NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC

Overview

We operate in the gold mining industry, primarily focused on advancing the Donlin Gold project in Alaska. The Donlin Gold project is held by Donlin Gold LLC (“Donlin Gold”), a limited liability company owned equally by wholly-owned subsidiaries of NOVAGOLD and Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”).

We do not produce gold or any other minerals, and do not currently generate operating earnings. Funding to explore our mineral properties and to operate the Company was acquired primarily through previous equity financings consisting of public offerings of our common shares and warrants and through debt financing consisting of convertible notes, and the sale of assets. We expect to continue to raise capital through additional equity and/or debt financings, through the exercise of stock options, and otherwise.

We were incorporated by memorandum of association on December 5, 1984, under the Companies Act (Nova Scotia) as 1562756 Nova Scotia Limited. On January 14, 1985, we changed our name to NovaCan Mining Resources (1985) Limited and on March 20, 1987, we changed our name to NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. On May 29, 2013, our shareholders approved the continuance of the corporation into British Columbia. Subsequently, we filed the necessary documents in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, and we continued under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) effective as of June 10, 2013. The current addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers of our offices are:

Corporate Structure

As of November 30, 2023, we had the following material, direct and indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries: NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska, Inc., NOVAGOLD US Holdings Inc., NOVAGOLD USA, Inc., AGC Resources Inc, NOVAGOLD (Bermuda) Alaska Limited and NOVAGOLD Resources (Bermuda) Limited.

The following chart depicts the corporate structure of the Company together with the jurisdiction of incorporation of each of our material subsidiaries and related holding companies. All ownership is 100% unless otherwise indicated.

Human Capital Resources

On November 30, 2023, we had 13 full-time employees, of which four are located in Canada and nine are located in the United States. We also use consultants with specific skills to assist with various aspects of project evaluation, engineering, and corporate governance.

Company Values

Our company culture is the cornerstone of all our human capital programs. Empowering every employee to be their best, affording every employee the opportunity to make a difference, and giving every employee a chance to be heard are among the Company’s values. Our values extend to the communities in which we work. We have adopted a Human Rights Policy focused on our commitment to having a positive influence in the communities where we operate which includes ensuring that we respect human rights.

Diversity

As of the end of fiscal year 2023, 46% of our total workforce were women. Selection of individuals for executive and other positions with the Company is guided by the Company’s policy which “prohibits discrimination in any aspect of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or age.” Our Board and management acknowledge the importance of all aspects of diversity including gender, ethnic origin, business skills and experience, because it is right to do so and because it is good for our business. When considering candidates for executive positions, the Board’s evaluation considers the broadest possible assessment of each candidate’s skills and background with the overriding objective of ensuring that we have the appropriate balance of skills, experience, and capacity that the Company needs to be successful. In the context of this overriding objective, we have determined not to set targets for the percentage of women, or other aspects of diversity, in executive officer positions.

NOVAGOLD is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our employees are one of the most valuable assets we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of our culture, reputation, and NOVAGOLD’s achievements.

NOVAGOLD is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment for everyone. We embrace and celebrate the unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds that each employee brings to our workplace. NOVAGOLD strives to foster an environment where our employees feel respected, valued, and empowered, and our team members are at the forefront in helping us promote and sustain an inclusive workplace.

NOVAGOLD’s diversity initiatives are applicable—but not limited—to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity. To that end, we seek out qualified diverse candidates and encourage them to apply for open positions, either from within or outside of the company. We also seek out opportunities to develop a pipeline of qualified diverse candidates in a particular profession when we are unable to find them ourselves. For example, in 2021 the Company established and continues to fund the NOVAGOLD Mining and Geological Engineering Scholarship at the University of Alaska to help support and encourage undergraduate students seeking bachelor’s degrees in mining or geological engineering, with a focus on supporting underrepresented students.

We encourage:

Safety and Health

NOVAGOLD’s primary objective is to ensure the health and safety of its employees, partners, and contractors, and is reflected in its Health and Safety Policy. Our focus on safety is also reflected at Donlin Gold where a wide-ranging set of policies are implemented at the project site and in the Anchorage office. In 2023, neither Donlin Gold nor NOVAGOLD had any recordable injuries or lost time incidents (LTIs). At Donlin Gold specifically, more than 3.4 million hours have been worked over more than a decade without an LTI. Also see sectionItem 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below.

Recent Developments

Donlin Gold project

The 2023 field program at the Donlin Gold project commenced in February. It was safely completed on schedule in July and included comprehensive fieldwork and geotechnical drilling required to complete the Alaska Dam Safety certificate applications. This involved data collection at the locations earmarked for water retention structures, including the proposed Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). The fieldwork included 1,840 meters of geotechnical drilling, 74 test pits in the locations of the planned water retention structures, 25 kilometers of seismic survey, and TSF test plot liner installation. Fieldwork to further define groundwater conditions at the site included 1,279 meters of hydrogeologic drilling with instrumentation and pump tests, providing essential information for mine planning and design. At the historic Lyman placer site, restoration work included significant stream and pond habitat creation. Final work including anticipated aquatic life access and use is planned for the 2024 field season.

Trade-off studies and extensive analysis on project assumptions, inputs, design components for optimization (mine engineering, metallurgy, hydrology, power, and infrastructure) were prepared. Work on geologic modeling concepts and other optimization efforts are still underway. The comprehensive work provided valuable information for the Donlin Gold LLC board and its owners. On September 21, 2023, both Barrick and NOVAGOLD attended a workshop in Alaska to review the substantial amount of work completed to date and discuss the next steps for the Donlin Gold project and workplan for the coming years.

At the December 2023 Donlin Gold LLC board meeting, NOVAGOLD proposed proceeding to an updated feasibility study while the co-owner proposed continued drilling campaigns. Even though the owners did not agree to either proposal at the December meeting, they found common ground on value-adding activities that advance the project. Thus, while discussions continue regarding next steps, the Donlin Gold LLC board approved a budget of $28.5 million (100% basis) for 2024, comprising resource modelling, mine planning work, metallurgical test work (pilot plant), regional infrastructure support planning, geoscience hydrology and closure planning, advancement of the dam safety certificate applications, and continued support of pending litigation, government affairs, community engagement activities, and sponsorships. NOVAGOLD will continue to employ concerted and inclusive efforts to advance the Donlin Gold project for the benefit of all our shareholders and Donlin Gold stakeholders.

For further information, see sectionItem 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, below.

Reclamation

We will generally be required to mitigate long-term environmental impacts by stabilizing, contouring, re-sloping and re-vegetating various portions of a site after mining and mineral processing operations are completed. These reclamation efforts will be conducted in accordance with detailed plans, which are approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies. In addition, financial assurance acceptable to the regulatory authority with jurisdiction over reclamation must be provided in an amount and form that is determined to be sufficient by the authority to implement the approved reclamation plan in the event that the project owners fail to complete the work as provided in the plan.

Government and Environmental Regulations

Our exploration and development activities are subject to various national, state, and local laws and regulations in the United States, which govern prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection of the environment, mine safety, hazardous substances, disclosure requirements and other matters. We have obtained or have pending applications for those licenses, permits or other authorizations currently required to conduct our exploration and development programs. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable mining, health, safety and environmental statutes and regulations in the United States. There are no current orders or directions relating to us with respect to the foregoing laws and regulations. For a more detailed discussion of the various government laws and regulations applicable to our operations and potential negative effects of these laws and regulations, see sectionItem 1A, Risk Factors, below.

Competition

We compete with other mineral resource exploration and development companies for financing, technical expertise, and the acquisition of mineral properties. Many of the companies with whom we compete have greater financial and technical resources. Accordingly, these competitors may be able to spend greater amounts on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. This competition could adversely impact our ability to finance further exploration and to obtain the financing necessary for us to develop the Donlin Gold project.

Availability of Raw Materials and Skilled Employees

Most aspects of our business require specialized skills and knowledge. Such skills and knowledge include the areas of geology, drilling, resource estimating, metallurgy, mine planning, logistical planning, preparation of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, permitting, engineering, construction and operation of a mine, financing, legal, human resources, accounting, investor relations, and community relations. Historically, we have found that we can locate and retain appropriate employees and consultants and we believe we will continue to be able to do so.

The raw materials we require to carry on our business are readily available through normal supply or business contracting channels in the United States and Canada. Historically, we have been able to secure the appropriate equipment and supplies required to conduct our contemplated programs. As a result, we do not believe that we will experience any shortages of required equipment or supplies in the foreseeable future.

Seasonality

Our business can be seasonal as our mineral exploration and development activities take place in southwestern Alaska. Due to the northern climate, work on the Donlin Gold project can be limited due to excessive snow cover and cold temperatures. In general, surface work often is limited to late spring through early fall, although work in some locations is more readily and efficiently completed during the winter months when the ground is frozen.

Gold Price History

The price of gold is volatile and is affected by numerous factors, all of which are beyond our control, such as the sale or purchase of gold by various central banks and financial institutions, inflation, recession, fluctuation in the relative values of the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, changes in global and regional gold demand, in addition to international and national political and economic conditions.

The following table presents the annual high, low and average daily afternoon London Bullion Market Association (“LBMA”) Gold Price over the past five calendar years on the London Bullion Market ($/ounce):

On January 16, 2024, the afternoon LBMA gold price was $2,038 per ounce.

Data Source: lbma.org.uk

Available Information

We maintain a website at www.novagold.com and make available, through the Investors section of the website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 filings and all amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These reports are also available at the SEC website atwww.sec.gov. Certain other information, including but not limited to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of key committees of its Board of Directors and its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are also available on the website. Our website and the information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be, and are not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.