NOVAGOLD Files Lawsuit Against J Capital Research for Damages Sustained from Manipulative Short and Distort Report

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 07, 2020  — NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (“NOVAGOLD” or “the Company”) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) served J Capital Research USA LLC (JCAP) with a civil action lawsuit for defamation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleging that on May 28, 2020 JCAP issued a “report” on NOVAGOLD that contained false and misleading statements as part of what the Company believes to be a “Short and Distort” attack.

This legal action follows a unanimous vote by the Company’s Board of Directors to aggressively pursue redress for the Company. Baker Botts L.L.P, a leading international law firm, has been retained to act on the Company’s behalf. The legal proceedings will be guided by a specially constituted Committee of the Board of Directors.

NOVAGOLD has also provided a comprehensive rebuttal to the JCAP “report” countering each of JCAP’s false and misleading statements. These rebuttal statements were all distributed on June 8, 2020, as follows:

• Media Release: “NOVAGOLD Provides Comprehensive Response to Misleading and False Short-Seller Report”: https://www.novagold.com/_resources/news/2020-06-08.pdf
• Chairman’s Letter: “NOVAGOLD Chairman Thomas S. Kaplan Addresses Misleading Short-and-Distort Report by Short Seller”: https://www.novagold.com/_resources/news/2020-06-08b.pdf
• Line-by-Line “Fact Matrix Report Detailing Falsehoods and Intentionally Misleading Statements Contained in the May 28, 2020 JCAP Report”: https://www.novagold.com/_resources/news/2020-06-08c.pdf

About NOVAGOLD

NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company focused on the development of its 50%-owned Donlin Gold project in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world. With approximately 39 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated mineral resource categories, inclusive of proven and probable mineral reserves (541 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.24 grams per tonne in the measured and indicated resource categories on a 100% basis),¹ Donlin Gold is regarded to be one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective known open pit gold deposits in the world. According to the Second Updated Feasibility Study (as defined below), once in production, Donlin Gold is expected to produce an average of more than one million ounces per year over a 27-year mine life on a 100% basis. The Donlin Gold project has substantial exploration potential beyond the designed footprint which currently covers three kilometers of an approximately eight-kilometer long gold-bearing trend. Current activities at Donlin Gold are focused on state permitting, optimization work, community outreach and workforce development in preparation for the construction and operation of this project. With a strong balance sheet, NOVAGOLD is well-positioned to fund its share of permitting and optimization advancement efforts at the Donlin Gold project.

Scientific and Technical Information

Some scientific and technical information contained herein with respect to the Donlin Gold project is derived from the “Donlin Creek Gold Project Alaska, USA NI 43-101 Technical Report on Second Updated Feasibility Study” prepared by AMEC with an effective date of November 18, 2011, as amended January 20, 2012 (the “Second Updated Feasibility Study” or “FSU2”). Kirk Hanson, P.E., Technical Director, Open Pit Mining, North America, (AMEC, Reno), and Gordon Seibel, R.M. SME, Principal Geologist, (AMEC, Reno) are the Qualified Persons responsible for the preparation of the independent technical report, each of whom are independent “qualified persons” as defined by NI 43-101.

Clifford Krall, P.E., who is the Mine Engineering Manager for NOVAGOLD and a “qualified person” under NI 43-101, has approved and verified the scientific and technical information related to the Donlin Gold project contained in this press release.

¹ Donlin Gold data as per the Second Updated Feasibility Study (as defined herein). Donlin Gold measured resources of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.52 g/t and indicated resources of approximately 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, each on a 100% basis and inclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101.

NOVAGOLD Contacts:
Mélanie Hennessey
Vice President, Corporate Communications

Jason Mercier
Manager, Investor Relations

604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227

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