FUDsters/Shorters
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 1:38 pm
Appears to me that we have had an influx of folks on LSE who are looking to spread FUD. I can only assume (maybe incorrectly) that they do this to try to knock confidence and drive the SP down further. Since the 5% has now been resolved, I'm seeing the following subjects:
1. If NCM didn't take the 5% option at $60M, then surely our MCAP can only be a maximum of 6 times that ie $300M. Er no. NCM has declared that they felt that they could use that $60M better elsewhere and that they were happy with holding 70%. As Nitram has said elsewhere 5% of Hav on current estimates would only represent 1% of NCM future production, it is not a big decision to them. We also need to remember that SD has said that even his estimate put forward to the Independent Valuer was conservative in order to ensure that the IV was not tempted to select the NCM option. I beleive that NCM not taking the 5% was more to do with their own internal governance and pressure from their shareholders.
2. Decline Progress - Sandeep has said that they are reviewing the prediction to first ore which is currently H2 of FY 2024 - ie Jan to Jun of 2024. FUDsters are suggesting that this means that they are considering pushing the prediction back. I say that they were struggling to get through permian layer and had pushed back extimates from late CY23 to early CY 24 simply to protect themselves from accusations of not advising the market. Up to 1st July, average progress was around 7M per week. Since then, we have seen an acceleration and positive comments from both SD and SB. Now they are out of the permian layer, I am advised that 3-4M per shift would be a fair ie an acceleration to between 42M and 56M per week. The first would have us getting to top of orebody by Mid Aug next year and the second would bring it back to early Jun. Therefore, I believe that the review on progress is looking to bring the first ore into 1st half of FY 2024 (ie July to December 2023)
3. Funding - "Where's this money going to come from - surely we have to dilute" say the FUDsters. Yet again, not necessarily. SD has said that he has been discussing with banks even on the basis that the 5% were not taken by NCM - he appears confident that he can get a loan to enable us to get to production income and I am prone to beieve the MD of Greatland over an anonymous BB poster. Yes, he may also have to divest or make a raise of capital through a share issue, but he might use that opportunity to cross list on ASX and open up investment to a whole new community which arguably he knows better and may be better informed on mining in Australia.
4. "NCM may decide not to mine Havieron following the release of their Feasibility Study" - Oh, come on do me a favour. NCM would not be going hammer and tongs to get to the orebody and spending significant amounts of their money if they were not pretty certain that they were going to mine. In addition, they would suddenly find themselves having to consider closing Telfer and recovering it to its original state therby incurring further significant costs. I really do not think so. Even in the remotest likelihood that they did, I suspect that SD would be looking to take the remaining 70% of Hav plus Telfer from NCM if he were able to arrange financing.
5. "NCM are going to take us over" - we should all be worried. OK, so at this SP and level of PI holdings, there is an argument that we are ripe for a takeover attempt. But in order to do that, the offeror would need to place a premium on the prevailing SP - would PIs capitulate at 12p, 15p, 20p, 30p? Who knows? Whatever the level it should be a pretty good premium and the SP would rerate on announcement that a vote is to be taken - what is there to be worried about there - unless you are very deep in negative equity and find yourself forced to let go at a loss.
Personally, I am pretty comfortable that all risks above are pretty well covered and some even present us with opportunity. I sleep very well but do have nightmares over the night parrots. Perhaps that is where the FUDsters will go next.
ATB - RA
1. If NCM didn't take the 5% option at $60M, then surely our MCAP can only be a maximum of 6 times that ie $300M. Er no. NCM has declared that they felt that they could use that $60M better elsewhere and that they were happy with holding 70%. As Nitram has said elsewhere 5% of Hav on current estimates would only represent 1% of NCM future production, it is not a big decision to them. We also need to remember that SD has said that even his estimate put forward to the Independent Valuer was conservative in order to ensure that the IV was not tempted to select the NCM option. I beleive that NCM not taking the 5% was more to do with their own internal governance and pressure from their shareholders.
2. Decline Progress - Sandeep has said that they are reviewing the prediction to first ore which is currently H2 of FY 2024 - ie Jan to Jun of 2024. FUDsters are suggesting that this means that they are considering pushing the prediction back. I say that they were struggling to get through permian layer and had pushed back extimates from late CY23 to early CY 24 simply to protect themselves from accusations of not advising the market. Up to 1st July, average progress was around 7M per week. Since then, we have seen an acceleration and positive comments from both SD and SB. Now they are out of the permian layer, I am advised that 3-4M per shift would be a fair ie an acceleration to between 42M and 56M per week. The first would have us getting to top of orebody by Mid Aug next year and the second would bring it back to early Jun. Therefore, I believe that the review on progress is looking to bring the first ore into 1st half of FY 2024 (ie July to December 2023)
3. Funding - "Where's this money going to come from - surely we have to dilute" say the FUDsters. Yet again, not necessarily. SD has said that he has been discussing with banks even on the basis that the 5% were not taken by NCM - he appears confident that he can get a loan to enable us to get to production income and I am prone to beieve the MD of Greatland over an anonymous BB poster. Yes, he may also have to divest or make a raise of capital through a share issue, but he might use that opportunity to cross list on ASX and open up investment to a whole new community which arguably he knows better and may be better informed on mining in Australia.
4. "NCM may decide not to mine Havieron following the release of their Feasibility Study" - Oh, come on do me a favour. NCM would not be going hammer and tongs to get to the orebody and spending significant amounts of their money if they were not pretty certain that they were going to mine. In addition, they would suddenly find themselves having to consider closing Telfer and recovering it to its original state therby incurring further significant costs. I really do not think so. Even in the remotest likelihood that they did, I suspect that SD would be looking to take the remaining 70% of Hav plus Telfer from NCM if he were able to arrange financing.
5. "NCM are going to take us over" - we should all be worried. OK, so at this SP and level of PI holdings, there is an argument that we are ripe for a takeover attempt. But in order to do that, the offeror would need to place a premium on the prevailing SP - would PIs capitulate at 12p, 15p, 20p, 30p? Who knows? Whatever the level it should be a pretty good premium and the SP would rerate on announcement that a vote is to be taken - what is there to be worried about there - unless you are very deep in negative equity and find yourself forced to let go at a loss.
Personally, I am pretty comfortable that all risks above are pretty well covered and some even present us with opportunity. I sleep very well but do have nightmares over the night parrots. Perhaps that is where the FUDsters will go next.
ATB - RA