NORTHERN
DYNASTY MINERALS LTD.
1020 - 800 W Pender Street
Vancouver BC Canada V6C 2V6
Tel 604 684 6365 Fax 604 684 8092
Toll Free 1 800 667 2114
www.northerndynasty.com
NORTHERN DYNASTY
SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE
$5 MILLION FINANCING FOR PEBBLE GOLD-COPPER PROJECT
July
15, 2003, Vancouver, BC - Ronald W. Thiessen, President and CEO of Northern
Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX Venture: NDM; OTCBB: NDMLF) is pleased to announce
that further to Northern Dynasty's news release of June 23, 2003, shareholders'
approval for the $5 million private placement financing with Shambhala Gold
Limited was obtained at the reconvened annual and extraordinary general
meeting of the Company held July 14, 2003. Shambhala is a private mining
finance company based in the United Kingdom and is acquiring the shares
of Northern Dynasty for investment purposes. The financing is scheduled
to close before July 31, 2003 and is subject to TSX Venture acceptance.
This $5 million equity placement, the potential exercise of the associated
warrants by June 12, 2004 ($6.25 million) and the currently outstanding
dilutables ($3 million) together with cash on hand ($0.9 million), provide
for a cumulative total of $15 million in potential funding to facilitate
the rapid advancement of Northern Dynasty's Pebble gold-copper project
in southwestern Alaska, USA.
An initial phase of core drilling has been successfully completed at the
Pebble property, consisting of 25 holes totaling 20,693 feet, with 18 holes
drilled in the "Resource Lands" and 7 holes completed in the "Exploration
Lands". Assay results for this phase are expected to be received and
compiled by the second week of August and will be reported at that time.
The next phase of core drilling will commence in the first week of August
and consist of 30,000 feet.
The Pebble deposit is one of the world's largest undeveloped gold and
copper resources, containing 13.1 million ounces of gold and 6.8 billion
pounds of copper (see news release dated March 31, 2003). The Pebble deposit
is only a small part of a giant, 89 square kilometre sulphide system, recently
listed as the largest in the world by the United States Geological Survey.
These systems typically host multiple large-scale deposits. Northern Dynasty
holds options to purchase a 100% interest (subject to no underlying royalty
or back-in rights) in the "Resource Lands" hosting the Pebble deposit
and can earn a minimum 50% interest in the extensive surrounding "Exploration
Lands". Northern Dynasty is a Hunter Dickinson Inc. managed company.
Hunter Dickinson Inc. companies have a strong record of success in exploring
and developing large gold-copper porphyry projects, several of which have
yielded exceptional returns for their shareholders.
For further details on Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and its Pebble Project
please visit Northern Dynasty's website at www.northerndynasty.com or
contact Investor Services at 604-684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Ronald W. Thiessen
Ronald W. Thiessen
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
in this news release.
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements". All statements in this release,
other than statements of historical facts, that address future production,
reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events
or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements.
Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking
statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking
statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes,
continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market
or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements
are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's
home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.