New Gold Inc NGD

Provides Inaugural Three-Year Operational Outlook and Updated Mineral Reserves and Resources

(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) (NYSE American: NGD) is pleased to provide its inaugural three-year operational outlook and updated Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources statement for the Company as of December 31, 2023. The Company will host a webcast today at 12:30 pm Eastern Time to discuss these items (details are provided at the end of this news release). The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial performance measures throughout this release. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures" section of this news release for more information. Numbered note references throughout this news release are to endnotes which can be found at the end of this news release.

Increasing Production and Decreasing Costs Highlight Strong Free Cash Flow Generation Over the Next Three Years

"With our inaugural presentation of three-year guidance, the Company has clearly defined the path forward to significant free cash flow generation," stated Patrick Godin, President and CEO. "This is underpinned by the work completed in recent years to prepare our operations for meaningful production and cash flow increases, as costs and capital spend decrease."

• Consolidated gold production is expected to increase by approximately 35% from 2023 to 410,000 to 460,000 ounces in 2026 driven by increasing production profiles at both Rainy River and New Afton as growth projects are completed in the near-term.
• Copper production is expected to increase by approximately 60% from 2023 to 71 to 81 million pounds in 2026 driven by the steady ramp-up of C-Zone.
• All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by over 50% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $650 and $750 per ounce in 2026, driven by higher production at both operations, significant reduction in total capital, and lower operating costs as the C-Zone crusher and conveyor comes online, and Rainy River completes Phase 4 waste removal and commences mining from the underground Main Zone.
• The higher production, lower costs, and lower capital spend over the next three years are expected to drive significant free cash flow² for the Company.

2024 to See Realization of Growth Projects, With the Second Half to Highlight Free Cash Flow Generation Potential

"The Company is set to successfully complete a number of key catalysts in 2024, including reaching commercial production at New Afton's C-Zone, and first ore from Rainy River's underground Main Zone. Capital deployed in 2024, weighted to the first half of the year, will allow the Company to enter a sustained free cash flow generation period. In fact, at current commodity prices New Gold is expected to generate approximately $75 million in free cash flow in the second half of the year," added Mr. Godin.

• 2024 consolidated gold production is expected to be 310,000 to 350,000 ounces compared to 321,178 in 2023. Production is expected to strengthen in the second half of the year, with the second half of 2024 expected to represent approximately 60% of annual production as waste stripping at Rainy River is sequenced in the first half of the year.
• 2024 copper production is expected to be between 50 to 60 million pounds, approximately 16% higher than 2023 driven by increased contribution from C-Zone at New Afton.
• 2024 total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by approximately 7% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $725 and $825 per ounce driven by increased production from both operations.
• 2024 all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by approximately 10% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $1,240 and $1,340 per ounce driven by lower total cash costs, higher production from both operations and lower sustaining capital primarily related to waste stripping activities at Rainy River.
• 2024 total capital is expected to be in-line with the 2023 guidance range, as growth projects at both operations are brought online during the year.

Strategic Outlook Beyond 2026 Highlights Operational Sustainability and Longevity, with Minimal Capital Investment

"Looking beyond our three-year guidance, the Company has a strategic objective of targeting a sustainable production platform of approximately 600,000 gold equivalent ounces per year with a line of sight until at least 2030. Following the successful execution of operational stabilization initiatives and growth projects over the past two years, we are increasingly looking to unlock the long-term value of our operations. Based on Mineral Reserves alone, Rainy River and New Afton have mine lives to 2031 and 2030, respectively, and modest conversion of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves would not only extend mine lives but also improve the production profiles from 2027 to 2031 with minimal capital investment. The strategic outlook demonstrates our confidence in the sustainability of our operations" added Mr. Godin.

• Rainy River successfully added 201,000 ounces of open pit and underground gold Mineral Reserves, replacing 2023 depletion by 74%. Extension of open pit mining, with the inclusion of Phase 5, is expected to maintain mill throughput near full capacity until at least 2030.
• Following a detailed optimization of the Rainy River underground mining method, design and schedule, lateral development metres were reduced despite an increase in underground Mineral Reserves. As a result, the underground ramp-up period is
  de-risked and the steady-state underground production rate is expected to increase to 5,500 tpd beginning in 2027.
• Several high-quality open pit and underground exploration targets were identified in 2023, including the extension of existing zones and potential new zones. From 2017 to 2022, minimal exploration drilling was carried out at Rainy River, as the mine focused on ramping up production and stabilizing the operation. As such, several promising targets remain untested. In 2024, exploration at Rainy River will focus on drilling several of these targets from both surface and underground.
• On October 10, 2023, the Company presented a strategic pipeline for increasing the production profile and extending mine life at New Afton, including the evaluation of three promising opportunities for conversion of Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves: C-Zone Extension, East Extension, and D-Zone. As a result of infill drilling, a portion of Inferred Mineral Resources were converted to Measured and Indicated Resources at year-end.
• Additionally, the Company reported encouraging drill results from two potential new mining zones: K-Zone and AI-Southeast. Development of an exploration drift is now underway which is anticipated to provide better access to drill these zones, speeding up exploration efforts. The first drill bay is expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2024, with full completion of the drift scheduled in the third quarter.
• Following commissioning of the thickened and amended tailings plant and in-pit tailings storage project in late 2022, New Afton has sufficient tailings capacity to double the remaining mine life with minimal capital.

Three-Year Consolidated Operational Outlook

In 2024, the Company will report production on a gold and copper basis. Operating expense will be reported on a co-product basis. Consolidated total cash costs^1,4 and all-in sustaining costs^1,4 will be reported on a by product basis, net of by-product silver and copper sales. Given New Afton's significant copper contribution, the mine will also report cash costs and all-in sustaining costs on a co-product basis, which removes the impact of copper sales revenue and apportions cash costs and all-in sustaining costs to gold and copper activities, and subsequently divides the amount by the total gold ounces or pounds of copper sold, as the case may be, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. The Company has assumed $22.00 per silver ounce and $3.75 per copper pound, and a foreign exchange rate of $1.32 Canadian dollars to $1.00 US dollar in its three-year outlook.

2024 Consolidated Outlook

Gold production² is expected to be 310,000 to 350,000 ounces, approximately 3% higher than 2023 driven by increased underground production at Rainy River and the ongoing ramp-up of C-Zone at New Afton. Production is expected to strengthen in the second half of the year, with the second half of 2024 expected to represent approximately 60% of annual production as waste stripping at Rainy River is sequenced in the first half of the year. Copper production is expected to be between 50 to 60 million pounds, approximately 16% higher than 2023 driven by increased contribution from C-Zone at New Afton.

2024 total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by approximately 7% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $725 and $825 per ounce driven by increased production from both operations. 2024 all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by approximately 11% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $1,240 and $1,340 per ounce driven by lower total cash costs and higher production from both operations. Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ and all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease quarter-over-quarter throughout 2024 due to increasing production and a lower strip ratio at Rainy River in the second half of 2024.

Total capital is expected to be $290 to $330 million, of which, sustaining capital¹ is expected to be $115 to $130 million, and growth capital¹ is expected to be $175 to $200 million.

Sustaining capital¹ is expected to be generally in-line with the prior year, as 2023 sustaining capital spend was tracking to the low end of the guidance range through the first nine months, as previously stated. The sustaining capital¹ spend primarily relates to capital stripping activities at Rainy River and tailings dam raises and maintenance. Sustaining capital¹ is expected to trend lower through the second half of the year, as stripping activities at Rainy River are prioritized in the first half of the year. The second half of 2024 expected to represent approximately 40% of the sustaining capital spend. Growth capital¹ at New Afton relates to C-Zone development and commissioning of the crusher and conveyor and at Rainy River relates to advancing underground development at the Intrepid and underground Main Zones. Growth capital¹ is expected to be higher in the second half of the year as major projects near completion. The second half of 2024 is expected to represent approximately 55% of the growth capital spend.

Exploration expenditures are expected to be $17 to $22 million, an increase over the prior year, and are expected to focus on expanding the current Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and defining new mining zones within the existing footprint of the Company's operations. A portion of the exploration expenditures is also attributed to a regional program that targets the discovery of the next generation of porphyry copper-gold deposits in South-Central British Columbia.

Rainy River Operational Outlook

2024 Rainy River Outlook

Gold production² is expected to be 250,000 to 280,000 ounces, an increase of 4% over the prior year due to a modest increase in gold grade as the underground mining rate is expected to increase. Production is expected to significantly strengthen in the second half of the year as waste stripping activities are sequenced in the first half. The second half of 2024 is expected to represent approximately 60% of the annual production, with the fourth quarter expected to represent approximately 35%. Initial production from the underground Main Zone remains on-track for the fourth quarter of 2024.

2024 total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to be in-line with 2023. All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease by approximately 4% compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to $1,425 and $1,525 per ounce due higher production. Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ and all-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease significantly on a quarterly basis throughout 2024 due to the processing of lower grades in the first half of the year while stripping activities are sequenced.

Total capital is expected to be $145 to $165 million. Sustaining capital¹ is expected to be $100 to $110 million, including approximately $50 million in capitalized waste ($25 million of which was deferred from 2023), $25 million towards the annual tailings dam raise, $10 million in capital parts and components replacement programs and $20 million related to equipment and other general sustaining capital. Growth capital¹ is expected to be $45 to $55 million, related to the continued development of the Intrepid and underground Main Zones. Sustaining capital¹ is expected to be heavily first half weighted and will trend lower in the second half of the year, with the second half of 2024 expected to represent approximately 40% of the sustaining capital spend. Growth capital¹ is expected to be second half weighted, as underground mine development is increasing in the second half of the year. The second half of 2024 is expected to represent approximately 70% of the growth capital spend.

Waste stripping activities are expected to significantly decrease after the first half of 2024, priming Rainy River to enter a sustained free cash flow generating period.

2024 Rainy River Exploration Outlook

2024 exploration expenditures at Rainy River are expected to be approximately $5 million. The program is expected to focus on converting Mineral Resources to Mineral Reserves, expanding current ore zones and exploring for new mining zones within the Rainy River footprint.

Following the successful conversion of Phase 5 and its addition to the open pit Mineral Reserves in 2023, the Company intends to continue testing other near-surface opportunities for open pit extraction, including high-quality targets that were previously
de-prioritized during the construction and production ramp-up period. These targets include the Western Zone, North Target, 280 Zone, and ODM East. Further extension of open pit mining could sustain operating the processing plant at full capacity beyond 2030.

The Company also intends to grow the underground Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves by targeting the down-plunge extension of current ore zones which remain open at depth, including ODM Main and 17 East. Exploration is expected to be accelerated once underground development is operational and drilling from underground can commence. Concurrently, the Company intends to utilize the new, underground connection drift to continue to explore for potential new zones, such as the Gap zone located between the Intrepid and underground Main Zones.

Looking beyond the existing operational footprint, the Company intends to follow up on the compilation of geochemical and geophysical data that was completed in 2023 to generate exploration targets over the extensive Rainy River property. In 2024, soil and till geochemistry work will be carried out to generate targets, a proven method that led to the discovery of the Rainy River deposit.

New Afton Operational Outlook

2024 New Afton Outlook

Gold production^2,3 is expected to be 60,000 to 70,000 ounces, approximately 3% higher than 2023 (excluding gold produced from ore purchase agreements). Copper production is expected to be 50 to 60 million pounds, approximately 16% higher than 2023. The increase in gold and copper production are a result of ongoing steady-state production above design at B3, and the ramp-up of mining at C-Zone through the year. B3 is expected to average approximately 8,300 tpd in 2024. C-Zone commercial production remains on-track for the second half of 2024, and with a modest ramp-up through 2024 mill throughput is expected to average 12,000 tpd by year-end. Gold and copper production is expected to be relatively constant on a quarterly basis as a reduction in grade through the year is offset by increasing throughput as C-Zone ramps up.

Total cash costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between ($300) and ($200) per ounce due to higher production. All-in sustaining costs (on a by-product basis)¹ are expected to decrease compared to the 2023 midpoint of guidance to between $25 and $125 per ounce due to lower total cash costs and higher production. Total cash costs¹ and all-in sustaining costs¹ are expected to decrease on a quarterly basis throughout 2024 as throughput increases as C-Zone ramps up.

Total capital is expected to be $145 to $165 million. Sustaining capital¹ is expected to be $15 to $20 million, including approximately $5 million related to tailings management and $5 million related to equipment and the remainder related to other general sustaining capital. Growth capital¹ is expected to be $130 to $145 million related to the continued advancement of the C-Zone project, primarily focused on mine development, commissioning of the crusher and conveyor and other infrastructure installation, and continued progress on stabilization. Growth capital¹ is expected to be generally consistent throughout the year.

The ramp-up of mining at C-Zone through the year and the completion of key development and infrastructure activities position New Afton to begin sustained free cash glow generation in the second half of 2024.

2024 New Afton Exploration Outlook

2024 exploration expenditures at New Afton are expected to be $12 to $17 million. New Afton continues to execute on its exploration strategy to extend the mine life beyond 2030. The Company is currently evaluating three promising opportunities for potential Mineral Reserves conversion: C-Zone Extension, East Extension and D-Zone. The opportunities at C-Zone and East Extension are well positioned to benefit from the C-Zone materials handling, ventilation and dewatering infrastructure, thus reducing additional capital investment.

Exploration efforts in 2024 are expected to also focus on potential new mine zones located above the C-Zone extraction level, which would provide opportunities to minimize capital investment and maximize free cash flow generation. The Company has commenced development of a 370-metre exploration drift to accelerate underground exploration drilling and provide ideal drill platforms for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves growth over the coming years. The first drill bay of the exploration drift is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2024, with full completion scheduled in the third quarter, and is expected to prioritize the AI-Southeast and K-Zone targets.

The Company continues to advance a number of strategic opportunities for mine life extension, both within the New Afton land package and regionally within South-Central British Columbia, leveraging on New Afton's processing plant, infrastructure and tailings storage facility, which have sufficient capacity to process significantly more ore beyond the current New Afton mine life.

2024 Sensitivities

A summary of key assumption sensitivities to all-in sustaining costs¹ can be found below:

Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources (as at December 31, 2023)

As at December 31, 2023, New Gold is reporting Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as summarized in the table below. Detailed Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource tables follow at the end of this press release. 

As of December 31, 2023, New Gold reported total Mineral Reserves of 3,156,000 ounces of gold, 8.2 million ounces of silver, and 551 million pounds of copper. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, exclusive of Mineral Reserves, totals 2,187,000 ounces of gold, 7.3 million ounces of silver and 1,147 million pounds of copper and Inferred Mineral Resources of 230,000 ounces of gold, 563,000 ounces of silver and 101 million pounds of copper.

Rainy River successfully added new open pit and underground Mineral Reserves in 2023, reporting a total of 2,421,000 ounces of gold, 74% replacement of mining depletion. In the open pit mine, Phase 5 is included in Mineral Reserves following an infill drilling campaign in 2023. Phase 5 is expected to add approximately one year to the open pit mine life. Underground Mineral Reserves increased from 1,228,000 ounces of gold at the end of 2022 to 1,322,000 ounces of gold at the end of 2023, more than offsetting depletion from underground mining.

New Afton reported Mineral Reserves of 735,000 ounces of gold and 551 million pounds of copper in the B3 and C-Zone block caves, forming the basis for a reserves mine life to 2030. Mineral Reserves reduced by 69,000 ounces of gold and 56 million pounds of copper in 2023 due to mining depletion. The Company is targeting to replace a portion of mining depletion over the next few years, starting at the end of 2024, through extension of existing zones and inclusion of new mining zones.

Operational Outlook Technical Session Webcast Details

The Company will host a Technical Session via webcast today at 12:30 pm Eastern Time to discuss the operational outlook. 

• Participants may listen to the webcast by registering on our website at www.newgold.com or via the following link https://app.webinar.net/r8RX4Pl4PYA
• Participants may also listen to the conference call by calling North American toll free 1-888-664-6383, or 1-416-764-8650 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 41369885
• A recorded playback of the conference call will be available until March 9, 2024 by calling North American toll free 1-888-390-0541, or 1-416-764-8677 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 369885. An archived webcast will also be available at www.newgold.com.

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada, the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com. 

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

Total Cash Costs per Gold ounce

"Total cash costs per gold ounce" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that is a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold reports total cash costs on a sales basis and not on a production basis. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, this measure, along with sales, is a key indicator of the Company's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. This measure allows investors to better evaluate corporate performance and the Company's ability to generate liquidity through operating cash flow to fund future capital exploration and working capital needs. 

This measure is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is not necessarily indicative of cash generated from operations under IFRS or operating costs presented under IFRS.

Total cash cost figures are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute, a worldwide association of suppliers of gold and gold products that ceased operations in 2002. Adoption of the standard is voluntary and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Total cash costs include mine site operating costs such as mining, processing and administration costs, royalties, and production taxes, but are exclusive of amortization, reclamation, capital and exploration costs.

In 2024, New Gold will start reporting total cash costs on a by-product basis.  The Company produces copper and silver as by-products of its gold production.  Upon adoption of the change in 2024, the calculation of total cash costs per gold ounce sold for Rainy River will be net of by-product silver sales revenue, and the calculation of total cash costs per gold ounce sold for New Afton will be net of by-product silver and copper sales revenue.  New Gold notes that in connection with New Afton, the copper by-product revenue is sufficiently large to result in a negative total cash cost on a single mine basis.  Additionally, for New Afton, the Company will also report total cash costs on a co-product basis beginning in 2024, which removes the impact of other metal sales that are produced as a by-product of gold production and apportions the cash costs to each metal produced on a percentage of revenue basis, and subsequently divides the amount by the total gold ounces, or pounds of copper sold, as the case may be, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. In 2024, New Gold will no longer report gold equivalent metrics. New Gold will cease providing gold equivalent cash cost after 2023.

Notwithstanding the impact of copper and silver sales, as the Company is focused on gold production, New Gold aims to assess the economic results of its operations in relation to gold, which is the primary driver of New Gold's business. New Gold believes this metric is of interest to its investors, who invest in the Company primarily as a gold mining business. To determine the relevant costs associated with gold ounces, New Gold believes it is appropriate to reflect all operating costs incurred in its operations.

All-In Sustaining Costs per Gold ounce

"All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold calculates "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" based on guidance announced by the World Gold Council ("WGC") in September 2013. The WGC is a non-profit association of the world's leading gold mining companies established in 1987 to promote the use of gold to industry, consumers and investors. The WGC is not a regulatory body and does not have the authority to develop accounting standards or disclosure requirements.  The WGC has worked with its member companies to develop a measure that expands on IFRS measures to provide visibility into the economics of a gold mining company. Current IFRS measures used in the gold industry, such as operating expenses, do not capture all of the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain gold production. New Gold believes that "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" provides further transparency into costs associated with producing gold and will assist analysts, investors, and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing its operating performance, its ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and its overall value. In addition, the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors uses "all-in sustaining costs", together with other measures, in its Company scorecard to set incentive compensation goals and assess performance.

"All-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other mining companies. It should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is not necessarily indicative of cash flow from operations under IFRS or operating costs presented under IFRS.

New Gold defines "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" as the sum of total cash costs, capital expenditures that are sustaining in nature, corporate general and administrative costs, capitalized and expensed exploration that is sustaining in nature, lease payments that are sustaining in nature, and environmental reclamation costs, all divided by the total gold ounces sold to arrive at a per ounce figure.  The definition of sustaining versus non-sustaining is similarly applied to capitalized and expensed exploration costs and lease payments. Exploration costs and lease payments to develop new operations or that relate to major projects at existing operations where these projects are expected to materially increase production are classified as non-sustaining and are excluded.

In 2024 New Gold will start reporting all-in sustaining costs on a by-product basis.  The Company produces copper and silver as by-products of its gold production.  Upon adoption of the change in 2024, the calculation of all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold for Rainy River will be net of by-product silver sales revenue, and the calculation of all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce sold for New Afton will be net of by-product silver and copper sales revenue.  New Gold notes that in connection with New Afton, the copper by-product revenue is sufficiently large to result in a negative all-in sustaining cost on a single mine basis.  Additionally, for New Afton, the Company will also report all-in sustaining costs on a co-product basis, which removes the impact of other metal sales that are produced as a by-product of gold production and apportions the cash costs to each metal produced on a percentage of revenue basis, and subsequently divides the amount by the total gold ounces, or pounds of copper sold, as the case may be, to arrive at per ounce or per pound figures. New Gold will cease providing gold equivalent all-in sustaining cost after 2023.

Costs excluded from all-in sustaining costs are non-sustaining capital expenditures, non-sustaining lease payments and exploration costs, financing costs, tax expense, and transaction costs associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and any items that are deducted for the purposes of adjusted earnings.

Sustaining Capital and Sustaining Leases

"Sustaining capital" and "sustaining lease" are non-GAAP financial performance measures that do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold defines "sustaining capital" as net capital expenditures that are intended to maintain operation of its gold producing assets. Similarly, a "sustaining lease" is a lease payment that is sustaining in nature. To determine "sustaining capital" expenditures, New Gold uses cash flow related to mining interests from its consolidated statement of cash flows and deducts any expenditures that are capital expenditures to develop new operations or capital expenditures related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially increase production. Management uses "sustaining capital" and "sustaining lease" to understand the aggregate net result of the drivers of all-in sustaining costs other than total cash costs. These measures are intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.  

Growth Capital

"Growth capital" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold considers non-sustaining capital costs to be "growth capital", which are capital expenditures to develop new operations or capital expenditures related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially increase production. To determine "growth capital" expenditures, New Gold uses cash flow related to mining interests from its consolidated statement of cash flows and deducts any expenditures that are capital expenditures that are intended to maintain operation of its gold producing assets. Management uses "growth capital" to understand the cost to develop new operations or related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially increase production. This measure is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Free Cash Flow

"Free cash flow" is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. New Gold defines "free cash flow" as cash generated from operations and proceeds of sale of other assets less capital expenditures on mining interests, lease payments, settlement of non-current derivative financial liabilities which include the gold stream obligation and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan free cash flow interest. New Gold believes this non-GAAP financial performance measure provides further transparency and assists analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in assessing the Company's ability to generate cash flow from current operations. "Free cash flow" is intended to provide additional information only and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operations as determined under IFRS.

For additional information with respect to the non-GAAP measures used by the Company, including a reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure under IFRS, refer to the detailed "Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measure" section disclosure in the MD&A for the three months and nine-months ended September 30, 2023 filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

MINERAL RESERVES AND MINERAL RESOURCES

New Gold's Mineral Reserve estimates as at December 31, 2023, are presented in the following table.

Mineral Reserves

Notes to the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates are provided below.

MINERAL RESOURCES

New Gold's Mineral Resource estimates as at December 31, 2023, are presented in the following tables:

Mineral Resources (Exclusive of Mineral Reserves)

Notes to the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates are provided below. 

Notes to Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this presentation, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward-looking". All statements in this presentation, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this presentation include, among others, statements with respect to: the Company's guidance and expectations regarding production, costs, capital investments and expenses on a mine-by-mine and consolidated basis, associated timing and accomplishing the factors contributing to those expected results; successfully completing Rainy River and New Afton growth projects and the accomplishing the anticipated benefits thereof; successfully increasing gold and copper production, decreasing costs and capital spend as well as generating free cash flow as a result thereof; successfully generating approximately $75 million in free cash flow in the second half of 2024; planned activities and timing for 2024 and future years at the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine, including planned development and exploration activities and related expenses; successfully achieving commercial production from the C-Zone in the second half of 2024, with a modest ramp-up through 2024; successfully achieving first production from the underground Main Zone in the second half of 2024 with production ramp-up throughout 2025; successfully reducing operating costs and lowering capital expenditures over the next three year and the consistent free cash flow anticipated to be generated as a result thereof commencing in the second half of 2024; expectations regarding strengthened production in the second half of 2024 and the projected allocation of production percentages between the first and second half of the year; the intended drilling of several exploration targets at Rainy River in 2024; successfully commencing drilling of the K-Zone and AI-Southeast by the second quarter of 2024; expectations regarding exploration expenditures and the intended focus areas thereof;  the potential to successfully extend the New Afton mine life beyond 2030; successfully reducing the strip ratio in the second half of 2024 and significantly after 2024 at Rainy River and achieving the benefits associated therewith; projected opportunities resulting from the open pit and underground mine strategy at Rainy River and the Company's ability to successfully accomplish such strategy; the potential for the Company to successfully improve the production profiles from 2027 to 2031 with minimal capital investment; expectations regarding significantly decreasing waste stripping activities after the first half of 2024 at Rainy River; opportunities to extend both the open pit and underground mine at Rainy River; successfully achieving a steady-state underground production rate of 5,500 tpd beginning in 2027; achievement of the Company's proposed strategic pipeline for mine life extension and the anticipated factors and opportunities contributing thereto; the accuracy of the Company's estimates and expectations regarding Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and the grades thereof; advancement of the underground plan at Rainy River and the higher grade mill feed anticipated to result therefrom; successfully consistently improving operating margins over the next three years; expected increase in Phase 4 ore release in the second half of 2024; expectations regarding mining Phase 5 in 2027 and successfully adding approximately one year of open pit mill feed and keeping the mill at full capacity until at least 2030; successfully completing Rainy River underground priorities and the timing associated therewith; successfully generating strong free cash flow and strong results in the second half of 2024 at Rainy River; expectations regarding the B3 mining rate in 2024 and mill throughput rates by the end of 2024 at New Afton; successful commissioning of the underground crusher and conveyor in the second half of 2024; anticipated availability of opportunities for resources to reserve conversion as well as resource growth, and the Company's ability to successfully undertake such opportunities over the coming years; successful execution of New Afton's proposed underground and regional exploration strategy and on the anticipated timeline; expectations regarding the first drill bay of the exploration drift being operational in the second quarter of 2024 at New Afton, with full completion of the drift in Q3 2024; anticipated exploration opportunities within Rainy River's current land package and successfully accomplishing the 2024 exploration strategy; successfully accomplishing the targeted sustainable production platform of 600,000 gold eq. ounces per year until at least 2030; accomplishing the Company's 2024 strategic goals; and expectations that 2024 will be the final year of significant capital spending.

All forward-looking statements in this presentation are based on the opinions and estimates of management that, while considered reasonable as at the date of this presentation in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this presentation, New Gold's latest annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its most recent annual information form and technical reports on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this presentation are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations, including material disruptions to the Company's supply chain, workforce or otherwise; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold's current Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the grade of gold, copper and silver expected to be mined; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, and to a lesser extent the Mexican peso, and commodity prices being approximately consistent with current levels and expectations for the purposes of guidance and otherwise; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (7) arrangements with First Nations and other Indigenous groups in respect of the New Afton Mine and Rainy River Mine being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (8) all required permits, licenses and authorizations being obtained from the relevant governments and other relevant stakeholders within the expected timelines and the absence of material negative comments or obstacles during any applicable regulatory processes; and (9) the results of the life of mine plans for the New Afton Mine  and Rainy  River Mine described herein being realized.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated costs, between actual and estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; equipment malfunction, failure or unavailability; accidents; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changing costs, timelines and development schedules as it relates to construction; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine on the anticipated timeline or at all; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; changes in national and local government legislation in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; compliance with public company disclosure obligations; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; the Company's dependence on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; the Company not being able to complete its exploration drilling programs on the anticipated timeline or at all; inadequate water management and stewardship; tailings storage facilities and structure failures; failing to complete stabilization projects according to plan; geotechnical instability and conditions; disruptions to the Company's workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both; significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; diminishing quantities or grades of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the Technical Reports for the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; impairment; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of First Nations and other Indigenous groups; climate change, environmental risks and hazards and the Company's response thereto; ability to obtain and maintain sufficient insurance; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; global economic and financial conditions and any global or local natural events that may impede the economy or New Gold's ability to carry on business in the normal course; inflation; compliance with debt obligations and maintaining sufficient liquidity; the responses of the relevant governments to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak not being sufficient to contain the impact of such outbreak; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and workforce due to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak that materially adversely affects the Company's operations or liquidity position; taxation; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; transportation and processing of unrefined products; rising costs or availability of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; adequate infrastructure; relationships with communities, governments and other stakeholders; labour disputes; effectiveness of supply chain due diligence; the uncertainties inherent in current and future legal challenges to which New Gold is or may become a party; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; use of derivative products and hedging transactions; reliance on third-party contractors; counterparty risk and the performance of third party service providers; investment risks and uncertainty relating to the value of equity investments in public companies held by the Company from time to time; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; conflicts of interest; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign operations and legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the successful acquisitions and integration of business arrangements and realizing the intended benefits therefrom; and information systems security threats. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, construction, operation and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's Annual Information Form and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Technical Information

The scientific and technical information relating to the Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources contained herein has been reviewed and approved by the following New Gold employees, all of whom are "Qualified Persons" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

All other scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Yohann Bouchard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of New Gold. Mr. Bouchard is a Professional Engineer and a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario. Mr. Bouchard is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of NI 43-101. To the Company's knowledge, each of the aforementioned persons holds less than 1% of the outstanding securities of the Company. 

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SOURCE New Gold Inc.