History
New Gold sold assets to build Rainy River and New Afton, then unwound a partnership to own New Afton outright before Coeur Mining bought it in 2026.
2008-2009: Mergers and a fresh raising
The record opens in May 2008, when New Gold, Metallica Resources and Peak Gold signed a definitive agreement for a US$1.6 billion three-way combination. Shareholders of all three companies approved it on 17 June 2008, with more than 99% of votes cast in favour at each meeting; court approval and a close around 30 June 2008 were still to come.
A second deal followed. In March 2009 New Gold and Western Goldfields announced a combination, which New Gold shareholders approved in May. New Gold completed it on 1 June 2009, describing it as a Cdn$1.2 billion deal. To raise money it then launched a C$100 million bought deal (shares sold to underwriters up front) in August. With the over-allotment option exercised, it closed in September at C$115 million gross. The terms of the mergers and the share numbers are not in the record.
2010-2015: Building towards Rainy River
The record is quiet until 2012, when the first ore went through the New Afton mill on 28 June 2012, on the stated timeline, with 28 drawbells (the openings from which ore is drawn) completed against a target of 26. Commercial production was targeted for August.
The next big project was Rainy River in northwestern Ontario. Its 2013 feasibility study described a 16-year mine producing about 3.645 million ounces of gold, with US$713 million of initial capital. Federal and provincial environmental approvals arrived in January 2015. In July 2015 New Gold paid for development by selling a stream (a share of future metal) to Royal Gold for a US$175 million deposit. It also sold its 30% of the El Morro project in Chile to Goldcorp, closing in November 2015: US$60 million net cash, a US$94 million funding loan cancelled, and a 4% gold stream kept.
2016-2018: Rainy River is built, and assets are sold
In January 2017 New Gold reported 2016 output of 381,663 ounces of gold and 102 million pounds of copper, at a record-low all-in sustaining cost of US$692 an ounce. The same release delayed Rainy River's first production by three months to September 2017 and put the remaining capital at US$515 million. Randall Oliphant stepped down as Executive Chairman and Hannes Portmann became CEO.
Funding came from several sources. It sold the El Morro stream back to Goldcorp for US$65 million in February 2017, then launched a bought deal of 53.6 million shares at US$2.80 for about US$150 million. In June it redeemed the US$300 million 2020 notes and loosened a debt covenant on its revolver. Rainy River reached commercial production in October 2017, about two weeks early. Peak Mines was sold to Aurelia Metals for US$58 million, and Mesquite in California was sold to Equinox for US$158 million, closing in October 2018. That left Rainy River, New Afton and the Cerro San Pedro residual leach. A mid-2018 technical report put Rainy River reserves at 4.220 million ounces of gold.
2019-2021: Repairing the balance sheet
In August 2019 New Gold sold 93.75 million shares at C$1.60 for C$150 million, mostly to repair its balance sheet, well below the 2017 price. In February 2020 it sold Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan a 46.0% free cash flow interest in New Afton for US$300 million, closing in April. In June 2020 it sold Blackwater in British Columbia to Artemis Gold for C$190 million cash, an 8% gold stream and Artemis shares. It also issued US$400 million of 7.50% notes due 2027 to repay the 2022 notes.
On 2 February 2021 a mud rush at New Afton injured two employees and left a contract driller presumed dead. The B3 zone permit followed in May. In December New Gold sold the Blackwater stream to Wheaton Precious Metals for US$300 million.
2022-2024: C-Zone and the first buy-back
In 2022 Rainy River's life was extended to 2031 after 569,000 ounces were converted to reserves. New Gold redeemed the last US$100 million of its 2025 notes in May, leaving about US$326 million of cash. The permit for New Afton's C-Zone arrived in October 2022, and the first C-Zone draw bell was completed on time in October 2023.
In May 2024 New Gold bought back most of the Ontario Teachers' interest, cutting it from 46.0% to 19.9% for US$255 million. It funded this partly with a bought deal of 100,395,000 shares at US$1.72, raising US$172.7 million; shares on issue ended 2024 at about 791 million. Drilling found copper-gold mineralisation in the K-Zone and HW Zone.
2025-2026: Full ownership and the Coeur sale
In February 2025 updated reports put New Afton reserves at 828,000 ounces of gold and Rainy River at 2.126 million ounces. In March New Gold issued US$400 million of 6.875% notes due 2032 to refinance the 2027 notes, and redeemed the remaining US$111 million in July. In May it bought Ontario Teachers' last 19.9% for US$300 million, taking New Afton to 100%; the two buy-backs cost US$555 million against the US$300 million received in 2020.
On 3 November 2025 Coeur Mining agreed to acquire New Gold in an all-share deal at 0.4959 Coeur shares per New Gold share, implying US$8.51 a share and about US$7 billion of equity value. In January 2026 New Gold reported that it had met 2025 guidance at every operation, with over US$532 million of free cash flow. Shareholders approved the deal with 99.22% of votes cast. It closed on 20 March 2026, and New Gold was delisted from the TSX and NYSE American, its holders now owning Coeur stock.
Written from the 53 story beats below (2008 to 23 Mar 2026), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.