ROD (the "RFA") to the USACE Pacific Ocean Division on January 19, 2021. The RFA reflects the Pebble Partnership’s position that the 2020 ROD and permitting decision are contrary to law, unprecedented in Alaska, and fundamentally unsupported by the administrative record, including the final EIS. The specific reasons for appeal asserted by the Pebble Partnership in the RFA include (i) the finding of "significant degradation" by the USACE is contrary to law and unsupported by the record, (ii) the USACE’s rejection of the Pebble Partnership’s CMP is contrary to the USACE regulations and guidance, including the failure to provide the Pebble Partnership with an opportunity to correct the alleged deficiencies, and (iii) the determination by the USACE that the Pebble Project is not in the public interest is contrary to law and unsupported by the public record. In a letter dated February 24, 2021, the USACE confirmed the Pebble Partnership’s RFA is "complete and meets the criteria for appeal."
The USACE Pacific Ocean Division issued its Administrative Appeal Decision on April 25, 2023. That decision did not sustain the permit denial decision on the Pebble Project that was originally made by the Alaska District and, instead, remanded the matter back to the Alaska District to re-evaluate specific issues. The Administrative Appeal Decision set forth the RO’s assessment of the merits of the Pebble Partnership’s reasons for appeal, as set forth in the RFA. The decision found that certain key reasons for appeal had merit, while other arguments did not have merit. As a result, the USACE ordered that the 2020 ROD be remanded to the Alaska District Engineer for reconsideration, additional evaluation, and documentation sufficient to support the decisions. Key elements of the decision included the following:
· | The RO generally concluded that the Pebble Partnership’s arguments, that the finding of "significant degradation" by the Alaska District is contrary to law and unsupported by the record, did not have merit. The RO did agree with the Pebble Partnership that the Alaska District’s use of a certain watershed scale for analysis was not supported by the record and remanded this portion of the decision to the Alaska District Engineer for reconsideration, additional evaluation and documentation sufficient to support the decision. |
|
|
· | The RO concluded that the argument that the CMP was improperly rejected without providing the Pebble Partnership an opportunity to correct the alleged deficiencies did have merit. As a result, the RO remanded the decision to the Alaska District Engineer for reconsideration, additional evaluation and documentation sufficient to support the decision with the specific directions that: |
| · | the Alaska District should provide complete and detailed comments to the Pebble Partnership on the CMP and that the Pebble Partnership is to have sufficient time to address those comments prior to finalizing a revised CMP for review; and |
|
|
|
| · | if a CMP is determined to be acceptable and adequately offsets direct and indirect impacts, a new Public Interest Review and Section 404(b)(1) analysis may be required. |
· | The RO concluded that certain elements of the Pebble Partnership’s arguments regarding the PIR decision analysis had merit and remanded those portions to the Alaska District Engineer for reconsideration, additional evaluation and documentation sufficient to support the decision. |
|
|
· | The RO concluded that the Pebble Partnership’s arguments that the 2020 ROD failed to adequately consider the State of Alaska’s interest as the land ownership and its designation of the land for mineral development did not have merit. |
Page | 12 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
As a result of the remand decision, and in light of the Final Determination (see 1.2.1.3 EPA Proposed and Final Determinations below), the Alaska District was instructed to review the appeal decision and to notify the parties how it plans to proceed within 45 days of the date of the Administrative Appeal Decision. Extensions to the deadline were requested and approved six times, including on November 27, 2023, when the Division Commander approved the request for an extension until the U.S. Supreme Court acted on the State of Alaska’s bill of complaint challenging the EPA’s exercise of its CWA Section 404(c) authority. On January 8, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court announced they would not hear the State’s complaint directly and it would have to go through the normal Federal Court process. In April 2024, the USACE determined not to engage in the Remand Process. The USACE also issued the 2024 ROD, dated April 15, 2024, to deny the permit on the basis that the Pebble Project and portions of the required transportation and pipeline corridor fall within the "defined areas for prohibition" and the "defined area for restriction" in the EPA’s Final Determination. The further denial was stated by the USACE to be without prejudice and not subject to administrative appeal on the basis that the EPA’s Final Determination is a controlling factor that cannot be changed by a USACE decision maker. The USACE’s further determination is not based on the merits of the many technical issues raised in the Company’s appeal and is viewed by the Company as prejudicial to the Company and the Pebble Partnership as the EPA’s Final Determination is based on, in part, rationale utilized by the USACE in its 2020 ROD which was not sustained by the Administrative Appeal Decision.
On June 7, 2024, Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership filed a motion to add the USACE as a defendant to the action filed against the EPA (further described below), and to amend the complaint to claim that the USACE’s permit decision was arbitrary and capricious. The amended complaint claims that the USACE’s initial permit denial, which informed the EPA’s Final Determination, was flawed in ways that the USACE itself subsequently acknowledged, including (i) that the project might damage the Bristol Bay fishery when USACE's scientific review set forth in the final EIS had found just the opposite, and (ii) that there was risk of a catastrophic failure of the tailings facility when the final EIS concluded the opposite, determining the probability was very remote. The Company and the Pebble Partnership claim that the USACE’s refusal to proceed with the Remand Process is contradictory and prejudicial to the Company and the Pebble Partnership as the EPA’s Final Determination is based on the USACE’s conclusions which are, in part, required to be reviewed under the Remand Process.
In August 2024, the U.S. Federal District Court in Alaska granted the motion to modify the existing complaint against the EPA by adding the USACE as an additional defendant.
1.2.1.3 EPA Proposed and Final Determinations
In February 2014, the EPA announced a pre-emptive regulatory action under Section 404(c) of the CWA to consider restriction or a prohibition of mining activities associated with the Pebble Deposit, referred to as the Original Proposed Determination. From 2014-2017, Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership focused on a multi-dimensional strategy, including legal and other initiatives to ward off the Original Proposed Determination. These efforts were successful, resulting in the joint settlement agreement announced on May 12, 2017, enabling the Pebble Project to move forward with state and federal permitting. As part of the joint settlement agreement, the EPA agreed to initiate a process that led to the withdrawal of the Original Proposed Determination in July 2019.
On September 9, 2021, the EPA announced it planned to set aside the 2019 withdrawal of the Original Proposed Determination and re-initiate the Section 404(c) process for the waters of Bristol Bay. The Company believes the results of the final EIS support the 2019 withdrawal. As part of its review process, the EPA issued a letter dated January 27, 2022, to the Pebble Partnership advising as to the EPA’s belief that the discharge of dredged or fill associated with mining of the Pebble Project could result in unacceptable adverse effects on important fishery areas and of its intent to issue a Revised Proposed Determination. The EPA’s letter was also addressed to the USACE and the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources. The EPA invited the Pebble Partnership, the USACE, and the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources to submit information “to demonstrate that no unacceptable adverse effects to aquatic resources” would result from the Pebble Project. The Pebble Partnership responded to the EPA on March 28, 2022, contesting both the factual claim by the EPA as to the impact on aquatic resources and the legal basis on which the EPA had proposed to act.
Page | 13 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The State of Alaska also responded to the EPA’s letter by letter dated March 28, 2022. The State of Alaska advised the EPA of its position that the issuance of a Section 404(c) veto would contravene the Alaska Statehood Act, the Cook Inlet Land Exchange Act and potentially the “takings clause” of the United States Constitution.
On May 25, 2022, the EPA announced that it intended to advance its pre-emptive veto of the Pebble Project and issued a Revised Proposed Determination. The Revised Proposed Determination would establish a "defined area for prohibition" coextensive with the current project plan footprint in which the EPA would prohibit the disposal of dredged or fill material for the Pebble Project. The Revised Proposed Determination would also establish a 309-square-mile "defined area for restriction."
On January 30, 2023, the EPA issued the Final Determination under Section 404(c) of the CWA, imposing limitations on the use of certain waters in the Bristol Bay watershed as disposal sites for certain discharges of dredged or fill material associated with development of a mine at the Pebble deposit. This Final Determination is the concluding step in the administrative process set forth in 40 C.F.R. Part 231, which governs EPA’s authority under Section 404(c) to veto permit decisions. The APA, 5 USC §551 et seq., which governs judicial review of agency decisions, provides that individuals aggrieved by agency action may seek judicial review of any "final agency action." The EPA’s administrative determination can be challenged by filing a lawsuit in U.S. federal district court seeking reversal of that decision.
The Final Determination includes the determinations of the EPA that:
· | the discharges of dredged or fill material for the construction and routine operation of the mine identified in the 2020 Project Plan at the Pebble Deposit will have unacceptable adverse effects on anadromous fishery areas in the South Fork Koktuli River ("SFK") and North Fork Koktuli River ("NFK") watersheds; |
|
|
· | discharges of dredged or fill material associated with developing the Pebble deposit anywhere in the mine site area within the SFK and NFK watersheds that would result in the same or greater levels of loss or streamflow changes as the 2020 Project Plan also will have unacceptable adverse effects on anadromous fishery areas in these watersheds, because such discharges would involve the same aquatic resources characterized as part of the evaluation of the 2020 Project Plan; and |
|
|
· | discharges of dredged or fill material for the construction and routine operation of the Pebble deposit anywhere in the SFK, NFK, and Upper Talarik Creek ("UTC") watersheds will have unacceptable adverse effects on anadromous fishery areas if the effects of such discharges are similar or greater in nature and magnitude to the adverse effects of the 2020 Project Plan. |
Based on these determinations, the Final Determination:
· | prohibits the specification of waters of the United States within the Defined Area of Prohibition, as defined in the Final Determination, as disposal sites for the discharge of dredged or fill material for the construction and routine operation of the 2020 Project Plan. This includes future proposals to construct and operate a mine to develop the Pebble Deposit that result in any of the same aquatic resource loss or streamflow changes as the 2020 Project Plan. Moreover, dredged or fill material need not originate within the boundary of the Pebble Deposit to be associated with the developing the Pebble deposit and, thus, subject to the prohibition. For purposes of the prohibition, the "2020 Project Plan" is (i) the project plan described in the Pebble Partnership’s June 8, 2020 CWA Section 404 permit application and the final EIS; and (ii) future proposals to construct and operate a mine to develop the Pebble Deposit with discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States within the Defined Area for Prohibition that would result in the same or greater levels of loss or streamflow changes as the project plan described in the Pebble Partnership’s June 8, 2020 CWA Section 404 permit application. The Defined Area for Prohibition covers approximately 24.7 square miles (63.9 km2) and includes the area covered by the mine footprint of the 2020 Project Plan; and |
|
|
· | restricts the use of waters of the United States within the Defined Area for Restriction, as defined in the Final Determination, for specification as disposal sites for the discharge of dredged or fill material associated with future proposals to construct and operate a mine to develop the Pebble Deposit that would either individually or cumulatively result in adverse effects similar or greater in nature and magnitude to the adverse effects of the 2020 Project Plan. The Defined Area for Restriction encompasses certain headwaters for the SFK, NFK and UTC watersheds and covers an area of approximately 309 square miles (800 km2). |
Page | 14 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
On July 26, 2023, the State of Alaska filed a motion in the Supreme Court of the United States. The Motion for Leave to File a Bill of Complaint argued that the Final Determination breaches a contract (the Cook Inlet Land Exchange) involving Alaska and the United States and violates the federal statutory recognition and implementation of that land exchange. It also argued that the veto violates the Administrative Procedure Act because the veto is arbitrary and capricious. Finally, it argued that the veto - which withdraws 309 square miles in the Bristol Bay region from use for mining purposes - is an unconstitutional taking without just compensation. The Bill of Complaint sought injunctive relief requiring the EPA to withdraw its veto or, in the alternative, and sought monetary damages for breach of contract and the unconstitutional taking without just compensation. On January 8, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court announced they would not hear the State’s complaint directly; consequently, it will have to go through the normal Federal Court process, meaning that the complaint would first have to be heard by a federal district court and then by a federal circuit court of appeal before being possibly considered by the Supreme Court.
As described in section 1.2 Overview, Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership filed two separate actions in the federal courts in March 2024, challenging the federal government’s actions to prevent it and the Pebble Partnership from building a mine at the Pebble Project.
One action, filed in Federal District Court in Alaska, seeks to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination to veto a development at Pebble. This is the main focus of the legal actions. The complaint in this action alleges, among many other points:
· | the veto was issued in violation of various federal statutes regarding Alaska’s statehood rights and a land exchange approved by Congress; |
|
|
· | it was based on an overly broad legal interpretation of the EPA’s jurisdiction which has since been over-ruled by the Supreme Court; |
|
|
· | its geographic scope exceeds that allowed by the statute; |
|
|
· | it was based on information previously developed by the EPA in an illegal pre-emptive veto process that was designed to reach a predetermined result; |
|
|
· | the EPA has not demonstrated that the development of the Pebble deposit will have unacceptable adverse effects under Section 404(c); |
|
|
· | the EPA has not demonstrated any impacts to Bristol Bay fisheries that would justify the extreme measures in the Final Determination; and |
|
|
· | the factual basis stated to support the veto is directly contradicted by the Final EIS published by the USACE, which is an important part of the administrative record. |
A second action, the "takings" case, was also filed in March 2024. On September 17, 2024, this “takings” action was stayed pending the results of the separate action to vacate the EPA’s Final Determination.
On March 14, 2024, the State of Alaska filed a "takings" action in the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, DC. On April 11, 2024, the State of Alaska filed an action in Federal District Court in Alaska seeking to vacate the EPA veto of a development at Pebble. The former action has also been stayed pending the outcome of the latter.
Page | 15 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
In June 2024, INL and APC filed suit against the EPA for exceeding its authority with the veto action against Pebble. Both INL and APC are Alaska Native Village corporations representing two of the communities closest to the Pebble Project.
As previously mentioned, Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership filed a motion for leave to amend its complaint filed in the Federal District Court in Alaska to add the USACE to the proceedings against the EPA to reverse the Final Determination. The motion was accepted in August 2024.
There is no assurance that any judicial review would be successful in overturning the Final Determination. If not withdrawn or overturned, the Final Determination would prevent the Company from developing the Pebble Deposit as set out in the 2020 Project Plan, or potentially in any other mine plan, including any plan that the EPA would deem to result in "adverse effects similar or greater in nature and magnitude to the adverse effects of the 2020 Project Plan."
1.2.1.4 Technical Programs
Input was provided, as needed, to the legal challenge of the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2020 ROD and 2024 ROD. Planning for initiation of the 2025 field program has also been underway.
1.2.1.5 Socioeconomic
Community Engagement
Pebble Project technical programs have been supported by active stakeholder engagement activities undertaken by the Pebble Partnership in Alaska. In light of the current focus on the legal actions to enable the Company to advance the permitting process for the Pebble Project, site activities are mainly directed toward monitoring and maintenance, and the level of engagement has been reduced.
The objective of stakeholder outreach programs undertaken by the Pebble Partnership are to:
· | advise residents of nearby communities and other regional interests about Pebble work programs and other activities being undertaken in the field; |
|
|
· | provide information about the proposed development plan for the Pebble Project, including potential environmental, social and operational effects, proposed mitigation and environmental safeguards; |
|
|
· | allow the Pebble Partnership to better understand and address stakeholder priorities and concerns with respect to development of the Pebble Project; |
|
|
· | encourage stakeholder and public participation in the regulatory permitting process for Pebble; and |
|
|
· | facilitate economic and other opportunities associated with advancement and development of the Pebble Project for local residents, communities and companies. |
In addition to meeting with stakeholder groups and individuals, and providing project briefings in communities throughout Bristol Bay and the State of Alaska, the Pebble Partnership’s outreach and engagement program has included:
· | workforce and business development initiatives intended to enhance economic opportunities for regional residents and Alaska Native corporations; |
|
|
· | initiatives to develop partnerships with Alaska Native corporations, commercial fishing interests and other in-region groups and individuals; |
|
|
· | outreach to elected officials and political staff at the national, state and local levels; and |
|
|
· | outreach to third-party organizations and special interest groups with an interest in the Pebble Project, including business organizations, community groups, outdoor recreation interests, Alaska Native entities, commercial and sport fishery interests, and conservation organizations, among others. |
Page | 16 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Through these various stakeholder initiatives, the Company seeks to advance a science-based project design that is responsive to stakeholder priorities and concerns, provides meaningful benefits and opportunities to local residents, businesses and Alaska Native corporations, and energizes the economy of Southwest Alaska. This program of engagement and consultation also includes discussions to secure stakeholder agreements to support the project’s development.
Right-of-Way Agreements and Other Community Initiatives
On June 16, 2020, the Company announced the Pebble Partnership had established the Pebble Performance Dividend LLC ("PPD LLC") to provide a local revenue sharing program with the objective of ensuring that full-time residents of communities in southwest Alaska benefit directly from the future operation of the proposed Pebble Project. The intention is for PPD LLC to distribute cash generated from a 3% net profits royalty interest in the Pebble Project to adult residents of Bristol Bay villages that have subscribed as participants, with a guaranteed minimum aggregate annual payment of US$3 million each year the Pebble mine operates, beginning at the outset of project construction.
The Pebble Partnership finalized Right-of-Way ("ROW") agreements with Alaska Native village corporations and other landowners with land holdings along proposed transportation and infrastructure routes for the Pebble Project. The ROW agreements secure access to portions of several proposed transportation and infrastructure routes to the Pebble Project site for construction and operation of the proposed mine and represents a significant milestone in the developing relationship between Pebble and the Alaska Native people of the region. Transportation and other infrastructure for a mine at Pebble is expected to benefit Alaska Native village corporations, their shareholders and villages through toll payments and user fees, contracting opportunities, and improved access to lower cost power, equipment and supplies, as well as enhanced economic activity in the region.
A Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the Pebble Partnership and APC was announced on July 6, 2020. APC owns extensive land holdings proximal to the Pebble site and along portions of the proposed transportation corridors. The MOU envisages that APC will lead the development of a consortium of Alaska Native village corporations. It is contemplated that the consortium would provide road maintenance, truck transport, port operations and other logistical services to the Pebble Project should the development of the mine proceed. The MOU is consistent with the Company’s strategy of ensuring the development of the Pebble Project will benefit local Alaska communities and people. The MOU is not a binding final contract. Any final contracts with APC or other Alaska Native village corporations will require further negotiation of commercial terms and negotiation of definitive contracts. There is no assurance that these contracts will be concluded or that the Alaska Native village corporations will support the Pebble Project.
On September 23, 2020, the Company announced that Tom Collier, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Pebble Partnership, had submitted his resignation in light of comments made about elected and regulatory officials in Alaska and the Pebble Project in private conversations covertly videotaped by an environmental activist group. Conversations with Mr. Collier, as well as others with Ron Thiessen, Northern Dynasty’s President and Chief Executive Officer, were secretly videotaped or audiotaped by unknown individuals posing as representatives of a Hong Kong-based investment firm, which represented that it was linked to a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). The Company understands that a Washington DC-based environmental group, the Environmental Investigation Agency, released portions of the recordings online after obscuring the voices and identities of the individuals posing as investors.
Page | 17 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Following the release of the recordings, the USACE - Alaska District issued a statement that, following a review of the transcripts of the recordings, they had "identified inaccuracies and falsehoods relating to the permit process and the relationship between our regulatory leadership and the applicant’s executives."
Grand Jury Subpoena
On February 5, 2021, the Company announced that the Pebble Partnership and Tom Collier, its former chief executive officer, had each been served with a subpoena issued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska to produce documents in connection with a grand jury investigation. The Company is not aware of any criminal charges having been filed against any entity or individual in this matter. The Company and the Pebble Partnership are cooperating with the grand jury investigation. There has not been any recent activity relating to this matter.
The Company also self-reported this matter to the SEC and responded to a related inquiry being conducted by the enforcement staff of the SEC’s San Francisco Regional Office. On August 3, 2023, the SEC notified the Company that the SEC had terminated its investigation, which did not result in an enforcement action.
Indemnification Obligations
The Company is subject to certain indemnification obligations to both present and former officers and directors, including Mr. Collier, in respect to the legal proceedings described above. These indemnification obligations will be subject to limitations prescribed by law and the articles of the Company and may also be subject to contractual limitations.
1.2.3 Financings
Royalty Agreement for Proceeds of up to US$60 Million on Non-Core Metals
In July 2022, Northern Dynasty announced that the Pebble Partnership, together with certain other wholly owned subsidiaries of the Pebble Partnership, had entered into the Royalty Agreement with the Royalty Holder to receive up to US$60 million over the next two years, in return for the right to receive a portion of the future gold and silver production from the Pebble Project for the life of the mine. The Company received an initial non-refundable payment of US$12 million from the Royalty Holder concurrently with execution of the Royalty Agreement and granted the option to the Royalty Holder to increase its investment to US$60 million, in aggregate. The Company retained the right to 100% of the copper production from the Pebble Project.
Pursuant to the initial terms of the Royalty Agreement, the Royalty Holder made the initial non-refundable payment of US$12 million in exchange for the right to receive 2% of the payable gold production and 6% of the payable silver production from the Pebble Project, in each case after accounting for a notional payment by the Royalty Holder of US$1,500 per ounce of gold and US$10 per ounce of silver, respectively, for the life of the mine. If, in the future, spot prices exceed US$4,000 per ounce of gold or US$50 per ounce of silver, then the Company will share in 20% of the excess price for either metal. Additionally, the Company will retain a portion of the metal produced for recovery rates greater than 60% for gold and 65% for silver and so is incentivized to continually improve operations over the life of the mine. Within two years of the date of the Royalty Agreement, the Royalty Holder had the right to invest additional funds, in US$12 million increments, for the right to receive additional 2% increments of gold production and 6% of silver production to an aggregate total of US$60 million, in return for the right to receive an aggregate of 10% of the payable gold and 30% of the payable silver (in each case, in the aggregate) on the same terms as the first tranche of the investment.
In November 2023, Northern Dynasty and the Royalty Holder agreed to amend the terms of the Royalty Agreement (the “Amendment”). Under the Amendment, the Royalty Holder received the right to fund the second US$12 million tranche in six equal installments of US$2 million each, with each installment providing the Royalty Holder the right to receive approximately 0.33% of the payable gold production and 1% of the payable silver production from the Pebble Project (representing 1/6 of the aggregate royalty under the second tranche). The Company received the first US$2 million upon execution of the Amendment.
Page | 18 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
On July 25, 2024, the Company received the remaining US$10 million royalty payment under the second tranche of the Royalty Agreement and the Amendment. As the Royalty Holder completed all six installments (for a total of US$12 million) of the second tranche on or before July 26, 2024, the option for the completion of the three remaining tranches of US$12 million each under the Royalty Agreement has been extended until July 26, 2025, as agreed to under the Amendment. Completion of the second tranche of US$12 million increases the Royalty Holder’s right to an aggregate of 4% of the payable gold production and 12% of the aggregate silver production. The Royalty Holder is under no obligation to invest additional amounts to increase its interest in the gold and silver production from the Pebble Project.
The Pebble Partnership has also granted to the Royalty Holder a right of first refusal in respect of the sale of any gold or silver production from the Pebble Project pursuant to a streaming, royalty, or other similar transactions in exchange for an upfront payment. The Royalty holder has granted the Pebble Partnership a right of first refusal should it propose to sell any of its rights under the Royalty Agreement.
Subject to certain conditions, the Royalty Agreement does not restrict the Company’s ability to form partnerships to assist in the development of the Proposed Project, for example (but not restricted to) with other mining companies or Alaska Native Corporations.
Unit Private Placement
In December 2023, Northern Dynasty completed a non-brokered private placement of 8,555,000 units (the "Units") on December 21, 2023, at a price of $0.40 per unit for gross proceeds of $3.42 million. Each Unit consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), which entitles the holder to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.45 per common share until December 14, 2025. At the Company’s election, the Warrants are subject to an accelerated expiry upon 30 calendar days’ notice from the Company in the event the Company’s common shares trade for 20 consecutive trading days any time after four months from December 21, 2023, at a volume weighted average price of at least $0.90 on either the Toronto Stock Exchange or the NYSE American. No commission or finders’ fees were payable. After transaction costs of $0.04 million, net proceeds to the Company were $3.38 million.
Convertible Notes
In December 2023, pursuant to an investment agreement, Kopernik Global Investors, LLC, on behalf of its clients (collectively, the "Investor"), purchased convertible notes having an aggregate principal amount of US$15 million (the "Convertible Notes"). The Convertible Notes have a term of 10 years from the date of issuance of December 18, 2023, bear interest at a rate of 2.0% per annum, which is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on December 31 and June 30 of each year. The first two interest payments were made on June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The principal amount of the Convertible Notes will be convertible at any time at the option of the Investor at a per share conversion price of US$0.3557 (the "Conversion Price", subject to adjustment in certain circumstances (i.e., including a change of control). Under the terms of the Convertible Notes, if the Company proceeds with an equity financing in the future, the terms of the Convertible Notes require that the Company redeem the Convertible Notes at 150% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes, in cash or convert the principal amount at the Conversion Price, at the election of the Investor, and pay any accrued but unpaid interest in cash. This financing is subject to customary exclusions for non-financing issuances of the Company’s equity securities. In addition, the Convertible Notes include change of control provisions under which (i) the Investor may elect to convert the Convertible Notes concurrent with a change of control transaction at the lower of the fixed Conversion Price and the price per common share implied by the change of control transaction, and (ii) if the Investor does not elect to convert, the Company is required to offer to repurchase the Convertible Notes at 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued but unpaid interest. Further details on the terms of the Convertible Notes are included in the Company’s material change report filed on Sedarplus on December 29, 2023.
Page | 19 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The Units and Convertible Notes were issued pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements and other similar requirements under applicable securities laws. The Units and Convertible Notes are subject to resale restrictions under applicable securities laws in Canada and the U.S. The net proceeds from the Units and the Convertible Notes are being used by the Company to fund the ongoing permitting process of the Pebble Project and for general corporate purposes including working capital.
1.2.4 Market Trends
Average annual prices of copper, gold, molybdenum and silver for the past five years as well as the average prices so far in 2025 are shown in the table below:
Year |
| Average metal price 1,2 |
|
|||||||||||||
| Copper US$/lb |
|
| Gold US$/oz |
|
| Molybdenum US$/lb |
|
| Silver US$/oz |
|
|||||
2020 |
|
| 2.80 |
|
|
| 1,769 |
|
|
| 8.68 |
|
|
| 20.54 |
|
2021 |
|
| 4.27 |
|
|
| 1,799 |
|
|
| 15.94 |
|
|
| 25.14 |
|
2022 |
|
| 3.99 |
|
|
| 1,800 |
|
|
| 18.73 |
|
|
| 21.74 |
|
2023 |
|
| 3.84 |
|
|
| 1,939 |
|
|
| 24.19 |
|
|
| 23.35 |
|
2024 |
|
| 4.16 |
|
|
| 2,386 |
|
|
| 21.30 |
|
|
| 28.27 |
|
2025 (to May 9) |
|
| 4.22 |
|
|
| 2,969 |
|
|
| 20.34 |
|
|
| 32.01 |
|
| 1. | Source for copper, gold and silver is Argus Media at www.metalprices.com. |
| LME Official Cash Price for copper. |
|
| LBMA PM price for gold. |
|
| London PM fix for silver. |
|
| 2. | Source for molybdenum prices is Platts. |
1.3 Selected Annual Information
Not required for the interim MD&A
Page | 20 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.4 Summary and Discussion of Quarterly Results
All monetary amounts are expressed in thousands of dollars except per share amounts and where otherwise indicated. Minor differences are due to rounding.
Excerpts from Statements of Comprehensive Loss |
| Mar 31 2025 |
|
| Dec 31 2024 |
|
| Sep 30 2024 |
|
| Jun 30 2024 |
|
| Mar 31 2024 |
|
| Dec 31 2023 |
|
| Sep 30 2023 |
|
| Jun 30 2023 |
|
||||||||
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Exploration and evaluation |
| $ | 2,033 |
|
| $ | 2,046 |
|
| $ | 932 |
|
| $ | 909 |
|
| $ | 1,763 |
|
| $ | 2,055 |
|
| $ | 1,587 |
|
| $ | 1,813 |
|
General and administrative |
|
| 2,600 |
|
|
| 2,099 |
|
|
| 2,145 |
|
|
| 2,337 |
|
|
| 2,611 |
|
|
| 2,404 |
|
|
| 2,686 |
|
|
| 2,626 |
|
Legal, accounting and audit |
|
| 1,004 |
|
|
| 1,268 |
|
|
| 551 |
|
|
| 716 |
|
|
| 934 |
|
|
| 260 |
|
|
| (345 | ) |
|
| 1,449 |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
| 135 |
|
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
| 7 |
|
|
| 245 |
|
|
| 403 |
|
Derivative adjustment 2 |
|
| 34,476 |
|
|
| 17,737 |
|
|
| 736 |
|
|
| (223 | ) |
|
| 368 |
|
|
| (1,179 | ) |
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
Other items 1 |
|
| 126 |
|
|
| (612 | ) |
|
| 181 |
|
|
| (88 | ) |
|
| (353 | ) |
|
| 106 |
|
|
| 12 |
|
|
| (83 | ) |
Loss for the quarter 3 |
| $ | 40,374 |
|
| $ | 22,545 |
|
| $ | 4,553 |
|
| $ | 3,658 |
|
| $ | 5,328 |
|
| $ | 3,653 |
|
| $ | 4,185 |
|
| $ | 6,208 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic and diluted loss per common share |
| $ | 0.08 |
|
| $ | 0.04 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
| $ | 0.01 |
|
Weighted average number of common shares (000s) |
|
| 538,171 |
|
|
| 537,754 |
|
|
| 537,724 |
|
|
| 537,724 |
|
|
| 538,205 |
|
|
| 531,597 |
|
|
| 529,917 |
|
|
| 529,779 |
|
1. | Other items include interest income, finance expense, exchange gain or loss, gain or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment and other income. |
|
|
2. | Loss or (gain) on change in fair value of the Convertible Notes derivative. |
|
|
3. | Loss before income tax. |
Discussion of Quarterly Trends
General and administrative expenses ("G&A") declined in 2024 compared to 2023 which was primarily driven by lower insurance amortization, consulting fees and shareholder communication costs. The increase in Q1 2025 from Q4 2024 is driven by an increase in conference and travel costs, management and administration costs and trust and filing expenses.
Legal, accounting and audit expenses have fluctuated based on legal fees incurred in response to matters including class action lawsuits, which were settled in 2023, the grand jury investigation in Alaska and the ongoing challenge to the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2020 and 2024 RODs. Additionally, the Company received insurance proceeds in 2023 and 2024 for legal fees incurred on the class action lawsuits and the grand jury investigation, which partially offset legal costs.
Share-based compensation expense ("SBC") in Q2 and Q3 2023 was driven by the vesting of option grants that were granted in Q3 2022 and which fully vested in Q3 2023. There were no option grants in 2023 and in 2024. At the annual general meeting held on June 27, 2024, the motion to approve the continuation of the share option plan for another three years was not passed and accordingly no further options can be granted. SBC from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024 was recognized for grants of Deferred Share Units ("DSUs"). In Q1 2025, SBC was recognized for a grant of 1,170,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs") to directors and senior management, as well as a grant of DSUs.
Page | 21 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.5 Results of Operations
The following financial data has been prepared from the Financial Statements.
The Company’s operations and business are not influenced by seasonal trends but are instead focused on the advancing of Pebble Project milestones. These include achieving various technical, environmental, socioeconomic and legal objectives, such as securing necessary permits, completing pre-feasibility and final feasibility studies, preparing engineering designs, and obtaining financing to support these efforts and mine construction.
1.5.1 Results of Operations – Three months ended March 31, 2025 versus 2024
For the three-month period, the Company’s net loss before tax increased by $35.0 million primarily due to a $34.5 million loss recognized from the change in fair value of the Convertible Notes derivative, which was driven by the increased share price as of March 31, 2025, which resulted in a higher estimated fair value for the in-the- money conversion option.
Exploration and evaluation expenses
The breakdown of E&E (in thousands of dollars) for the period compared to 2024 is as follows:
E&E |
| Three month ended March 31 |
|
|||||
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Engineering |
| $ | 1,022 |
|
| $ | 932 |
|
Environmental |
|
| 127 |
|
|
| 103 |
|
Site activities |
|
| 157 |
|
|
| 234 |
|
Socio-economic |
|
| 692 |
|
|
| 465 |
|
Transportation |
|
| – |
|
|
| 10 |
|
Other activities and travel |
|
| 35 |
|
|
| 19 |
|
Total |
| $ | 2,033 |
|
| $ | 1,763 |
|
E&E for the quarter increased by $0.3 million compared to the same period in 2024 primarily due to higher engineering, environmental and socio-economic costs. The Company’s technical team continued contributing inputs to the Company’s challenge to the EPA’s veto and the USACE’s 2020 and 2024 RODs and progressing plans for this year’s field program. Additionally, the quarter was affected by the depreciation of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar which impacted the translation of U.S. dollar costs incurred.
Page | 22 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
General and administrative expenses
The following table (in thousands of dollars) provides a breakdown of G&A, and includes legal, accounting and audit expenses incurred in the period compared to 2024:
|
| Three months ended March 31 |
|
|||||
G&A |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Conference and travel |
| $ | 306 |
|
| $ | 309 |
|
Consulting |
|
| 199 |
|
|
| 127 |
|
Depreciation of right-of-use assets |
|
| 28 |
|
|
| 26 |
|
Insurance |
|
| 490 |
|
|
| 653 |
|
Office costs, including information technology |
|
| 195 |
|
|
| 205 |
|
Management and administration |
|
| 922 |
|
|
| 894 |
|
Shareholder communication |
|
| 215 |
|
|
| 214 |
|
Trust and filing |
|
| 245 |
|
|
| 183 |
|
Total G&A |
|
| 2,600 |
|
|
| 2,611 |
|
Legal, accounting and audit |
|
| 1,004 |
|
|
| 934 |
|
|
| $ | 3,604 |
|
| $ | 3,545 |
|
G&A for the quarter decreased slightly compared to the same period in 2024. The decrease is primarily from lower insurance amortization which was partially offset by an increase in trust and filing and consulting expenses.
Legal, accounting and audit expenses increased by approximately $0.1 million in the quarter compared to the same period in 2024 . Additional legal fees were incurred for the Company’s EPA action (more fully described above).
Other
SBC in the quarter increased by $0.1 million compared to the same period in 2024, due primarily to the grant of RSUs. SBC fluctuates due to the timing of when RSUs and DSUs are granted, as well as the quantum thereof, and the vesting periods associated with these grants. As noted in 1.4, Summary and Discussion of Quarterly Results, no further options can be granted under the share option plan.
1.5.2 Financial position as at March 31, 2025 versus December 31, 2024
Total assets of the Company decreased by $4.5 million due largely to the decreases in cash and cash equivalents.
1.5.3 Plan of Operations
Our business objectives for the remainder of 2025, subject to available financial resources, are to:
· | continue with our primary corporate objectives of challenging the EPA’s Final Determination and the USACE’s 2020 and 2024 RODs, including the USACE’s denial of the permit in light of the Final Determination; |
· | maintain an active corporate presence in Alaska to advance relationships with political and regulatory offices of government (both in Alaska and Washington, D.C.), Alaska Native partners and broader stakeholder relationships; |
· | maintain the Pebble Project and Pebble claims in good standing; |
· | continue to seek potential partner(s) with greater financial resources to further advance the Pebble Project; and |
· | continue general and administrative activities in connection with the advancement of the Pebble Project. |
The key milestone in the development of the Company’s business is presently the successful completion of an appeal of the 2020 ROD and 2024 ROD.
Page | 23 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The Company’s present business objectives and milestones are anticipated to result in an estimated US$13.0 million in expenditures in fiscal 2025. The expenditures will be incurred (i) primarily in challenging the EPA’s Final Determination and the 2020 and 2024 RODs, and (ii) for ancillary corporate expenses, including expenses associated with continuing technical support of the Pebble Project, maintaining an active presence in Alaska, claims maintenance (US$1.4 million), potential partnership discussions, and general corporate and administrative expenses.
The Company’s actual plan of operations and expenditure for the next twelve months may vary depending on future developments and at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and management.
The Company will require additional financing beyond its current cash and working capital to carry out these business activities. The Company believes that its ability to obtain additional financing has been and will continue to be negatively impacted by the 2020 ROD, the 2024 ROD, the Final Determination, and the USACE’s determination not to proceed with the Remand Process, each of which is restricting the Company’s ability to achieve permitting for the Pebble Project. The Company does not have an arrangement in place for any future financing or raising of funds other than through the Royalty Agreement (see 1.6 Liquidity). As such, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to raise the required additional financing when required. In addition, the Company cautions that while a reversal of the EPA’s Final Determination, or a successful challenge of the USACE’s permitting decisions, and ultimate success by the Company under the Remand Process will each reduce some of the significant risk factors faced by the Pebble Project, significant risk factors will remain for the development of the Pebble Project, as described in 1.15.5 Risk Factors.
If the Company is unsuccessful in challenging the Final Determination, the Company will be required to re-assess its options for advancing the development of the Pebble Project. While the Company is unable to assess the full impact of the reversal of the EPA’s Final Determination at this time, the Company expects that an unsuccessful challenge to the Final Determination will negatively impact its ability to secure additional financing, likely limiting options to further equity issuances.
The Company may also attempt to reduce the amount of additional financing required by entering into a potential joint venture or other partnership arrangement for the advancement of the Pebble Project. The Company is continuing to evaluate the availability of long-term project financing options among mining companies, private equity firms and others, utilizing conventional asset level financing, debt, royalty, and alternative financing options. There is no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be able to partner the Pebble Project or secure additional financing when required.
To the extent that Northern Dynasty is unable to raise additional financing, it will have to curtail its operational activities, which will ultimately delay advancement of the Pebble Project.
Northern Dynasty’s inability to successfully challenge the Final Determination, which negatively impacts the Company’s ability to obtain a positive ROD, may ultimately mean that it will be unable to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project as currently envisioned or at all.
1.6 Liquidity
The Company’s primary funding sources have been equity issuances, mainly through private placements and prospectus offerings to sophisticated investors and institutions, as well as proceeds from option and warrant exercises. More recently the Company raised funds through the sale of payable gold and silver under the Royalty Agreement (refer 1.2.3 Financings). Additionally, in December 2023, the Company issued Convertible Notes for the first time (refer 1.2.3 Financings). Access to financing remains uncertain, and there is no assurance of continued access to equity funding.
Page | 24 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $11.8 million, a decrease of $4.3 million from December 31, 2024. The Company employed $4.7 million in its operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2025. The Company has prioritized the allocation of its available financial resources to meet key corporate and Pebble Project expenditure requirements for the next 12 months, as outlined above under 1.5.3 Plan of Operations. The Company can receive up to US$36 million, in three US$12 million tranches, being the balance for the completion of the Royalty Agreement, which is at the option of the Royalty Holder, until July 26, 2025 (refer 1.2.3 Financings). There is no assurance that the Royalty Holder will exercise all or any part of its remaining option. The Company does not have other arrangements in place for additional funding. There can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in obtaining additional financing when required, including securing any further investments under the Royalty Agreement. If the Company is unable to raise the necessary capital resources to meet obligations as they come due and carry out its business plans, the Company will have to reduce or curtail its operations at some point.
On March 31, 2025, the Company had a working capital deficit of $61.7 million (December 31, 2024 – working capital deficit of $21.4 million). Working capital is affected by the inclusion in current liabilities of the Convertible Notes liability and its related derivative. The Company has no lease or any other long-term obligations other than those disclosed below:
Commitments and Payables
The following commitments and payables (expressed in thousands) existed on March 31, 2025:
|
| Payments due by period as of the reporting date 6 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
| Total |
|
| ≤ 1 year |
|
| >1 ≤3 years |
|
| >3 ≤5 years |
|
| > 5 years |
|
|||||
Trade and other payables 1 |
| $ | 1,850 |
|
| $ | 1,850 |
|
| $ | – |
|
| $ | – |
|
| $ | – |
|
Payables to related parties |
|
| 439 |
|
|
| 439 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
Lease commitments 2 |
|
| 831 |
|
|
| 236 |
|
|
| 391 |
|
|
| 189 |
|
|
| 15 |
|
Other commitments 3 |
|
| 114 |
|
|
| 105 |
|
|
| 9 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
Interest on Convertible Notes 4 |
|
| 3,869 |
|
|
| 432 |
|
|
| 863 |
|
|
| 863 |
|
|
| 1,711 |
|
Convertible Notes 5 |
|
| 21,583 |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| – |
|
|
| 21,583 |
|
Total |
| $ | 28,686 |
|
| $ | 3,062 |
|
| $ | 1,263 |
|
| $ | 1,052 |
|
| $ | 23,309 |
|
Notes to table
1. | Excludes current and non-current lease liabilities and payable interest on Convertible Notes, which are shown separately in the table (notes 2 and 4). |
2. | Relates to the undiscounted lease payments to be made by the Company over the remaining lease terms. |
3. | Includes payments for the use of offices and shared space from a related party. |
4. | Interest is to be paid on June 30 and December 31 each year. |
5. | Payment of the principal of US$15 million is due December 18, 2033 (“Maturity”), assuming Convertible Notes holders do not elect to convert before or on Maturity. |
6. | U.S. dollar amounts have been converted at the closing rate on March 31, 2025, of $1.4389 per U.S. dollar. |
The Company has no “Purchase Obligations”, defined as any agreement to purchase goods or services that is enforceable and legally binding on the Company that specifies all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum, or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. The Company is responsible for maintenance payments on the Pebble Project claims, annual toll payments and fees pursuant to the right of way agreements (see 1.2.1.5 Socioeconomic) and payments relating to routine site and office leases, which are included in the table above.
Page | 25 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.7 Capital Resources
The Company’s capital resources consist of its cash reserves, which include its cash and equivalents. As of March 31, 2025, other than noted in 1.6 Liquidity, the Company has no other long-term debt and no commitments for material capital expenditures.
The Company has no lines of credit or other sources of financing.
1.8 Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2025, the Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
1.9 Transactions with Related Parties
Transactions with Hunter Dickinson Services Inc. (“HDSI”)
Hunter Dickinson Inc. (“HDI”) and its wholly owned subsidiary, HDSI, are private companies established by a group of mining professionals engaged in advancing and developing mineral properties for a number of private and publicly listed exploration companies, one of which is the Company.
Two current directors of the Company, namely Robert Dickinson (Board Chair) and Ron Thiessen (Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)), are active members of the HDI Board of Directors. Mark Peters, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), is also the CFO of HDSI. Adam Chodos, Stephen Hodgson, Bruce Jenkins, Trevor Thomas and Mike Westerlund are active members of HDI’s senior management team.
The business purpose of the related party relationship
HDSI provides technical services, including geological, engineering, and environmental, and general and administrative services, including administration and management, consulting, corporate communications, regulatory compliance, to the Company, on an as-needed and as-requested basis from the Company.
HDSI also incurs third party costs on behalf of the Company, which include, for example, crime and umbrella and cyber liability insurance, travel, conferences, and technology services.
As a result of this relationship with HDSI, the Company has ready access to a range of diverse and specialized expertise on a regular basis, without having to engage or hire full-time experts. The Company benefits from the economies of scale created by HDSI.
The measurement basis used
The Company procures the aforementioned services from HDSI pursuant to an agreement (the “Services Agreement”) dated July 2, 2010. A copy of the Services Agreement is publicly available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Services from HDSI are provided on a non-exclusive basis as required and as requested by the Company. The Company is not obligated to acquire any minimum dollar amount of services from HDSI. The fees for services are determined based on an agreed upon charge-out rate for each employee performing the service and the time spent by the employee. The charge-out rate also includes overhead costs such as office rent, information technology services and administrative support. Such charge-out rates are agreed and set annually in advance.
Third party expenses are billed at cost, without any markup.
Page | 26 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Ongoing contractual or other commitments resulting from the related party relationship
Other than noted below, there are no ongoing contractual or other commitments resulting from the Company’s transactions with HDSI, other than the payment for services already rendered and billed. The agreement may be terminated upon 60 days’ notice from either party.
Under the Services Agreement, the Company must make termination payments if the Services Agreement is terminated following a change of control. These payments include a payment of $2.8 million plus an amount equal to six months of annual salaries for certain service providers as specified in the Services Agreement and their respective employment agreements with HDSI.
The Company has an office use agreement with HDSI, whereby HDSI provides two offices and a non-fixed space, on as needed basis, for a five-year term ending on April 29, 2026. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company has a remaining undiscounted commitment as of March 31, 2025 of $0.1 million, which has been disclosed in the table in 1.6 Liquidity. The commitment is a flow through cost at market rates.
Transactions during the Reporting Period and Balances with HDSI at the end of the Reporting Period
Disclosure as to transactions with HDSI and any amounts due to or from HDSI is provided in Note 8 in the notes to the Financial Statements which accompany this MD&A, and which are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Key Management Personnel
The required disclosure for the remuneration of the Company’s key management personnel is provided in Note 8 in the notes to the Financial Statements which accompany this MD&A, and which are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
1.10 Fourth Quarter
Not applicable
1.11 Proposed Transactions
There are no proposed assets or business acquisitions or dispositions, other than those in the ordinary course before the Board of Directors for consideration.
1.12 Critical Accounting Estimates
The required disclosure is provided in Note 2 in the notes to the Financial Statements which accompany this MD&A, and which are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
1.13 Changes in Material Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption
The Company has made no material changes to accounting policies including initial adoption in the three months ended March 31, 2025. The required disclosure when applicable is provided in Note 2 in the notes to the Financial Statements which accompany this MD&A, and which are available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
1.14 Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
The Company is exposed in varying degrees to a variety of financial instrument-related risks. The Board approves and monitors the risk management processes, inclusive of documented investment policies, counterparty limits, and controlling and reporting structures. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided as follows:
Page | 27 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of potential loss to the Company if a counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its liquid financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and amounts receivable. The Company limits the exposure to credit risk by only investing with high-credit quality financial institutions in business and saving accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, government treasury bills, low risk corporate bonds and money market funds, which are available on demand by the Company as and when required or mature in timeframes appropriate to the needs of the Company. There has been no change in the Company’s objectives and policies for managing this risk except for changes in the carrying amounts of financial assets exposed to credit risk, and there was no significant change to the Company’s exposure to credit risk during the three months ended March 31, 2025. Amounts receivable include receivable balances with government agencies, prepaid expenses, refundable deposits and other receivables, which the Company received after the reporting period. Management has concluded that there is no objective evidence of impairment to the Company’s amounts receivable.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations when they become due. There has been no change in the Company’s objectives and policies for managing this risk. The Company’s liquidity position is discussed further in Section 1.6 Liquidity.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Company is subject to both currency transaction risk and currency translation risk: the Pebble Partnership, Pebble Services Inc., and U5 Resources Inc., have the US dollar as functional currency; and certain of the Company’s corporate expenses are incurred in US dollars. The fluctuation of the US dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar has an impact upon the losses incurred by the Company as well as the value of the Company’s assets as the Company’s functional and presentation currency is the Canadian dollar. The Company has not entered into any agreements or purchased any instruments to hedge possible currency risks at this time.
Page | 28 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
There has been no change in the Company’s objectives and policies for managing this risk, except for the changes in the carrying amounts of the financial assets and liabilities exposed to foreign exchange risk. The Company’s exposure to foreign exchange risk is as follows:
|
| March 31 |
|
| December 31 |
|
||
US dollar denominated financial assets and liabilities (in thousands of Canadian Dollars) |
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
|
||
Financial assets: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Amounts receivable |
| $ | 212 |
|
| $ | 178 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
| 11,925 |
|
|
| 16,094 |
|
|
|
| 12,137 |
|
|
| 16,272 |
|
Financial liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-current trade payables |
|
| (507 | ) |
|
| (548 | ) |
Convertible Notes liability and derivative on Convertible Notes |
|
| (72,634 | ) |
|
| (38,055 | ) |
Current trade and other payables |
|
| (1,588 | ) |
|
| (915 | ) |
Payables to related parties |
|
| (112 | ) |
|
| (222 | ) |
|
|
| (74,841 | ) |
|
| (39,740 | ) |
Net financial liabilities exposed to foreign currency risk |
| $ | (62,704 | ) |
| $ | (23,468 | ) |
Based on the above net exposures and assuming all other variables remain constant, a 10% change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would at the reported period result in a gain or loss of approximately $6.3 million (2024 – approximately $2.3 million). This sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items.
Interest rate risk
The Company is subject to interest rate risk with respect to its investments in cash and cash equivalents. There has been no change in the Company’s objectives and policies for managing this risk and no significant change to the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk during the three months ended March 31, 2025.
Commodity price risk
While the value of the Company’s Pebble Project is related to the prices of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium and the outlook for these minerals, the Company currently does not have any operating mines and hence does not have any hedging or other commodity-based risks in respect of its operational activities.
Copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, and rhenium prices have fluctuated widely historically and are affected by numerous factors outside of the Company’s control, including, but not limited to, industrial and retail demand, central bank lending, forward sales by producers and speculators, levels of worldwide production, short-term changes in supply and demand because of speculative hedging activities, and certain other factors related specifically to gold.
Capital Management
The Company’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base to maintain investor and creditor confidence and to sustain the future development of the business. The capital structure of the Company currently consists of equity, comprising share capital and reserves, net of accumulated deficit. There were no changes in the Company’s approach to capital management during the period. The Company is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.
1.15 Other MD&A Requirements
Additional information relating to the Company, including the Company’s 2024 AIF, is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
Page | 29 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.15.1 Disclosure of Outstanding Share Data
The capital structure of the Company as of the date of this MD&A is as follows:
|
| Number |
|
|
Common shares issued and outstanding |
|
| 538,725,581 |
|
Share options pursuant to the Company’s incentive plan 1 |
|
| 17,111,300 |
|
Warrants |
|
| 8,430,000 |
|
Deferred share units |
|
| 545,340 |
|
Restricted share units |
|
| 1,170,000 |
|
Note to table:
1. | At the annual general meeting held on June 27, 2024, the motion to approve the continuation of the share option plan for another three years was not passed and accordingly no further options can be granted. |
1.15.2 Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, with the participation of its CEO and CFO, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of the end of the reporting period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that any information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the applicable time periods and that required information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
1.15.3 Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting ("ICFR")
The Company's management, including the CEO and the CFO, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate ICFR. ICFR is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the CEO and CFO 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 consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards. The Company's ICFR includes those policies and procedures that:
· | pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; |
|
|
· | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and |
|
|
· | provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company's assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. |
There has been no change in the design of the Company’s ICFR that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s ICFR during the period covered by this MD&A.
Page | 30 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
1.15.4 Limitations of Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including its CEO and CFO, believe that any system of disclosure controls and procedures or ICFR, 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. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, they cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been prevented or detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and breakdowns can occur because of a 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 of controls. 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 not be detected.
1.15.5 Risk Factors
The securities of Northern Dynasty are highly speculative and subject to a number of risks. A prospective investor or other person reviewing Northern Dynasty for a prospective investor should not consider an investment in Northern Dynasty unless the investor can sustain an economic loss of their entire investment. The risks associated with Northern Dynasty’s business include:
Northern Dynasty May be Unsuccessful in Obtaining a Positive Record of Decision and Challenging the Final Determination and may ultimately not be able to Obtain the Required Environmental Permits for the Pebble Project.
The 2020 ROD issued on November 25, 2020, denied Northern Dynasty’s environmental permit for development of the Pebble Project under the CWA. The 2024 ROD issued in April 2024, denied the permit on the basis that the Pebble Project and portions of the required transportation and pipeline corridor fall within the "defined areas for prohibition" and the "defined area for restriction" in the EPA’s Final Determination. This environmental permit is required for Northern Dynasty to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project. The USACE has stated that it cannot issue a permit under the CWA at this time in view of the Final Determination issued by the EPA. An inability to obtain a positive ROD will mean that Northern Dynasty cannot proceed with the development of the Pebble Project as presently envisioned. There is no assurance that Northern Dynasty can successfully reverse the EPA’s Final Determination, as discussed below. Similarly, there is no assurance that Northern Dynasty can successfully challenge the USACE’s permitting decisions in the same litigation seeking to reverse the EPA’s Final Determination. If the Final Determination is successfully challenged, and if the Company is successful in challenging the USACE’s permit denial, there is no assurance that the Remand Process will result in a positive ROD or that the required environmental permit will be obtained. There is no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be able to redesign the Pebble Project in a manner that addresses the “significant degradation” finding reached by the USACE or ultimately develop any compensatory mitigation plan that the USACE accepts as appropriately addressing the “significant degradation” determination or that will change the USACE’s position that environmental permitting of the Pebble Project under the CWA is against the public interest. Northern Dynasty’s inability to address these issues may mean that the Company is ultimately not able to secure the environmental permits that are required to develop the Pebble Project. Accordingly, there is no assurance that Northern Dynasty will ever be able to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project and that investors will be able to recover their investment in the Company.
As referenced above, the EPA re-initiated the CWA Section 404(c) process and has issued a Final Determination covering the area of the Pebble Project. The Final Determination has established the Defined Area for Prohibition which includes the area covered by the current mine plan footprint in which the EPA prohibits the disposal of dredged or fill material for the Pebble Project and has also established the Defined Area for Restriction. Such Final Determination will negatively affect the ability of the Pebble Partnership to obtain required permitting and develop the Project, unless the Final Determination is withdrawn or reversed in the course of the legal challenges to it. There is no assurance that the legal actions that the Company has commenced to challenge the Final Determination will be successful. Further, it is anticipated that these legal actions will require the Company to incur significant legal expenses over a period of years and there is no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to fund this litigation over this time frame. The inability to successfully challenge the Final Determination may ultimately mean that the Company will be unable to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project as currently envisioned or at all.
Page | 31 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
There is no assurance that the 2025 Executive Order will result in any determination of the EPA to withdraw or amend the EPA’s Final Determination or any determination of the EPA to abandon the EPA’s defence of the legal actions that we have commenced to reverse the Final Determination and the USACE’s permitting decisions. Accordingly, there is no assurance the issuance of the 2025 Executive Order will result in a reversal of the EPA’s Final Determination or the 2020 ROD or the 2024 ROD issued by the USACE.
Inability to Ultimately Achieve Mine Permitting and Develop the Pebble Project.
The Company may ultimately be unable to secure the necessary permits under United States federal and Alaskan state laws to build and operate the Pebble Project. The EPA has undertaken regulatory action through the issuance of the Final Determination to restrict development of the Pebble Project and there is no assurance that the Final Determination will be successfully challenged or withdrawn in future. In addition, there is no assurance that the EPA will not seek to undertake future regulatory action to impede or restrict the Pebble Project even if the Final Determination is successfully challenged. In addition, there are prominent and well-organized opponents of the Pebble Project, and the Company may be unable, even if it presents solid scientific and technical evidence of risk mitigation, to overcome such opposition and convince governmental authorities that a mine should be permitted at the Pebble Project. The Company faces not only the permitting and regulatory issues typical of companies seeking to build a mine, but additional public and regulatory scrutiny due to its location and potential size. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the Company will obtain the required permits.
Although the Company received a denial of its CWA 404 permit application from the USACE, the USACE Pacific Ocean Division remanded the permit decision back to the USACE – Alaska District for reconsideration of specific issues. However, in April 2024, the Alaska District decided that the EPA’s Final Determination prevents the USACE granting permits for discharges in the mining area. There is no assurance that the Company’s attempt to challenge the USACE’s decision in the same Alaska Federal Court in which the Company is challenging the EPA’s Final Determination will be successful. Given the scope of the restrictions under the Final Determination and the USACE’s decisions, the EPA’s Final Determination casts doubt as to whether the Company will ever be able to obtain these permits for the Pebble Project as currently planned or within the timeline envisioned. Should the Company successfully challenge the EPA’s Final Determination or otherwise successfully challenge the USACE’s current position, and the Company successfully reverses the 2020 ROD and the 2024 ROD under a reactivated Remand Process, of which there is no assurance, the Company will still be required to secure the full range of permits and authorizations from multiple federal and state regulatory agencies, which will take several years. After all permits necessary to begin construction are in hand, several years would be required to finance and build a mine and commence operations. During these periods, the Company would likely have no income and so would require additional financing to continue its operations. Unless and until the Company develops the Pebble Project, it will be unable to achieve revenues from operations and may not be able to sell or otherwise recover its investment in the Pebble Project, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company and an investment in the Company’s common shares.
The Current Project Plan for the Pebble Project in the 2023 PEA is Not Supported by any Pre-feasibility or Feasibility Study.
The current project plan that is included in the original and subsequently amended Project Description for the development of the Pebble Project is supported by the 2023 PEA but is not supported by any pre-feasibility or feasibility study. Accordingly, there is a substantial risk that the Company will not be able to proceed with the development of the Pebble Project, that the Pebble Project cannot be economically mined or that shareholders may not be able to recover their investment in the Company. The 2023 PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the 2023 PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no assurance that the Pebble Project mineral resources will ever be upgraded to mineral reserves. The 2023 PEA assumes that the Proposed Project will ultimately be able to obtain the required permits from the USACE and State of Alaska authorities to enable development of the Proposed Project, however there is no assurance that these permits will be obtained. Neither the 2023 PEA, nor the mineral resource estimates on which the 2022 PEA is based, have been adjusted for any risks that (i) the Pebble Partnership may not be able to successfully appeal the 2020 ROD issued by the USACE denying the granting of the required permit under the CWA, or (ii) the Pebble Partnership may not be able to successfully challenge the Final Determination, each of which could adversely impact the ability of the Proposed Project to proceed. In addition, the 2023 PEA does not account for any additional capital or operating costs that may be necessary to obtain the required federal or state permits, should adjustments to the operating or environmental mitigation plans be required to be made to secure the required permits. In addition, recent inflationary pressures may adversely impact estimated capital and operating costs in the 2023 PEA. Further, the net present value calculations in the 2023 PEA are based on assumed discount rates which may not account for future increases in interest rates. For these reasons, there is significant risk that the economics for the Pebble Project indicated in the 2023 PEA, including production forecasts, capital costs, operating costs, revenues from operations, net present values and internal rates of return, will not be achieved should the Pebble Project be developed. The 2023 PEA should be viewed in this context and should not be considered a substitute for a pre-feasibility or feasibility study.
Page | 32 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The Long-Term Availability of Natural Gas in Southcentral Alaska is Demonstrating Signs of Increasing Uncertainty.
As currently envisioned, the Pebble Project would rely extensively on natural gas sourced locally from the Kenai Peninsula or from Cook Inlet to produce the electricity required to power the project. Recently, concerns have been expressed in Alaska that the available natural gas will soon be depleted, requiring alternate supply or significantly higher prices to justify the expansion of the reserve. While alternate supplies, including new resources within Cook Inlet, gas from Alaska’s North Slope or imported liquid natural gas are possible, this could require changes to the project design and/or add significant costs.
Although Northern Dynasty Has Settled the ”Class Action” Lawsuits against it, there is No Assurance that Northern Dynasty will not Incur Further Litigation Expenses Related to them or be Subject to New Lawsuits, including those from Opt-Out Plaintiff’s and Related Judgements for Damages against it.
Northern Dynasty was the subject of proposed class action lawsuits against it that asserted liability against Northern Dynasty on behalf of a purported class of shareholders under securities laws in the U.S. Currently, in the U.S. and Canada, the Court has granted the motion for final approval of the settlement and approved the plaintiffs’ motion for the distribution of the settlement funds. The Claims Administrator is currently in the process of distributing the remaining settlement funds, after which the plaintiffs will dismiss the case. In Canada, the parties have filed an executed settlement agreement that the Court has approved. The Canadian Court has also approved the requested distribution protocols and additional notice to class members. Simultaneous to these approvals, the Canadian court dismissed the action with prejudice but retained an ongoing supervisory role over the settlement for the purposes of administration and enforcement. In the event there is a need for either side to return to court for enforcement of the settlement agreement, Northern Dynasty may incur expenses as a result. While the settlement processes were being conducted separately in Canada and the U.S., collectively, the settlements in aggregate are within insurance policy limits.
In the U.S. securities class action, prior to the final approval of the settlement agreement, there were a few individual shareholders who “opted out” of the approved class settlement, meaning that those shareholders are excluded from the settlement. Those opt-out shareholders retain the ability to bring their own lawsuits, in their individual capacities, against Northern Dynasty and relevant officers and directors. In that event, while Northern Dynasty would vigorously defend against those claims, there is no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be successful in defending all claims made against it. Should Northern Dynasty be unsuccessful in defending these claims, it may be subject to judgements against it and be required to pay damages to the opt-out plaintiff(s) under these judgements. These damages could result in a material and adverse impairment to Northern Dynasty’s financial condition and capital resources and may further impair its ability to pursue the development of the Pebble Project.
Page | 33 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
In addition, while the settlement agreements do not require any payments of monies on behalf of any officers and directors, should any opt-out lawsuits be filed against Northern Dynasty’s officers or directors, it may be required to indemnify officers and directors for any losses that they suffer or expenses that they incur. Similarly, there is no assurance that Northern Dynasty’s existing insurance policies will respond and/or be sufficient to cover any amounts that it may be required to pay any opt-out plaintiffs in any potential forthcoming lawsuits. These damages could result in a material and adverse impairment to Northern Dynasty’s financial condition and capital resources and may further impair its ability to raise additional financing and pursue the development of the Pebble Project.
Grand Jury Investigation.
The Company is cooperating with a grand jury investigation involving the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, as described above under1.2.2 Legal Matters. The Company is not able to provide investors with guidance as to the outcome of the grand jury investigation, or whether the investigation will result in any charges or other claims against the Company, the Pebble Partnership or their associated individuals. The Company has incurred substantial expenses in connection with the grand jury investigation, including legal fees and expenses related to the collection, review, and production of documents, among other things and anticipates that it may continue to incur future expenses. Any adverse civil or criminal proceedings could have a material adverse impact on Northern Dynasty’s prospects and ability to advance development of the Pebble Mine project.
In addition, Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership may face ongoing and further inquiries, demands or allegations concerning future plans for the Pebble Project including from the U.S. Congress’ House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Again, any adverse civil or criminal proceedings relating to the Committee’s investigation could have a material adverse impact on Northern Dynasty’s prospects and ability to advance development of the Pebble Project. In addition, these inquiries or any possible resulting civil or criminal proceedings could erode any existing political support for the Pebble Project, which may reduce the likelihood of the Pebble Project obtaining the required environmental permitting.
The Record of Decision and the Final Determination have had and will have an Ongoing Adverse Impact on Northern Dynasty’s Ability to Finance the Pebble Project.
Northern Dynasty believes that the issuances of the 2020 ROD and 2024 ROD have had a material adverse impact on its ability to finance its operations and will continue to adversely impact its financing options for so long as the 2020 ROD and the 2024 ROD remain outstanding. In addition, the Final Determination may adversely impact Northern Dynasty’s ability to complete future financings. Challenging, and potentially appealing the 2020 ROD and the 2024 ROD and Final Determination in litigation will require substantial financial resources. As Northern Dynasty has limited cash resources, any additional royalty payments under the Royalty Agreement are not assured as they are at the option of the Royalty Holder, does not generate any revenues, and anticipates no revenues being generated in the foreseeable future, Northern Dynasty will require additional financing, to continue its operations and to fully fund the litigation challenging the USACE’s position on the remand of the 2020 ROD and the 2024 ROD and the challenge of the Final Determination. Northern Dynasty does not have any assurance that it will be able to achieve this financing. If Northern Dynasty is unsuccessful in challenging the Final Determination or otherwise obtaining a positive ROD, Northern Dynasty’s financing options may be substantially limited, and it may not be able to generate the necessary financing to enable continued operations without a substantial reduction or restructuring of the Pebble Project. The Company’s inability to secure this additional required financing will negatively impact the ability of the Company to continue with the pursuit of a positive ROD and challenge of the Final Determination, which may impact the ability of shareholders to recover their investment in the Company.
Page | 34 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Limited Capital Resources, Negative Operating Cash Flow and Financing Requirements.
The Company currently has limited cash and a negative operating cash flow and anticipates that it will continue to have negative operating cash flow for the foreseeable future as it does not generate revenues from mining or any other activities. As a result, operating cash flows will continue to be negative until the Company generates revenue from production at the Pebble Project to offset expenses incurred, of which there is no assurance. Accordingly, the Company will require substantial additional capital to fund both its plan of operations for the next twelve months and its future exploration and development activities. Apart from possible additional payments under the Royalty Agreement, the Company does not have any arrangements in place for this additional funding and there is no assurance that such funding will be achieved when required. The Company has historically relied on equity financings to finance its operations but there is no assurance that future equity financings will be available to the Company. Also, any additional equity financing may result in substantial dilution to existing shareholders. Any failure to obtain additional financing or failure to achieve profitability and positive operating cash flows will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations. Specifically, the Company may be required to reduce or curtail its operations within the next twelve months if it is not able to secure additional financing. Further there is no assurance that the Royalty Holder under the Royalty Agreement will exercise its right to purchase any additional rights to future gold and silver production from the Pebble Project, or that the Company will enter into additional streaming or royalty agreement financing arrangements for the Pebble Project.
Under the terms of the Company’s US$15.0 million Convertible Notes issued in December 2023, the Company has provided the holders with the option to redeem the Convertible Notes at a price equal to 150% of the outstanding principal, plus interest if the Company completes an “equity financing” during the term of the Convertible Notes. The term “equity financing” will include any issuance of common shares, preferred shares, or any securities convertible into common shares or preferred shares but is defined to exclude (i) normal course equity compensation grants, (ii) issuances under existing convertible securities, (iii) the Company’s December 2023 unit offering, and (iv) equity issuances in connection with mergers, acquisitions and other comparable transactions that are not completed for capital raising purposes. The requirement to redeem the Convertible Notes at a premium may impair our ability to secure additional equity financing during the term of the Convertible Notes.
Risk of Secure Title or Property Interest.
There can be no certainty that title to any property interest acquired by the Company or any of its subsidiaries is without defects. Although the Company has taken reasonable precautions to ensure that legal title to its properties is properly documented, there can be no assurance that its property interests may not be challenged or impugned. Such property interests may be subject to prior unregistered agreements or transfers or other land claims, and title may be affected by undetected defects and adverse laws and regulations.
The Pebble Partnership’s mineral concessions at Pebble are located on State of Alaska lands specifically designated for mineral exploration and development. Alaska is a stable jurisdiction with a well-developed regulatory and legal framework for resource development and public lands management, a strong commitment to the rule of law and lengthy track record for encouraging investment in the development if its land and natural resources.
The Pebble Project is Subject to Political and Environmental Non-Governmental Opposition.
The Pebble Project faces concerted opposition from certain individuals and organizations who are motivated to preclude any possible mining in the Bristol Bay Watershed (the “BBW”). The BBW is an important wildlife and salmon habitat area. Accordingly, one of the greatest risks to the Pebble Project is seen to be political/permitting risk, which may ultimately preclude construction of the Pebble Project. Opposition may include legal challenges to exploration and development permits, which may delay or halt development. Other tactics may, and have been, employed by opposition groups to delay or frustrate development at Pebble, including political and public advocacy, electoral strategies, media and public outreach campaigns, attempting to purchase intervening land rights, and protest activity. These efforts could materially increase the cost and time for development of the Pebble Project and the related infrastructure, or require changes to development plans, which could adversely impact project economics.
Page | 35 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
The Pebble Partnership’s Mineral Property Interests Do Not Contain Any Mineral Reserves or Any Known Body of Economic Mineralization.
Although there are known bodies of mineralization on the Pebble Project, and the Pebble Partnership has completed core drilling programs within, and adjacent to, the deposits to determine measured and indicated resources, there are currently no known reserves or body of commercially viable ore. Accordingly, the Pebble Project must be considered an exploration prospect only. Extensive additional work is required before Northern Dynasty, or the Pebble Partnership can ascertain if any mineralization may be economic and hence constitute “ore”.
Mineral Resources Disclosed by Northern Dynasty or the Pebble Partnership for the Pebble Project are Estimates Only.
Northern Dynasty has disclosed mineral resource estimates in accordance with NI 43-101. These resource estimates are classified as “measured resources”, “indicated resources” and “inferred resources”. Northern Dynasty advises United States investors that although the SEC now recognizes estimates of “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources”, there is no assurance any mineral resources that Northern Dynasty may report as “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources” under NI 43-101 would be the same had Northern Dynasty prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all the mineral deposits classified as “measured resources” or “indicated resources” will ever be converted into “mineral reserves”. Further, “inferred resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian securities law, estimates of “inferred mineral resources” cannot form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, or any economic study except a Preliminary Economic Assessment as prescribed under NI 43-101.
All amounts of mineral resources are estimates only, and Northern Dynasty cannot be certain that any specified level of recovery of metals from the mineralized material will in fact be realized or that the Pebble Project or any other identified mineral deposit will ever qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) ore body that can be economically exploited. Mineralized material, which is not mineral reserves, does not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, the quantity of mineral reserves and mineral resources may vary depending on, among other things, metal prices and actual results of mining. There can be no assurance that any future economic or technical assessments undertaken by the Company with respect to the Pebble Project will demonstrate positive economics or feasibility.
The mineral resource estimates contained herein have not been adjusted for any risk that the required environmental permits may not be obtained for the Pebble Project. The risk associated with the ability of the Pebble Project to obtain required environmental permits is a risk to the reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction of the mineralization and their definition as a mineral resource.
There Is No Assurance That Northern Dynasty Will Be Able To Enter Into An Arrangement with A Partner For the Development Of The Pebble Project.
One of Northern Dynasty’s business objectives is to enter into a joint venture or other partnership arrangement with a third-party as a partner to fund the advancement of the development of the Pebble Project. There is no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be able to enter into an arrangement with a partner for the development of the Pebble Project, and the negative impact of the 2020 and 2024 RODs, Final Determination, and the investigations regarding the Pebble Project may negatively impact the Company’s ability to enter into any arrangement. To the extent that Northern Dynasty does not enter into any agreement to partner the Pebble Project, it will continue to be required to fund all exploration and other related expenses for advancement of the Pebble Project, of which there is no assurance.
Page | 36 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Northern Dynasty Has No History of Earnings and No Foreseeable Earnings, and May Never Achieve Profitability or Pay Dividends.
Northern Dynasty has only had losses since inception and there can be no assurance that Northern Dynasty will ever be profitable. Northern Dynasty has never declared or paid any dividends on its common shares. Northern Dynasty intends, for the foreseeable future, to retain its future earnings, if any, to finance its exploration activities and its operations. Northern Dynasty presently has no ability to generate earnings from its mineral properties as its mineral properties are in the pre-development stage.
Northern Dynasty’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been Prepared Assuming Northern Dynasty will continue as a Going Concern.
Northern Dynasty has prepared its Financial Statements on the basis that it will continue as a going concern. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $11.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. Northern Dynasty has prioritized the allocation of its financial resources to meet key corporate and Pebble Project expenditure requirements in the near term, including the funding of its legal challenges to the Final Determination, any material expenditures at the Pebble Project and for working capital. Northern Dynasty’s continuing operations and the underlying value and recoverability of the amounts shown for mineral property interest are entirely dependent upon the existence of economically recoverable mineral reserves at the Pebble Project, the ability of the Company to finance its operating costs, the completion of the exploration and development of the Pebble Project, the Pebble Partnership obtaining the necessary permits to mine, and on future profitable production at the Pebble Project. Furthermore, failure to continue as a going concern would require that Northern Dynasty’s assets and liabilities be restated on a liquidation basis, which would likely differ significantly from carrying values on a going concern basis. Refer also to discussion in 1.6 Liquidity.
As the Pebble Project is Northern Dynasty’s only Mineral Property Interest, any Failure to establish that the Pebble Project Possesses Commercially Viable and Legally Mineable Deposits of Ore may cause a Significant Decline in the Trading Price of Northern Dynasty’s Common Shares and reduce its ability to obtain New Financing.
The Pebble Project, which is owned through the Pebble Partnership, is Northern Dynasty’s only mineral project. Northern Dynasty’s principal business objective is to carry out further exploration and related activities to establish whether the Pebble Project possesses commercially viable deposits of ore. If Northern Dynasty is not successful in its plan of operations, Northern Dynasty may have to seek a new mineral property to explore or acquire an interest in a new mineral property or project. Northern Dynasty anticipates that such an outcome would adversely impact the price of Northern Dynasty’s common shares. Furthermore, Northern Dynasty anticipates that its ability to raise additional financing to fund exploration of a new property or the acquisition of a new property or project would be impaired because of the failure to establish commercial viability of the Pebble Project.
If Prices for Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver and Rhenium Decline, Northern Dynasty May Not Be Able To Raise the Additional Financing Required To Fund Expenditures for the Pebble Project.
The ability of Northern Dynasty to raise financing to fund the Pebble Project will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of the metals for which it explores. The prices of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium are volatile and are affected by numerous factors beyond Northern Dynasty’s control. The level of interest rates, the rate of inflation, the world supplies of and demands for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium and the stability of exchange rates can all cause fluctuations in these prices. Such external economic factors are influenced by changes in international investment patterns and monetary systems and political developments. The prices of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium have fluctuated in recent years, and future significant price declines could cause investors to be unprepared to finance exploration for copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium, with the result that Northern Dynasty may not have sufficient financing with which to fund its activities related to the advancement of the Pebble Project.
Page | 37 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Information Systems and Cyber Security
The Company’s operations depend on information technology (“IT”) systems. These IT systems include the IT systems of HDSI who provides technical, management and administrative services to the Company under the Services Agreement. These IT systems are used by us to store sensitive data in the ordinary course of our business, including personal information of our employees, as well as proprietary and confidential business information relating to ourselves and in some cases, our service providers, investors and other stakeholders. These IT systems could be subject to network disruptions caused by a variety of sources, including computer viruses, security breaches and cyber-attacks, as well as disruptions resulting from incidents such as cable cuts, damage to physical plants, natural disasters, terrorism, fire, power loss, vandalism and theft. 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 expenses to mitigate the risks of failures and to address the threat of attacks. Any of these and other events could result in information system failures, delays and/or increase in capital expenses. 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. There is a risk that the Company or HDSI may be subject to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches which could result in material loss to the Company and could severely damage our reputation, compromise our IT systems and result in a loss or escape of sensitive information, a misappropriation of assets or incidents of fraud, disrupt our normal operations, and cause us to incur additional time and expense to remediate and improve our information systems. While we employ security measures in respect of our information and data, we cannot be certain that we will be successful in securing this information and data and there may be instances where we are exposed to malware, cyber-attacks or other unauthorized access or use of our information and data. The Company’s risk and exposure to these matters cannot be fully mitigated because of, among other things, the evolving nature and sophistication of these cyber-attacks and potential security breaches. In addition, the Company is dependent on the efforts of HDSI to mitigate its IT systems from cyber-attacks and other information breaches. 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 but may not ultimately defeat all potential attacks. 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.
The Russian-Ukrainian and the Israel-Hamas Conflicts – Potential Effects Which Could Detrimentally Affect the Global Economy, Peace and Stability in Europe and the Middle East, Respectively, and Beyond, and Our Business and Share Price
Russian military forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In response, Ukrainian military personnel and civilians are actively resisting the invasion. Many countries throughout the world have provided aid to the Ukraine in the form of financial aid and in some cases military equipment and weapons to assist in their resistance to the Russian invasion. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization ("NATO") has also mobilized forces to NATO member countries that are close to the conflict as deterrence to further Russian aggression in the region. The outcome of the conflict is uncertain and is likely to have wide-ranging consequences on the peace and stability of the region and the world economy. In addition, certain countries including Canada and the United States, have imposed strict financial and trade sanctions against Russia, which sanctions may have far reaching effects on the global economy. The long-term impacts of the conflict and the sanctions imposed on Russia remain uncertain and could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business and results of operations and may have wide-ranging consequences on the peace and stability of the region and the world economy.
The Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023, and escalated. Although current conditions have changed, the conflict is not yet resolved.
These conflicts could affect the economies and securities markets of countries in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. These events could also exacerbate other pre-existing political, social and economic risks. Such events could also cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures and affect Northern Dynasty’s performance, the price of its securities and its ability to successfully raise capital at reasonable rates or at all. As a result, the market price of Northern Dynasty’s common shares may decline even if the Northern Dynasty’s operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed.
Page | 38 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Although we do not have employees, suppliers or business activities in Ukraine or Russia, or in the Middle East at this time, the conflict may have a detrimental impact on our business and operations at some point in the future if the conflict spreads, escalates or affects Europe and the Middle East, respectively, or the world more broadly.
Mining is Inherently Dangerous and Subject to Conditions or Events beyond Northern Dynasty’s Control, which could have a Material Adverse Effect on Northern Dynasty’s Business.
Hazards such as fire, explosion, floods, structural collapses, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, ground control problems, power outages, inclement weather, seismic activity, cave-ins and mechanical equipment failure are inherent risks in Northern Dynasty’s exploration, development and mining operations. These and other hazards may cause injuries or death to employees, contractors or other persons at Northern Dynasty’s mineral properties, severe damage to and destruction of Northern Dynasty’s property, plant and equipment and mineral properties, and contamination of, or damage to, the environment, and may result in the suspension of exploration and development activities and any future production activities. Safety measures implemented by Northern Dynasty may not be successful in preventing or mitigating future accidents.
Northern Dynasty Competes with Larger, Better Capitalized Competitors in the Mining Industry.
The mining industry is competitive in all its phases, including financing, technical resources, personnel and property acquisition. It requires significant capital, technical resources, personnel and operational experience to effectively compete in the mining industry. Because of the high costs associated with exploration, the expertise required to analyze a project’s potential, and the capital required to develop a mine, larger companies with significant resources may have a competitive advantage over Northern Dynasty. Northern Dynasty faces strong competition from other mining companies, some with greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than Northern Dynasty possesses. As a result of this competition, Northern Dynasty may be unable to maintain or acquire financing, personnel, technical resources or attractive mining properties on terms Northern Dynasty considers acceptable or at all.
Compliance with Environmental Requirements will take Considerable Resources and Changes to these Requirements could Significantly Increase the Costs of Developing the Pebble Project and Could Delay These Activities.
Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership must comply with stringent environmental legislation in carrying out work on the Pebble Project. Environmental legislation is evolving in a manner that will require 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. Changes in environmental legislation could increase the cost to the Pebble Partnership of carrying out its exploration and, if warranted, development of the Pebble Project. Further, compliance with new or additional environmental legislation may result in delays to the exploration and, if warranted, development activities.
Changes in Government Regulations or the Application thereof and the Presence of Unknown Environmental Hazards on Northern Dynasty’s Mineral Properties May Result in Significant Unanticipated Compliance and Reclamation Costs.
Government regulations relating to mineral rights tenure, permission to disturb areas and the right to operate can adversely affect Northern Dynasty. Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership may not be able to obtain all necessary licenses and permits that may be required to carry out exploration at the Pebble Project. Obtaining the necessary governmental permits is a complex, time-consuming and costly process. The duration and success of efforts to obtain permits are contingent upon many variables not within the Company’s control. Obtaining environmental permits may increase costs and cause delays depending on the nature of the activity to be permitted and the interpretation of applicable requirements implemented by the permitting authority. There can be no assurance that all necessary approvals and permits will be obtained and, if obtained, that the costs involved will not exceed those that the Company previously estimated. It is possible that the costs and delays associated with the compliance with such standards and regulations could become such that the Company would not proceed with the development or operation of the Pebble Project.
Page | 39 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Litigation.
The Company is, and may in future be, subject to legal proceedings, including regarding actions discussed in 1.2.2 Legal Matters in the pursuit of its Pebble Project. Given the uncertain nature of these actions, the Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome thereof. If the Company is unable to resolve these matters favorably, it will likely have a material adverse effect of the Company.
Northern Dynasty is Subject to Many Risks that are Not Insurable and, as a Result, Northern Dynasty will Not Be Able to Recover Losses through Insurance Should Such Certain Events Occur.
Hazards such as unusual or unexpected geological formations and other conditions are involved in mineral exploration and development. Northern Dynasty may become subject to liability for pollution, cave-ins or hazards against which it cannot insure. The payment of such liabilities could result in an increase in Northern Dynasty’s operating expenses, which could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on Northern Dynasty’s financial position and its results of operations. Although Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership maintain liability insurance in an amount which they consider adequate, the nature of these risks is such that the liabilities might exceed policy limits, the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable against, or Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership might elect not to insure against such liabilities due to high premium costs or other reasons, in which event Northern Dynasty could incur significant liabilities and costs that could materially increase Northern Dynasty’s operating expenses.
If Northern Dynasty Loses the Services of the Key Personnel that it Engages to Undertake its Activities, then Northern Dynasty’s Plan of Operations May Be Delayed or be More Expensive to Undertake than Anticipated.
Northern Dynasty’s success depends to a significant extent on the performance and continued service of certain contractors, including HDSI (refer 1.9 Transactions with Related Parties). The Company has access to the full resources of HDSI, an experienced exploration and development firm with in-house geologists, engineers and environmental specialists, to assist in its technical review of the Pebble Project. There can be no assurance that the services of all necessary key personnel will be available when required or, if obtained, that the costs involved will not exceed those previously estimated. It is possible that the costs and delays associated with the loss of services of key personnel could become such that the Company would not proceed with the development or operation of a mine at the Pebble Project.
The Volatility of Northern Dynasty’s Common Shares Can Expose Northern Dynasty to the Risk of Litigation.
Northern Dynasty’s common shares are listed on the TSX and NYSE American. Securities of mining companies have experienced substantial volatility in the past, often based on factors unrelated to the financial performance or prospects of the companies involved. These factors include macroeconomic developments in North America and globally, currency fluctuations and market perceptions of the attractiveness of particular industries. The price of Northern Dynasty’s common shares is also likely to be significantly affected by short-term changes in copper, gold, molybdenum, silver and rhenium prices or in Northern Dynasty’s financial condition or results of operations as reflected in quarterly earnings reports.
As a result of any of these factors, the market price of Northern Dynasty’s common shares at any given point in time may not accurately reflect their long-term value. Securities class action litigation often has been brought against companies following periods of volatility in the market price of their securities. Northern Dynasty is, and may in the future be, the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and damages and divert management’s attention and resources.
Page | 40 |
| Management's Discussion and Analysis Three months ended March 31, 2025 |
|
|
Northern Dynasty Will Require Additional Funding to Meet the Development Objectives of the Pebble Project.
Northern Dynasty will need to raise additional financing (through share issuances, debt or asset level partnering) to achieve permitting and development of the Pebble Project. In addition, a positive production decision at the Pebble Project would require significant capital for project engineering and construction. Accordingly, the continuing permitting, and development of the Pebble Project will depend upon Northern Dynasty’s ability to obtain financing through debt financing, equity financing, entering into a joint venture of the project or other means. There can be no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be successful in obtaining the required financing, or that it will be able to raise the funds on terms that do not result in high levels of dilution to shareholders. If Northern Dynasty is unable to raise the necessary capital resources, it may at some point have to reduce or curtail its operations, which would have a material adverse effect on its ability to pursue the permitting and development of the Pebble Project.
While Northern Dynasty may attempt to reduce the amount of additional financing required by entering into a potential joint venture or other partnership arrangement for advancement of the Pebble Project, there is no assurance that we may be able to conclude any such agreements. In addition, any joint venture or other form of partnership arrangement for the Pebble Project is anticipated to result in a dilution in our ownership interest in the Pebble Project.
There is also no assurance that Northern Dynasty will be successful in securing any long-term project financing utilizing conventional asset level financing, debt, royalty, and alternative financing options, such as stream financing. Any project debt financing that the Company may obtain in the future will require future repayments of principal and interest from cash flows generated by the Pebble Project. Likewise, any potential sale of royalty interests in minerals produced from the Pebble Project would require future payments of royalties from cash flows generated by the Pebble Project. If Northern Dynasty enters into any streaming arrangements for the Pebble Project, it is anticipated that it would be required to sell minerals produced from the Pebble Project at preferential rates as consideration for up-front funding provided by the party providing the stream financing. As a result, any of these financing options are anticipated to impact on the cash flows from the Pebble Project that would be available to the Company should the Pebble Project proceed to development. The Company’s board of directors has not made any determination as to whether to proceed with any of the above forms of financing and there is no assurance that these financing options will be available to advance development of the Pebble Project.
1.15.6 Qualified Persons
Stephen Hodgson, P.Eng., a qualified person who is not independent of Northern Dynasty, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this MD&A.
1.15.7 U.S. Securities Matters
The Company is a "foreign issuer" under the U.S. Exchange Act and entitled to file continuous disclosure reports with the SEC under the Multi-Jurisdictional Disclosure System between Canada and the United States, and to provide disclosure on our mineral properties, including the Pebble project, in accordance with NI 43‐101 disclosure standards and CIM Definition Standards. For this reason, information contained in this MD&A in respect of the Pebble project may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Page | 41 |