Bargain Hunting in the Market Sell-Offs (David Franklyn)
Today we're sharing our conversation with natural resource fund manager David Franklyn, covering as a whole host of the commodities and company's we love chatting about.Dave walks through how the fund navigated one of the wildest quarters on record, and where conviction sits today across a portfolio spanning copper, lithium, uranium, gold, and oil & gas.This episode goes deep into how capital is managed when volatility hits.In this conversation, David covers:
- Why Q2 Metals is unlikely to stay independent for long
- The offshore copper case: Faraday, Marimaca, and Arizona Sonoran vs the ASX alternatives
- ISO Energy as a top five holding and undervalued in the uranium sector
- Gold at its lowest portfolio weighting ever
Follow David:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-franklyn-25a3b3a7/
If you find value in the conversations, subscribing goes a long way.
Stocks mentioned: AEL, ASCU, BOE, LOT, CMM, ELT, FDY.NY, ISO.V, LTR, LAAC.T, MARI, PDN, PLS, QTWO, SFR, WDS, EMP
Episode recorded: 30.4.2026
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(0:00) Investor Timing Mistakes
(1:50) Macro Shocks and Cash Moves
(6:00) Lithium Bets and Valuation Gaps
(13:00) Going Offshore for Copper Value
(24:00) Uranium Picks and Pitfalls
(28:30) Gold Exposure and Fuel Risks
(36:20) Oil and Gas Portfolio Moves
(42:40) Rapid Fire Ratings and Wrap
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00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,640
Biggest outflows in the fund, it
was in April last year,
2
00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,120
transition day, and then our
biggest inflows were February.
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00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,960
The investor base picked the
very bottom of the market and
4
00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,480
the very top of the market, but
they did exactly the wrong
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00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,200
thing, right?
They sold when they should have
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00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,000
bought, and then they bought
when they should have sold.
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00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:21,120
David Franklin, welcome back to
Money of Mine.
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00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,080
We are, you know, in a heck of a
place the world is right now.
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00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,040
Yeah.
Macro is informing everything,
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00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,560
not just commodity markets, but
absolutely everything and and
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00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,880
what commodities just so happen
to be at the absolute forefront
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00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:35,280
of it.
The disruptions in the Middle
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00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:40,320
East are are almost the market's
almost become kind of ambivalent
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00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:42,680
to the the closure reopening of
the straight.
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00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,080
We, you know, it's been JD was
telling me this morning, it's
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00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,240
been 2 1/2 months now.
And at the beginning it would
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00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,480
have it would have seemed pretty
dire if things have had
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prolonged that long yet.
Yet markets are resilient.
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Well, I, I think you're right.
It's been really surprising just
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00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,480
how long the conflict has, has
has gone on.
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Given at the outset it was seen
as something they might drag out
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for a couple of weeks and then
it'll be back to normal.
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And, and what's fascinating is
that oil and gas prices, while
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they've risen, they haven't
risen anywhere near you would
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have expected.
And I think, you know, the key
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themes coming out of that.
I think security of supply for
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commodities and for energy is
really top of mind with, with
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everyone and with governments.
And I think that's, that's a, a
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strong signal going forward.
So, you know, I think it'd be
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fascinating to see where things
go from here.
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I mean, Trump's obviously saying
he's he's going to maintain the
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blockade until the nuclear
situation is resolved.
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So we'll see how things
progress.
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The reverse blockade, that one
never ceases to make me laugh.
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The looking back at quarter one
for every fund manager just
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about the week we speak with,
he's got to be up there with one
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of the wildest quarters on
record.
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No different on your end.
Curious to hear the the ups and
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00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:03,080
downs, the emotions through it
all.
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00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,840
Yeah.
Look, I think, you know,
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00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:10,440
particularly coming up to up to
March, the resource fund
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00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,640
managers and the resource sector
had been through a really
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00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:17,480
buoyant time, you know, results
for the financial year to date,
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00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,280
we're looking really strong and
and I guess that leads
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potentially to some complacency
in how you manage your
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portfolio.
And then all of a sudden whack,
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00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,280
you know, March came along and,
and the indexes all all took a
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whacking.
So, you know, to me, it comes
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down to being prepared for the
unexpected.
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00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,080
And, and, and a lot of that is
just having a plan.
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00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,440
And I think we've, we've spoken
about this a bit before, but
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it's kind of saying, you know,
these things happen, you don't
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know when they're going to
happen and have a plan and work
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on it.
And, and what you find is that
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it never, your plan never works
100% right, but at least you got
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a plan that gives you some, some
comfort and, and a lot of things
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do work.
And you know, so I look, I think
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it at the end of February we had
3% cash, which is for, for the
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00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,440
way we manage our fund is, is
pretty unheard of, very low.
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And then, and we were thinking
about some adjustments to the
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portfolio, but didn't quite get
there in time.
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But before this all kind of hit
the fan.
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But, but because we had some
things in place, we could go
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from 3% cash to 25% cash
literally within a day.
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And, and that, that makes you
feel better, right?
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Often, often you, you know,
often it, it works out to be
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best in hindsight that you just
sort of wait through these
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situations.
But the ability to go to cash
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and then reposition the
portfolio and perhaps better
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00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:42,120
quality stocks that you might
not have been prepared to buy at
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00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,880
higher levels, you know, creates
an opportunity.
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So, and then the second point
is, well, then you know, the
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world's changed a little.
How do we want to position the
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portfolio?
What you know, what commodities
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do we think will do best and
even that that's that mix
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00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,400
between producers and
developers, how do you want the
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portfolio to be mixed and, and
where do you think the risk is?
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00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,800
So, so we've kind of worked
through a lot of that.
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00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,360
I really want to dive in on that
cash component because almost
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everyone we spoke with, I asked
no exception to this like could
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feel that bull market pulling,
pulling our money in.
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You know, we were seeing awesome
investment opportunities every
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day wanting to invest more and
more and it's, it's so.
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Enacted Buy stuff.
There was, there was always
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something every day that we
wanted to buy every day.
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But you've, you've got more
experience than we do you, you
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can recognize these these
emotions.
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I'm curious how how seeing those
continually over over time
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changes your approach to them.
Yeah, look, I mean human, you
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00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:44,120
know, fear and greed, right?
It's all about fear and greed
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and it's obviously built in into
our genes because everyone is
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the same.
So I often give an analogy that
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if I look back over the last 12
months, right, our biggest
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outflows in the fund and and
they weren't very much right.
95
00:04:59,960 --> 00:05:02,240
We've been very lucky and we got
a good, you know, a good sticky
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00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,960
investor base was in March last,
sorry, it was in April last
97
00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,000
year, you know, transition day,
right?
98
00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,040
So it was our biggest outflows,
right?
99
00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:13,440
And then our biggest inflows
were February, right?
100
00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,000
And so like, like the market,
the, the, the investor base
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00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,560
picked the very bottom of the
market and the very top of the
102
00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,080
market, but they did exactly the
wrong thing, right?
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So they, they sold when they
should have bought and then they
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bought when they should have
sold, right?
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00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,800
And I think it just shows that,
you know, just the investor
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00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,840
mindset and and so I think you
got to try and take out that
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emotion and say, you know, when
things are looking really good,
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recognize that that perhaps it's
time to take a bit of money off
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00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,160
the table and, and things.
Do you know, there are cycles to
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the market and, and be aware of
that, right?
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00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,760
But it's easier said than done.
Happens every time, right?
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00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:55,440
It does.
It really does happen every
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00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,840
time, Dave, The, the, the, the
part of you know, what you were
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00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:02,920
saying before on the, on the
commodity like selection as as a
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00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:07,080
result of the, the here and now.
Yeah, I remember when he started
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00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,720
the fund, there was a, a really
big, you know, battery metals
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thematic behind your initial
positioning.
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00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,960
And and you were early, you were
definitely had, you know,
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heavyweights to the likes of
IGO, right as that stock, you
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00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,600
know, court wind and big driver
of massive outperformance in in
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that period of time as well.
There's, there's, there's a lot
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of parallels to the portfolio
positioning again now.
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Yeah, it is.
We probably, I mean, again, you
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always look back and say I
should have done things better.
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So if you, if you look at
lithium, which I think is a real
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winner out of what's happening
in the Middle East, right.
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And that's obviously a a tragic
situation.
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00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,720
But, but I think people are
realising that alternative
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energy sources and, and, and
things are important.
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00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:53,400
And particularly with the EVs,
which had gone off the boil a
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little bit.
You know, I know a number of
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00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:58,360
people that ran out and bought
second hand EVs, you know, when
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it happened because, you know,
they're worried about fuel and I
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00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,360
think that's continuing.
And then you've got the the
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00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,480
energy storage side of it as
well really ramping up.
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So, you know, so I think lithium
looks really good.
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Probably what we did with the
lithium market is I think we
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picked internally, we picked the
bottom of the lithium price
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pretty well.
But even at that stage people
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are still saying, look, you
know, spot your main above 1200
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bucks.
It's it's never going to get
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00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,360
there, right?
This wasn't that long ago.
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And so we're a bit cautious on
some of the big ones like
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Pilbara and and Lyontown at the
very, very early stage, just
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thinking they're not cheap
enough.
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00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,840
And I look back now and it's,
you know, like there's
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00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,520
principles that you got to
adhere to when you're investing,
148
00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,320
right?
And basically in a decent sized
149
00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,880
market, if the market, if the
commodity price is below the
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00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,720
cost of production for high
quality producers, you know,
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00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:56,120
it's probably a good time to
buy.
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00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:59,560
And it's and, and, and we didn't
at that point.
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And so, so we kind of missed the
boat.
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00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,280
We, you know, we, we bought into
some of them at, at, at levels,
155
00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:07,440
but not at the prices we should
of.
156
00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:10,720
And so really we had to then
say, well, how do we best play
157
00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,840
this where the value
opportunities?
158
00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,120
And so we, we ended up with a, a
portfolio now that's quite
159
00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,680
different from the kind of one
we we would have owned, you
160
00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,360
know, in the past.
So you know, our big three
161
00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,360
holdings are lithium Argentina,
which which you think's really
162
00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,440
exciting and really a stand out
value wise, You know, Q2, which
163
00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,559
is a, a great development asset
and more recently a lever, which
164
00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,559
is, you know, damaged and
recovering, right.
165
00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,400
And you know, their, their last
quarterly was a a lot better
166
00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,039
than the previous one.
And you know, so, so we've,
167
00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:48,040
we've had to maybe take a bit
more risk but but, but that's
168
00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,240
worked pretty well.
Notable that they're not Aussie
169
00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:54,520
names Aussie listed but the
projects aren't in Australia.
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00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:56,800
Why is that?
Well, it just comes down to
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00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,200
value.
You know, I mean you look at
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00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,120
Pilbara's market cap now it's 20
billion I think.
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00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,720
And and so you're back
calculating you go, well, what
174
00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,400
kind of earnings do they need to
be making to justify that?
175
00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:10,760
And to give them credit, like I
think the Pilbara result was
176
00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,080
probably the stand out of the
quarterlies that have just come
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00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,600
through.
I think what it shows is their,
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00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,840
their commitment to CapEx during
the down cycle has really
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00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,360
positioned them really well.
And in an environment where
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00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,440
you'd probably don't have a lot
of scale squad domain producers
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00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,080
coming, you know, growing, you
know, they, they, they're going
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00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,680
to be going from, you know,
900,000 tons to, to potentially
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00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:34,200
2 million tons, you know, over
the next little while.
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00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:36,240
So you know they're ideally
placed.
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00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,600
And then I mean Lyntown is the
other one in in Australia.
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00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,200
I have to ask you about Lyntown
quickly because they're, I think
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00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,880
they're now a $7 billion company
and they're talking about
188
00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,240
expansion again, they were
really up against the balls.
189
00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,000
The credit to them, they've
worked their way through it.
190
00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:55,200
But again, it's hard on on a
valuation basis.
191
00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,720
But I guess it depends what what
spot you mean price you put into
192
00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,200
the model.
Well, exactly.
193
00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,880
And you, I mean, you've got to
give the management team there a
194
00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,120
lot of credit for what they've
been able to achieve.
195
00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,640
And they've still got challenges
in front, right, to ramp up to
196
00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,760
even greater scale and you know,
potentially get to 4 million
197
00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,760
tons per annum.
You know, that's, that's a big
198
00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:18,960
underground mine and it's going
to take challenges.
199
00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,960
I think that, you know, they
brought costs down to a
200
00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,000
reasonable level, but I think
they need to need to demonstrate
201
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:30,960
that they can continue to lift
production and get costs down to
202
00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:34,160
justify the, the, their current,
their current market price.
203
00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,600
I think you're right.
And, and maybe the, the, the
204
00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,560
other point, which kind of I
think plays into all that and
205
00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:42,000
it's a similar discussion with
uranium and some of the other
206
00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,720
commodities is, is the market is
very momentum and, and passive
207
00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,280
driven nowadays.
And so when people are looking
208
00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,760
for a thematic, you know,
they're buying the ETFs and then
209
00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,880
the ETFs are buying the big
market cap companies.
210
00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,280
And so there's a bit of a
disconnect between sort of value
211
00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:02,880
and and price and, and, and as a
fund manager, the question is
212
00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,280
how you deal with that, right?
Do you just sort of go along for
213
00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,560
the ride or do you try and eke
out sort of the value
214
00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:10,520
opportunities with the view that
the momentum will get there
215
00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,520
ultimately and, and the passive
investors will come and you
216
00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:14,960
know, and you'll and you'll get
more upside.
217
00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,920
So that's, that's a big part of
the market now.
218
00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:20,880
It's a really big part.
Of that that disconnect leads to
219
00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,520
opportunities in the in the
developers.
220
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,200
And Q2 you mentioned their their
maiden resource yeah, came out
221
00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,600
for Cisco and it's off the page.
And I mean literally like if
222
00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,520
you, if you, if you comp the
bubble chart of the of the
223
00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,120
maiden resource, it's it's, it's
truly, you know, it's truly a
224
00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,240
special deposit that one.
Yeah, that's right.
225
00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:44,800
It's a, you know, it's global
scale, well located close to
226
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,960
infrastructure.
It's an asset that that won't be
227
00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:51,680
independent for longer.
You wouldn't have thought,
228
00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:53,280
right.
So in this environment where
229
00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:56,560
where the lithium market is, is
looking really good and the the
230
00:11:56,560 --> 00:12:00,680
longer term outlook is, is
looking very strong, there's not
231
00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:03,000
many assets like this and
someone else is going to have to
232
00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,640
own it.
You would have thought so, Yeah,
233
00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:07,000
we're happy to own that.
Are you, are you open to sharing
234
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,480
a a potential buyer?
Any any ideas on that front?
235
00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,160
I mean, it's always very hard,
but.
236
00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:16,760
Yeah, it is very hard.
I mean, you'd have to say it's
237
00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:21,120
someone that's involved in the
industry already, potentially a
238
00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,480
Rio or they're probably I mean,
I think they've gone through a
239
00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,200
phase when Simon Trott came in
where they'll probably re
240
00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:28,880
evaluating their commitment to
the sector.
241
00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,160
But now it's looking like it's a
genius move.
242
00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:37,560
So do you go big or or or not,
you know, even a Pilbara at
243
00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:40,840
Lyontown?
I think if you're, you know, if
244
00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,200
you're if you're a lithium
player with with one asset,
245
00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,640
maybe you want to have a couple,
I don't know, you know, Lontown
246
00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,200
have talked about that a bit.
So it'd.
247
00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,280
Be remarkable buy for Lontown
like that would be.
248
00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:53,760
Yeah, that'd be that'd be truly
exciting.
249
00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,000
I think Lontown.
Yeah.
250
00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,640
Yeah, exactly.
For anyone, really, yeah.
251
00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,280
It it kind of ties in with a big
change you made in the funds
252
00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,440
that I'm keen to explore.
You previously I think you said
253
00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,360
25% was your Max exposure
overseas.
254
00:13:06,680 --> 00:13:10,000
You've lifted that to 40 and
that's a pretty big indictment
255
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,480
of of what you're seeing in
Australia and your enthusiasm to
256
00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:15,000
to look at other opportunities.
So I'd love to just step through
257
00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,400
that.
Yeah.
258
00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:18,720
So there's there's really two
reasons.
259
00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,440
One is as the fund gets bigger,
you're going to allocate more
260
00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,200
capital and, and again, you want
to be able to invest it where
261
00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:29,440
the, where the value is there
rather than just being forced to
262
00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,160
buy what everyone else is
buying.
263
00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,840
And there's probably there's,
you know, so that to me, there's
264
00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:38,160
2 two reasons to go offshore.
The first is that whole momentum
265
00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,280
thing, right?
So in the Australian market, you
266
00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,200
look at, you know, Pilbara line
town.
267
00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,600
And then similarly with the,
with the uranium stocks, there's
268
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,560
a lot of money going into a
small number of stocks that
269
00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:49,240
forces up the prices and it's
really hard to find value.
270
00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:53,320
So if you, if you can broaden
the pool, you can, you can find
271
00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,640
better value.
But and then, but then there's
272
00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:59,240
also a geology issue, right.
So you know, copper is, is a
273
00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,080
commodity that we really like.
It's one of our bigger holdings,
274
00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:05,600
you know, roughly 20% of the
portfolio in copper, but we
275
00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:11,720
always struggled to, to find the
quality and value in Australia
276
00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:15,000
that we wanted to, to find.
And when I look at the, the, you
277
00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:17,520
know, if I look at a sand fire,
you can't fault what they've
278
00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:18,960
done, right.
So notwithstanding their
279
00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,160
projects are offshore, but you
know, the management team there,
280
00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,560
Brendan Harris done a great job
in tidying up the business,
281
00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:29,240
maximizing the current projects.
And even I think the, you know,
282
00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,760
Kalkuru opportunity looks really
good.
283
00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,000
But again, value wise it, it,
you know, it, it trades in line
284
00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,880
with the sort of global majors
and I'm not sure that, that,
285
00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,000
that's justifiable.
So, so you know, if I look at
286
00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,720
what we've invested in in
offshore, it's, it's typically
287
00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:51,200
in the copper space and in the
in the lithium space because
288
00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:55,440
and, and uranium because they're
the quantities where there's
289
00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,480
better value.
And you mentioned a few of those
290
00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,880
copper names when we when we
spoke recently, I think Faraday,
291
00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:06,360
Arizona, Sonoran and
Merrimacker, was that the?
292
00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,880
Other one, Yeah, yeah.
Which of the three, or if you
293
00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:11,800
want to talk about all of the
three, I'd love to hear you,
294
00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,440
your thoughts on value in those
opportunities like developers
295
00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,160
and where they're kind of at.
Yeah.
296
00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,000
Well, so, so I mean maybe
stepping back a bit.
297
00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:25,240
So the way we view copper is, is
I think there's two great
298
00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,920
opportunities in copper.
One is to buy the really big
299
00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,600
global producers.
So you know, a tech or a Anglo
300
00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,360
Freeport notwithstanding the
recent downgrade Ivanhoe at the
301
00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,680
right time because I think
there's a copper in, you know, I
302
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,520
mean copper is a fundamental
commodity and I think it's going
303
00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,000
to be critically important for
the next, you know, 10/20/50
304
00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,800
years, right?
And what we're seeing is, is
305
00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,720
constrained supply and very
strong demand.
306
00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,920
And so if you've got a big
abundant resource of coppers
307
00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,080
sitting in the ground, which you
haven't developed yet, but you
308
00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:59,120
can develop over the next 20
years and you're paying the same
309
00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,320
price for that as if you if
you're buying someone in
310
00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,120
Australia that might have a A5
or 10 year my life right then I
311
00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:07,560
think it's pretty compelling.
So I think those big projects
312
00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,360
are you know are undervalued in
the current market and you know
313
00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,680
you got copper price pushing 6-6
bucks a pound or a bit over.
314
00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:17,320
So that's pretty, pretty
exciting.
315
00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,080
So I think that's one area.
But then the other area is
316
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:24,080
projects that can produce
between say 50,000 tons and
317
00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:28,880
100,000 tons say with 10 year
plus mine life where the CapEx
318
00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,200
isn't too extraordinary.
So typically they're not poor
319
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,800
for your underground kind of
developments where you CapEx is
320
00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,880
out of out of whack.
And and so you know the ones we
321
00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,880
talked about there, Faraday,
Merrimack, Arizona, Sonoran, you
322
00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,520
know all kind of fit into that
into that area.
323
00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:48,640
So if you look at Faraday,
Faraday had had their Copper
324
00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:53,160
Creek project, which was kind of
OK, but probably just lacking a
325
00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:56,640
bit of scale, you know,
earmarked at about 50,000 tons
326
00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:01,280
per annum.
But BHP San Manuel project was
327
00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,000
20 KS away, been kind of
mothballed for a long period of
328
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:08,079
time, but it had been a long
term, you know, sizable producer
329
00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,960
has infrastructure, access to,
to power, etcetera, and a lot
330
00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,359
of, you know, approvals to, to
mine.
331
00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,240
So you bang the two together.
So what's happening is those two
332
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,880
projects are being merged
together.
333
00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,000
BHP will emerge with a 30%
holding.
334
00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:24,040
Lundeen are also on the
register.
335
00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,280
So suddenly it's a it's a really
exciting story.
336
00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:32,320
The market cap of Faraday is
something like, you know, 1 to 1
337
00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:34,760
1/2 billion, you know, which put
it out in context.
338
00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:40,160
That's, that's probably a bit
less and develop and you kind of
339
00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,560
go, you know, which one has the
better long term potential
340
00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,320
notwithstanding, I love
developing and Bill, if you go
341
00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,840
back anyone he's got it back.
But but you know, relative
342
00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:49,640
value, I think there's this
better value there.
343
00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:53,440
Merrimacker is also interesting,
you know, in Chile, basically
344
00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,760
more coastal than up in the in
the mountains, which which is
345
00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,280
good.
It's looking at 50,000 tons per
346
00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,520
annum project.
It's got a new development
347
00:18:03,520 --> 00:18:06,480
Pamper Medina, which which could
add quite a bit to that.
348
00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:10,760
Again, CapEx won't be too
extraordinary, should be able to
349
00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,520
come on relatively quickly.
Again, capped it, you know, 1
350
00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:14,680
1/2 billion, something like
that.
351
00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,600
So Merrimacker, I think they
trade like 1.21 point three
352
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,960
times NAV maybe I don't know
that's consensus copper or spot
353
00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:26,760
copper.
But so, so there's, there's
354
00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,520
already this kind of like, you
know, premium dynamic at play in
355
00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:33,000
terms of the, you know, the PNAV
for an undeveloped project.
356
00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:35,920
However, it's, it's, it's a
simple operation to put online
357
00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,280
and it's and there's growth.
So like tick, tick.
358
00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:44,160
Yeah, the the one thing I did
hear about it is check the
359
00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,880
reagent cost assumptions in the
study.
360
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,400
Though Yeah, right it.
Might be a bit off, which might
361
00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:50,000
make a.
Bit of a difference for them,
362
00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,400
yeah.
So I'll have a look at that.
363
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,120
So I am probably the final one
is Arizona Sonoran, which which
364
00:18:58,120 --> 00:19:00,600
we bought a little while ago and
is now under takeover from Hub
365
00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,120
Bay.
But again, it just, it just
366
00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:05,200
gives you a couple of cards to
play.
367
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,560
You know, either the project
gets developed and and I think
368
00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:14,120
will be rated well or
alternatively you get taken out
369
00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:17,400
by by someone close by or or
someone wanting to add another
370
00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,600
asset to the portfolio.
Mate, there's no doubt the macro
371
00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,320
environment incredibly volatile
right now.
372
00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,000
However, do you know what is not
volatile?
373
00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,640
Australian property.
Australian property?
374
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,800
Well, see The thing is a lot of
people, they just if they don't
375
00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,720
like the volatility, they Chuck
the money in the bank account
376
00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,200
earning what, like 4% interest
per hour?
377
00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,080
You're losing money because of
inflation.
378
00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:37,520
We know that.
We speak about it all the time.
379
00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,480
You're losing money just sitting
on a pile of cash.
380
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,280
You know what captures the
upside of inflation?
381
00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,160
Property.
Real assets.
382
00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:44,440
And most people think you'd buy
a house.
383
00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:45,880
Don't.
Well, you can buy a second house
384
00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:47,920
if you want to, or you can
invest in commercial property.
385
00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,600
And the interesting way to do
invest in commercial property
386
00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:53,480
exceed Capitals, the collective
commercial property fund.
387
00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,760
It's a really interesting
vehicle, strong alignment, 8%
388
00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:59,800
cash distributions paid monthly
like a divvy.
389
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,880
And on top of that, you get the
capital uplift of the portfolio
390
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,680
growth over time.
Which property Mate property?
391
00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:07,760
Yeah, I couldn't agree more than
you don't have to go through all
392
00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,200
the effort, jumping through the
holes, getting a mortgage,
393
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,400
speaking with the brokers, all
that sort of stuff.
394
00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,160
Just call up exceed capital,
find the details in the show
395
00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,240
notes and take it from there.
Where do you think we're kind of
396
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,880
at with that consolidation,
particularly in in the copper
397
00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:23,920
space?
We've seen a lot of the juniors
398
00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:26,480
here in Australia start to get
gobbled up deals like Sapphire
399
00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,080
you mentioned earlier, but what
sort of innings are are you
400
00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,760
thinking we're in there?
Well, you have to everyone
401
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:35,200
wants, everyone wants another
copper asset, right?
402
00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,640
So, so it's early days.
The the problem is there aren't
403
00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,920
many around.
It's a scarcity issue.
404
00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:44,880
So you know, what do you do?
I mean, I think Anglo at the big
405
00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:49,000
end, Anglo is pretty interesting
in that is a very convoluted
406
00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,160
merger that's going on with tech
and there's probably still
407
00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,720
another year or more to go right
on consuming that.
408
00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,480
And you kind of think, well, is
that the best way?
409
00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,840
You know, maybe someone in
particularly when copper then
410
00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,040
pushes through 6 bucks a pound,
you know, maybe someone will
411
00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,640
come and have another crack.
So I think you're going to see
412
00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,760
it, but the problem is there's
just a lack of quality assets
413
00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,360
out there.
Can I pitch a different one at
414
00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:11,000
the big end for you?
Yeah, best quantum.
415
00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,080
Yeah.
Well, I think that's that's
416
00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,760
that's similar.
On demanding valuation and
417
00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,280
probably one of the most
impressive mining businesses of
418
00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:25,320
of this era, yeah.
Yeah, I think that's in, that's
419
00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:26,800
in that in that group,
absolutely.
420
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,600
Obviously it's got a bigger
exposure to parts of Africa that
421
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,680
other people might not want to
go, but I think you guys have
422
00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,520
just been up there and stomping
around.
423
00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:38,000
With bias operations.
But you're right.
424
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,720
I mean, I put them all in that
same group and then it's a, it's
425
00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:43,360
a, it's a value discussion.
Yeah.
426
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,000
How do you not kill that culture
though?
427
00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:46,760
When you when you buy it, that's
the most important.
428
00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:48,720
Thing well, you're not going to
be able to buy a first quantum.
429
00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,360
I mean young, she's going to
stop anything but but it's just
430
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:53,360
like, you know, if you just want
to play the copper thematic, I
431
00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:57,400
think like you've got you've got
on demand evaluation on an
432
00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,520
earnings basis already.
You've got like an operating
433
00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:02,960
model.
That is a truly competitive
434
00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:04,640
advantage because they do the
engineering in house.
435
00:22:05,120 --> 00:22:08,080
They, you know, they fast track
development, but when they're
436
00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,560
only doing, you know, like a PFS
study as opposed to all of the
437
00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:13,760
delays and things that happened
with normal minor, they've got a
438
00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,640
BD like geology team that like
assesses every one of their
439
00:22:16,640 --> 00:22:18,600
things and they'll like as
opposed to kind of, you know,
440
00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:21,120
people have accountability and
autonomy.
441
00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:23,040
They've got in government
support in Zambia where there's
442
00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,840
great, you know, longevity to
their their operations.
443
00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,320
Yeah.
And the biggest part, the
444
00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:30,200
catalyst of COBRA Panama coming
back.
445
00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:32,040
Yeah.
And there's a bunch of leverage,
446
00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:33,520
like it's there's a bunch of
dead in there.
447
00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,360
So, yeah, you know, how could
you, how could you, how could
448
00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,600
you, how could you not want the
upside of the the talk that
449
00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,840
comes with that Anyway, Yeah,
that's how my little turn.
450
00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:44,800
Of fish, I think you're right
and, and there's not many
451
00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,360
companies like that.
And maybe Agnico and Gold is is
452
00:22:47,360 --> 00:22:53,360
similar where they've got a very
clear modus operandi of how they
453
00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:56,560
do what they do and it's and
it's very differentiated from
454
00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,720
the peer group and and it's
really the driver of their
455
00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,720
success.
Agnico's deal up in Finland was
456
00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,800
really interesting, like as far
from a vanilla deal as you can
457
00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:10,600
kind of get all all-encompassing
33 deals in a day.
458
00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,240
Awesome to see.
And they've been, they've been
459
00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:16,000
so disciplined throughout.
So it's very interesting to see
460
00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,080
to see them make that move, I
think.
461
00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:20,400
Well, it's really dominate
regions, right?
462
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,640
And, and most of that's, you
know, most of that's been in the
463
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:27,720
in the US, but, but I think what
they're saying is this, this is
464
00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:28,800
yeah.
And they're obviously been
465
00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,400
operating there for a long time,
but they they see that as an
466
00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,120
area where they can build scale,
which what they're all about.
467
00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:37,320
Yeah.
The the scale, the scale portion
468
00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,600
is, is super important.
I want to talk about uranium as
469
00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:42,720
well.
I think as we were sort of
470
00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,920
touching on before we started
recording that the ramifications
471
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,640
of of what we're saying in Iran
are going to be felt for a long
472
00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,000
time to come.
Not that the situation is close
473
00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,520
to being resolved just yet
anyway, but nuclear has got to
474
00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:58,680
have huge ramifications.
How are you thinking about the
475
00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,880
the future of that and uranium
in the portfolio right now?
476
00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,040
Yeah.
So, so I think, I think if
477
00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:08,160
there's one theme when you look
at what's happening in the
478
00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,360
Middle East and you look at
what's happening with AI and,
479
00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:13,480
and the role of that is the
demand for energy is only going
480
00:24:13,480 --> 00:24:15,760
to increase and it's increasing
at a rapid rate.
481
00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:21,240
And the demand for stable base
load is going to be huge.
482
00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,120
And so I think we're going to
need uranium, but we're going to
483
00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:28,000
need gas and we're going to
need, we're going to need
484
00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,720
battery, we're going to need
whatever we can get, probably
485
00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,360
coal and which, which you could
argue, unfortunately, because
486
00:24:34,360 --> 00:24:36,880
the environmental impact of
thermal coal in particular, but
487
00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,120
the demand for energy is not
going away.
488
00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,680
And in fact, it's accelerating.
And, and uranium has to be part
489
00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,440
of that mix.
And to their credit, you know,
490
00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,000
if you look at the, the big tech
companies, they've recognized
491
00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:50,880
that early and they're really
promoting it.
492
00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,080
And I think and, and you know,
the US more recently, but most,
493
00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:59,560
most global western and most
global economies now have
494
00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,160
switched and, and are very
supportive, which you go back
495
00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,160
even 2 years, that's a massive
change.
496
00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,520
And so you know, so we're, we're
very bullish on, on uranium.
497
00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:13,120
The challenge is, as we touched
on is, is what do you buy and
498
00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:16,120
how do you get good, good
quality exposure at, at at a
499
00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:17,480
reasonable price?
So.
500
00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,360
One of the top five holdings is
is ISO energy.
501
00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:26,720
What we like about ISO is it's,
it's got a really good
502
00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:31,080
development pipeline.
So firstly, it's got some
503
00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:35,280
projects in Utah which are kind
of near term production, but
504
00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,880
high cost.
So you know, prices of uranium
505
00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,400
keep going high.
They can bring that on pretty
506
00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:41,720
quickly.
But then they've got the, the
507
00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:45,720
hurricane project in the East
Athabasca, which which is a
508
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:50,760
cracking deposit and, and, and
you know, very close to the
509
00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:54,160
McLean mill owned by, by
Chemico.
510
00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:58,240
And you know who need more, more
or so we think that
511
00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:02,480
strategically that asset should
be owned by, by Chemico.
512
00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:05,280
And you know, ideally something
will happen, but if it doesn't,
513
00:26:05,680 --> 00:26:08,880
the, the scale and the grade of
it means that it's a, it's a
514
00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:12,880
highly developable project.
And then really the free kick
515
00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:16,080
is, is the Virginia asset in the
US.
516
00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:20,640
Again, US is, is looking for
local production.
517
00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,040
It's been a project that's been
around for a long period of
518
00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:26,960
time, had a few political and
environmental kind of question
519
00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,080
marks as a lot of your earning
projects did.
520
00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:31,960
But that kind of seems to be
easing.
521
00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:34,880
And you know, potentially that's
a massive value kicker.
522
00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:38,040
So you kind of Add all that up
and the company's market cap's
523
00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,240
now about a billion dollars.
You know, I don't think there's
524
00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:45,760
any other sort of developer that
has a similar portfolio and
525
00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:50,880
ability to to to capitalize.
So that's that's why we like it,
526
00:26:51,160 --> 00:26:54,000
yeah.
As the day we're recording, I
527
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,680
think Lotus withdrew, they've
withdrawn their their garden
528
00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,880
stocks down to six percent, 16%
on open, I think.
529
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,560
Yeah, yeah, the the the pathway
to get back into production is
530
00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,040
proving to continue to be a bit
a bit troublesome for
531
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,840
Thankfully, Paladin seems to
have hit their straps and and,
532
00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,680
and and seen the light.
Boss down grading as well.
533
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,080
Yeah, yeah, I mean, it's
difficult.
534
00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:19,040
I mean, the the issue with a lot
of the the ASX list of projects
535
00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,440
that are coming into production
is their production is still
536
00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,680
pretty small, right?
And their costs are still
537
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:28,160
relatively high.
And I think, you know, going
538
00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:30,960
back 12 years, 12 months ago,
you know, I think what you saw
539
00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,320
when the Paladin and Boss and
all these guys started to, to,
540
00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:37,720
to come on stream was, you know,
coming on stream just
541
00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,000
highlighted that they weren't
particularly good value, right?
542
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:45,440
Because because their costs
relative to their production
543
00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:48,280
meant that there wasn't enough
free cash spitting out the other
544
00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,000
end.
And their market caps are being
545
00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,280
pushed up to a high level.
And I think that's still kind of
546
00:27:52,280 --> 00:27:55,000
the issue, right?
They need to get scale
547
00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:57,720
production, They need to get
their operating costs down.
548
00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,400
And you probably need, you know,
higher uranium prices.
549
00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,400
And I, I noticed I was reading
some reports the other day and
550
00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:08,400
you know, a number of analysts
now are looking at at uranium
551
00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:13,040
prices, you know, 130 plus, you
know, 3 or 4 years out, right?
552
00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,520
So, so to to kind of make the
numbers work, you kind of need
553
00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:19,200
to be factoring in some big
prices.
554
00:28:20,120 --> 00:28:26,440
The yeah, the the recent
addition on the ASX set, that
555
00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:29,480
Atomic Eagle, which is
backdoored in Govi X.
556
00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,240
Have you taken a look at that?
No, I haven't.
557
00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:32,240
Yeah.
Interesting.
558
00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,360
Yeah, yeah.
Anyway, we'll, I do want to talk
559
00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:40,680
about Aussie gold, yeah, because
as far as exposure to diesel
560
00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:42,640
prices goes, they're they're
high up there on the list.
561
00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:44,440
How's the portfolio reflecting
that?
562
00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,560
Yeah.
So in the Natural Resources
563
00:28:46,560 --> 00:28:49,680
Fund, we've we've reduced our
exposure to gold really this
564
00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:51,480
month.
So, you know, been sitting most
565
00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:54,120
of the month at about 8:00 or
9%, which is probably the lowest
566
00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,680
it's been pretty much forever,
right?
567
00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,520
And, and a lot of that is, is 1
again, that whole momentum theme
568
00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:03,840
where I think gold was the
momentum buy and then became the
569
00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,720
momentum sell people looking for
liquidity.
570
00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,920
And so that's had an impact.
But secondly, you know what,
571
00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:15,520
what is the impact of, you know,
of the Middle East crisis on,
572
00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,040
on, on the resource sector in
Australia in particular.
573
00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:20,000
And I think, you know,
everyone's been talking about
574
00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:22,760
diesel and jet fuel, you know,
and there's really 2 steps to
575
00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:24,760
that.
First is, is it just a cost
576
00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:26,880
impact, right, where you, you
can still get it, but you just
577
00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:28,440
got to pay more.
And that's really where we're at
578
00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,760
now.
But the longer that goes, you
579
00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:34,520
know, the risk of, of
constrained supply or reduced
580
00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,280
supply, you know, increases and
then that will flow through to
581
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,520
producers.
So you know, we, we probably
582
00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,200
being in fact we have been
overly cautious on, on Gold's
583
00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:47,120
coming into, into this month in
that we've, we've done two
584
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,000
things. 1 is where possible
we've switched our producer
585
00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,680
exposure from Australian
producers to North American
586
00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:55,520
producers.
And two, we've probably
587
00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:00,560
maintained or increased our
exposure to, to developers over
588
00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:03,480
producers.
Because I think if you're a
589
00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,480
developer and you've got to, you
know, you're impacted by a
590
00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,000
couple of months doesn't really
matter.
591
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:10,800
Whereas if you if you adjust in
your guidance as a producer then
592
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,840
it then it becomes an issue.
Is there a layer of being a bit
593
00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:18,720
more bearish on the the overall
macro outlook of gold as well in
594
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:21,200
in your rationale for going down
to 9% exposure?
595
00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,360
No, not really.
I think the tailwinds for gold
596
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,160
are still huge, right?
I mean, you know, the world's
597
00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,200
still a dangerous place and
we're seeing that, you know,
598
00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:33,600
we're seeing that play out.
You got U.S. debt levels, you
599
00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:38,200
know, continuing to ratchet up,
you know, everyone's crying out
600
00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,200
for a store of value.
And, and I, I don't think
601
00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:43,200
there's, you know, and you can
look at the US currency
602
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,240
debasement.
I think the issue is, you know,
603
00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:48,440
people would like a, a, a
logical currency that they could
604
00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:51,720
rely on, but you know, they're,
they're questioning the US, but
605
00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:56,440
they don't really want to go to,
you know, to the, to, to China
606
00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:00,600
rather, right.
So, so gold has a place and, and
607
00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,480
I think it's becoming more and
more evident.
608
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:06,280
So what we see is there's an
opportunity to switch back into
609
00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:08,400
gold.
So, you know, I think, I think
610
00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:11,640
the gold price got pushed up by
passive investing momentum.
611
00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:13,800
I think that flows through to
equities.
612
00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,600
Free cash was was very strong,
but I think you've had a reset
613
00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,880
where most of the gold producers
are down probably 25 or 30% from
614
00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,880
their peak.
So, you know, we're we're
615
00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:25,840
waiting for that opportunity
when there's some kind of
616
00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:30,800
resolution or at least we get a
view that the resolution is
617
00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:33,840
insight and, and switch back
into those, you know, good
618
00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:37,640
quality mid tier producers,
which like.
619
00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:40,520
It's, it's remarkable how
quickly these these adjustments
620
00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:43,280
kind of take place.
And I think that I feel I've
621
00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,880
noticed particularly with, with
gold, with you saw it with
622
00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:51,040
silver too, a bit of a, a bit of
unlinking of the underlying
623
00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:55,080
commodity from the the producers
at times in, in the chaos that
624
00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,880
we've seen.
Like a specific spelling out of
625
00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,560
that would be when, when gold
launched from 5000 up to like
626
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:05,160
5600, the the gold names didn't
didn't follow it quite as much.
627
00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:06,440
Is that something you've noticed
as well?
628
00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:08,600
Yeah, totally.
There was a long period of time
629
00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:11,800
where, you know, gold, the gold
physical gold prices was
630
00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,040
outperforming the gold indices
and the gold stocks.
631
00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,680
And then that switched you, you
know, really, really quickly.
632
00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,760
You know, I think, you know, I,
I think the metrics on the gold
633
00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:27,920
price were I think between
August 25 and January 26, the
634
00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:33,720
gold price rose by about 59%.
And now it's about 12% off, off
635
00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,240
that peak.
And it has been a bit, a bit
636
00:32:36,240 --> 00:32:39,720
lower, probably 50.
The bottom was probably 15% fall
637
00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:44,080
from that peak.
So and I think gold equities
638
00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:49,040
then probably recovered that and
then, you know, went a bit too
639
00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:50,200
high.
I mean, one of the things we
640
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,240
look at is and we ask ourselves
is what's a free cash yield that
641
00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:56,360
you should be expecting from a
gold company?
642
00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:00,600
And, and there's very few that
were yielding more than 8%,
643
00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:01,800
right?
And you're going well, gold
644
00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:08,240
prices have had this massive,
this massive gain and is 8%
645
00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,240
enough, right?
And, and what the market has
646
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,040
shown more recently is perhaps
it wasn't.
647
00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:15,720
And so they've come back.
So now, now you know, the, the
648
00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:17,520
yields across the sector have
improved.
649
00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,720
There's always been, I think
good capital discipline, good,
650
00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:24,880
you know, most of the groups
have, have good, good amounts of
651
00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,440
cash.
So we think that there's a
652
00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:30,400
renewal there and and there's an
opportunity to get back in once
653
00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,200
things settle down, you know,
once that that cost and fuel
654
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,200
issue resolved.
Do you anticipate a wave of
655
00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,080
buying, just referring to the
cash balances there, they're
656
00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,480
pretty bunchy like it's, it's
either MA or it's starting to
657
00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:45,720
distribute more and more and we
have seen pickups in dividends
658
00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:47,920
and and the like as well.
Yeah, you.
659
00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,960
Yeah, I think so.
But again, it's always hard to
660
00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:54,320
find good assets.
So I think what you'll see is,
661
00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,960
you know, the easiest way to add
values for the drill bit as
662
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,840
there's no doubt you'll hear.
So I think you'll see an uptick
663
00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:04,120
in in expiration spend.
I think dividends, you know,
664
00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,800
dividends and buybacks will also
come back into the mix.
665
00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:10,120
So I think it's really
interesting that you know that
666
00:34:10,120 --> 00:34:15,679
Capricorn have paid an interim
dividend, I think Remelius
667
00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:20,800
similar and and doing a buyback,
you know, I think that actually
668
00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,400
makes sense, right.
I think the discipline of giving
669
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:25,440
money back to shareholders when
things are going well and you
670
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,639
got free cash makes a whole lot
of sense.
671
00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:31,440
Now, if there's a logical
acquisition, that's good, but
672
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,800
you know they're hard to find.
Yeah, there's, there's, there's
673
00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,880
an observation in the, you know,
the gold space in the last last
674
00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:45,360
month specifically, I want to
say 22 enormous deals, 1 is G
675
00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:49,280
min buying G2 and the other one
is Agnico buying Rupert.
676
00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:53,199
Both of these are truly world
class development projects.
677
00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,760
Both of these are enormous
premiums for multibillion dollar
678
00:34:57,640 --> 00:35:02,400
companies.
And I think what it says is that
679
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:06,000
the place to be is in those
truly spectacular world class
680
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,680
assets right now in particular
because the inquiries have never
681
00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:13,440
had such a, you know, such such
expensive script.
682
00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:17,400
They've got this ability to use
their paper and cache as forms
683
00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:21,080
of consideration.
And you know, before maybe the
684
00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,200
world looks different, They
should, they should totally use
685
00:35:23,200 --> 00:35:23,920
that.
Yeah.
686
00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:26,800
So I, I wonder what else fits in
that category.
687
00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,800
Like, you know, I, I look around
and I think Snow Line is a great
688
00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:31,120
candidate.
Yeah, Yeah.
689
00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,040
We just never looked
particularly cheap.
690
00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:35,080
I mean, an incredible asset, but
you know.
691
00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:39,280
I think it's still shape, yeah.
I think it's a like a 3G per
692
00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:41,880
ton, like an open pit from
surface.
693
00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:45,520
It's just a you like you, it's a
dream to mine.
694
00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,400
You pay it back in no time.
It's just, it's just what are
695
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:50,640
your assumptions on timeline to
develop because the permitting
696
00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:51,960
uncertainty, but that's getting
better, yeah.
697
00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,560
It is getting better, yeah.
I mean, the other take away has
698
00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,680
got to be the synergies.
Those two examples, they're
699
00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,960
really like, they didn't just
buy Rupert, they bought two
700
00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:04,520
other things and it's going to
be one beast of a 500,000 plus
701
00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:08,040
type thing and G2 and G men
border on one another.
702
00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,800
Yeah, well, that's right.
I I think if you can dominate a
703
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,440
region, you can get the
synergies and and economies of
704
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:20,440
scale by by building out those
kind of assets makes perfect
705
00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:25,640
sense.
Yeah, Dave, gas, oil and gas,
706
00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:26,760
Yeah.
Is it creeping into the
707
00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:28,400
portfolio?
Yeah.
708
00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:33,560
So, so oil and gas is is is
about 20% of the fund.
709
00:36:33,600 --> 00:36:35,600
More than creeping.
It's more than creeping, yeah.
710
00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:38,880
So I mean maybe just so stepping
back up portfolio at the moment
711
00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:43,960
is sort of 20% copper, 20%
lithium, 20% oil and gas, 10%,
712
00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:48,000
you know, just under but 10%
gold and 10% uranium.
713
00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:52,040
So that's kind of and then 20
percent, 15% cash and and a few
714
00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,720
other bits and pieces, right.
So that's, and that's the way we
715
00:36:54,720 --> 00:36:57,480
like to construct the portfolio
is, is what commodities do we
716
00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:00,800
want to expose closure to.
And and the big change as you
717
00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:05,160
alluded to earlier is, is just
that lift in, in lithium to
718
00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:06,880
begin with, but also oil and
gas.
719
00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:11,200
Oil and gas we've liked, but
it's been very focused in the
720
00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:15,600
past on domestic gas.
So the East Coast where you
721
00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:19,200
know, looming shortage and which
which I'm sure you know,
722
00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:23,160
everyone's, everyone's aware of
our main position there has been
723
00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:26,480
Amplitude Energy which which had
a good run until it didn't,
724
00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,320
right.
What I like about it is it's an
725
00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,320
operating business generating
good cash, right.
726
00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:36,120
So you know, EBITDA or EBITDA X
is something like 250 mill a
727
00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:39,920
year as my caps 500.
So it's you know, it's so it's
728
00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:43,040
not expensive.
And the reason that the price
729
00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,160
has come back is some of their
evaluation wells in the, in the
730
00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:52,280
Opway Basin, it really came up,
came up a duster Isabella and
731
00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:57,160
Eleanora, which which given the,
the prospectivity was a bit
732
00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:58,640
disappointing and a bit
unexpected.
733
00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:01,440
And the I think the market
treated them pretty harshly for
734
00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:02,960
that.
But if you look at the cash
735
00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,920
flow, you look at what they've
been able to do at the all boss
736
00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:09,480
plant, which is now running
ahead of nameplate, which is
737
00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,720
pretty incredible.
You know, you know, just just
738
00:38:12,720 --> 00:38:15,400
the existing operations really
more than support the current
739
00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:17,000
price.
And then you've still got a
740
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,800
couple more wells to be drilled
and they've also got the any
741
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:23,680
development which is, which is
already proven right, which they
742
00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,160
can bring on.
So the, the, the issue for them
743
00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:31,200
is the Gibson Basin assets are,
are cranking along well, but
744
00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:34,480
they're Otway Basin assets, you
know, need volume and that's
745
00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:36,760
really what they're trying to do
with this joint venture with IG
746
00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:41,440
Energy and their drill campaign.
So, you know, I'm optimistic
747
00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:43,680
they'll have a bit more success.
They've got a couple more drill
748
00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:48,360
drills or, or, or wells in the
second-half of the year, but we
749
00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:49,840
kind of like that.
And I think the East gas
750
00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:52,920
thematic is, is still very
strong.
751
00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,200
You know, I mean, it wasn't long
ago where the, the government
752
00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:58,760
were thinking about building LNG
import terminals to bring in LNG
753
00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:00,480
for the rest of the world.
And I think, you know, what's
754
00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:02,240
happened in the Middle East
really highlights that.
755
00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:04,080
That's not really a strategy,
right?
756
00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:07,560
Just expect everyone else to
deliver the, the oil to your
757
00:39:07,560 --> 00:39:09,560
doorstep, oil or gas to your
doorstep.
758
00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:15,000
So, so we like that.
We've also got a, a, a small
759
00:39:15,000 --> 00:39:20,160
position in, in Emperor Energy,
which is a high risk, high
760
00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:22,640
return development project, you
know, also in, you know,
761
00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:26,560
offshore Vic.
And and Woodside makes up a a
762
00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:28,000
decent portion.
Yeah.
763
00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,720
And then Woodside is really a
reflection of, you know, how do
764
00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:35,040
you get good quality exposure to
oil and gas, particularly LNG
765
00:39:35,040 --> 00:39:39,040
where they've got a, you know, a
bigger than than the normal
766
00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:42,240
exposure to the spot market,
which which we think is a good
767
00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,320
thing, but also it's big and
it's liquid, right.
768
00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:50,240
So what we're seeing in, in the
Middle East and, and you know,
769
00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,440
under a Trump sort of control is
that things can change really
770
00:39:53,440 --> 00:39:55,280
quickly.
So, so the good thing about a
771
00:39:55,280 --> 00:39:58,520
Woodside is we've got exposure,
but we can change the exposure
772
00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:02,600
immediately.
You know, we can, it's about 9%
773
00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,400
of the portfolio now.
It has been as high as 15%, but
774
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:08,480
you know, we can go to 0, we can
go to 15 really quickly and and
775
00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:09,880
increase or decrease our, our
exposure.
776
00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:12,800
I love the, I love the
concentration you play with.
777
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,360
Yeah, the, the, the commodities
we've we've talked about so far
778
00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:20,440
and the way you frame the, the
portfolio there, they're kind of
779
00:40:20,440 --> 00:40:21,720
like them.
You know, a lot of them are, are
780
00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:23,640
main commodities people would
play with.
781
00:40:23,640 --> 00:40:26,960
But the, the really sexy stuff
of light has been in the the
782
00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:30,280
Nisha commodities, specifically
defence medals, rare earths,
783
00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:33,160
tungsten, Yeah.
How do you, how do you, how do
784
00:40:33,160 --> 00:40:34,160
you watch?
What is going there?
785
00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:36,720
Do you have exposure to, to some
of the upside there?
786
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:39,800
How do you how do you feel about
not being exposed if it's if
787
00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:42,440
it's not a big position?
Yeah, look, the view we take is
788
00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:44,200
you don't need to own
everything, right?
789
00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:46,960
And, and, and if you don't
understand it or you're worried
790
00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:52,000
about the market and a lot of
the, the smaller boutique, you
791
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:57,120
know, metals, you, you wonder
about the impact of a massive
792
00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,160
supply increase having on, on
the, on the economic set, right.
793
00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,320
But it, but in general, you
know, we will go into those
794
00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,840
markets if, if we think it makes
sense, but there's enough of
795
00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:10,840
opportunities elsewhere that if
we miss an opportunity commodity
796
00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:14,560
we're not familiar with or we're
uncomfortable with them, then
797
00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:16,560
we'll just leave it.
So we don't feel that, hey, this
798
00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:19,040
is a trading opportunity and
let's get in and let's get out.
799
00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,960
You know, that's not really the
way we we want to play.
800
00:41:22,400 --> 00:41:25,920
So in rare earth, you know,
we've been in and out, in and
801
00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,040
out of that a bit.
You know, what you're saying is
802
00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:31,000
there's a huge competitive
advantage to someone like a
803
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:32,880
Linus.
But again, same kind of issue.
804
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:34,960
What do you have to pay to get
that exposure?
805
00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:42,560
And then it's probably a Luca,
which which you know, history
806
00:41:42,560 --> 00:41:46,360
would suggest you probably want
to wait and see how any other
807
00:41:46,360 --> 00:41:49,800
comes on, right?
Like an Lt. 5 yeah.
808
00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:53,120
And.
With a bit of MacDonald you want
809
00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:55,440
assumption of ramp up.
And then there's dead on top of
810
00:41:55,440 --> 00:41:57,240
that and stuff.
You know, I think they
811
00:41:57,240 --> 00:41:59,520
positioned themselves pretty
well and it's now all about
812
00:41:59,520 --> 00:42:02,400
execution.
So we're not there.
813
00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:05,360
So then then it's really the
Brazilian rare earth projects,
814
00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:08,600
Brazilian rare earths and
meteoric are probably a big two
815
00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:13,760
and you know, they look pretty
good, but and we have been in
816
00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:17,960
and out of them a little bit,
but you know, the Brazilian
817
00:42:17,960 --> 00:42:20,720
government have been talking
about, you know, wanting to get
818
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:24,320
more involved in the sector.
So, so, so we kind of pulled
819
00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,680
back a little bit.
We, you know, we own a little
820
00:42:27,680 --> 00:42:30,800
bit of Brazilian critical
minerals, which which is
821
00:42:30,800 --> 00:42:33,720
adopting an ISR type approach.
So that's kind of all or
822
00:42:33,720 --> 00:42:35,880
nothing.
We'll see what happens there.
823
00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,760
So we kind of we're not really
in rarest.
824
00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:42,040
I'd like to be in it, but
there's nothing compelling
825
00:42:42,040 --> 00:42:45,600
enough that.
Shall we finish with a game of
826
00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:47,640
underrated, Overrated?
Let's do it man, for.
827
00:42:47,640 --> 00:42:48,880
Your game, Dave.
Yeah.
828
00:42:49,000 --> 00:42:53,440
All right.
First up, a bit of a, a bit of a
829
00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:57,760
kind of particular one, but
underrated or overrated, the
830
00:42:57,760 --> 00:43:02,000
likelihood that we're going to
see SPOD in the four thousands
831
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:03,840
this cycle.
I'll say overrated.
832
00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:06,440
Well, what I'd say is if there's
one thing that we've learned
833
00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:10,960
from lithium is commodity
forecasters have no idea, right.
834
00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:15,040
So I remember when it was 400
bucks a tonne and if you'd said
835
00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:18,040
it's going to, you know, 6 or
$8000 a tonne, they would have,
836
00:43:18,040 --> 00:43:19,800
you know, no one would have
believed you.
837
00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:21,760
And then when it was the six or
eight, if you said it's going
838
00:43:21,760 --> 00:43:25,360
back to 600, no one would said.
And even when it was the 600,
839
00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:27,600
you know, every expert in the
world was saying there's no way
840
00:43:27,600 --> 00:43:30,200
it's ever going above 1200
because of all the production
841
00:43:30,200 --> 00:43:32,720
coming out of Africa.
And suddenly it's at, you know,
842
00:43:32,760 --> 00:43:36,200
222 and a half thousand.
And and I think it will go
843
00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:38,440
higher right in the short term.
ASX Silver.
844
00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:40,720
I think it's overrated.
Yeah, yeah.
845
00:43:41,320 --> 00:43:44,760
You know, with, with resource
sector investing is all about
846
00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:48,680
quality, right?
So you need scale and, and
847
00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:50,560
qualities, you need grade and,
and all that.
848
00:43:50,560 --> 00:43:54,200
And I think we struggle with
with the really high quality.
849
00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:59,840
Tungsten to stay at these levels
for the the next couple years.
850
00:43:59,920 --> 00:44:07,080
Is that overrated or underrated?
So I'd probably say overrated
851
00:44:07,680 --> 00:44:10,600
has had a huge run, you would
expect that it'll come down.
852
00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:16,000
Vanadium redox flow batteries.
Probably, probably underrated,
853
00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:18,560
right?
So again, it just comes down to
854
00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:20,480
energy demand, doesn't it,
Right.
855
00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:25,560
And battery storage, I think, I
think everyone's going to be a
856
00:44:25,560 --> 00:44:27,680
winner to some extent, right?
There's going to be demand.
857
00:44:27,720 --> 00:44:33,400
Are you bullish or bearish on
ESS as a as a part of that
858
00:44:33,400 --> 00:44:35,760
market right now?
I'm bullish, Yeah, absolutely,
859
00:44:36,040 --> 00:44:39,040
absolutely thermal.
Coal as an investment?
860
00:44:39,160 --> 00:44:43,320
If you say energy demand is
going up right, then I think
861
00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:45,960
thermal coal is going to be
around longer than
862
00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:51,000
environmentalists would like it
to be, right, Because it's, it's
863
00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:54,000
cheap and it's embedded already
in our fund.
864
00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:56,640
You know, we, we, we've got a
mandate that says we can't
865
00:44:56,640 --> 00:44:59,520
invest in thermal coal projects.
So.
866
00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:01,960
So it's not for us.
Do you think it's overrated or
867
00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:06,560
underrated that that many many
investors are are mandated out
868
00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:10,760
of expose exposure thermal coal?
I think it's overrated in going
869
00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:13,360
back five years ago when we, you
know, 5 or 6 years ago when we
870
00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:15,040
started the fund.
Would have been maximally ESG
871
00:45:15,120 --> 00:45:16,320
compliant.
Well, everyone was ESG
872
00:45:16,320 --> 00:45:18,600
compliant, everyone was saying
this is what we're going to do
873
00:45:18,600 --> 00:45:22,600
and then thermal prices start to
rally and stuff and they said
874
00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:23,960
well, maybe we can buy it,
right.
875
00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:27,880
So, you know, we've just taken
the view that it's it's a
876
00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:29,760
condition that we had and we're
going to stick to it, right.
877
00:45:29,800 --> 00:45:32,120
So so you.
Have changed some conditions at
878
00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:35,000
the fund over time though.
Both sides, yeah, size, but I
879
00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:36,880
think it needs the.
Ability to short sell as well.
880
00:45:37,120 --> 00:45:39,640
I think no.
So we no, I haven't changed
881
00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:41,000
that.
Yeah, somewhere else.
882
00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:43,480
Yeah.
So, so really the only what
883
00:45:43,480 --> 00:45:46,480
we've done is, is give us more
opportunity to invest in the
884
00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:49,520
areas that we want to invest in.
So we can, we've increased the
885
00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:52,600
number of stocks we can own,
it's gone from 25 to 40 and and
886
00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,160
we've increased the proportion
we can own internationally from
887
00:45:55,760 --> 00:45:59,400
25% to 40%.
But what we can invest in and
888
00:45:59,440 --> 00:46:02,960
you know, like, like we do have
some hard and fast kind of ESG
889
00:46:05,520 --> 00:46:08,520
factors that we look at and and
we just think you can't really
890
00:46:08,520 --> 00:46:12,240
just change them because,
because there's good
891
00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:13,720
opportunities there, right.
So yeah, what do?
892
00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:18,120
What do you think of the future
of underground spot minds?
893
00:46:18,160 --> 00:46:22,920
Underrated or overrated?
Probably underrated.
894
00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:26,640
Again, it comes down to to cost,
right?
895
00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:31,640
So and and and scale.
I think Liontown would be, you
896
00:46:32,200 --> 00:46:35,000
know, a good test case.
The cost base of of doing
897
00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:37,400
business as a minor in in
Australia.
898
00:46:38,680 --> 00:46:41,320
Yes, don't you me start it on
government.
899
00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:48,240
God, I mean to stand back.
Australia has a huge opportunity
900
00:46:49,360 --> 00:46:53,800
and is, is probably best placed
resource wise and location wise
901
00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:55,440
than any country in the world,
right?
902
00:46:55,440 --> 00:47:00,920
And the only thing holding us
back is, is, is, is, is
903
00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:03,680
government policy and you know,
and, and commitment, right.
904
00:47:03,680 --> 00:47:05,720
So, and we've seen that in the
East Coast gas market.
905
00:47:07,840 --> 00:47:11,320
It's it's, it's disappointing,
yeah.
906
00:47:12,520 --> 00:47:14,520
Copper over 7 bucks in the next
two years.
907
00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:16,800
Underrated.
So I think I think it's it's
908
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:18,400
possible.
Yeah, Dave, that is.
909
00:47:18,560 --> 00:47:20,840
That's all I've got for you.
Is there anything else you
910
00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:24,080
wanted to talk about?
No, I think that's it's all
911
00:47:24,080 --> 00:47:25,480
good.
Any quarterlies that you just
912
00:47:25,480 --> 00:47:27,760
thought, well that was that was
really interesting.
913
00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:33,080
I learned something from that.
Look, I think the stand out ones
914
00:47:34,280 --> 00:47:37,400
Pilbara we've touched on, I
think Grateland is a is is been
915
00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:39,560
an incredible story and talking
about tungsten, just having an
916
00:47:39,560 --> 00:47:42,200
old o'callaghan's in your back
pocket that you got for nothing
917
00:47:42,200 --> 00:47:44,640
is is pretty good as well.
But you know that you got to
918
00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:48,480
give those guys credit and it
comes down to the buyer
919
00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:49,440
decision, doesn't it?
Right.
920
00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:50,920
You buy an asset at a good
price.
921
00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:57,600
It also highlights that you know
big mages selling off non core
922
00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,000
assets is is a happy hunting
ground.
923
00:48:00,680 --> 00:48:03,440
Imagine if they imagine if they
spun out O Callahan's or sold O
924
00:48:03,440 --> 00:48:05,960
Callahan's for, you know, a
comparable number to what they
925
00:48:05,960 --> 00:48:07,760
ended up paying.
I think they will.
926
00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:10,520
I mean, they've already got,
they've already received more in
927
00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:13,320
cash than what they paid, right?
It's truly remarkable.
928
00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:15,160
And and they've got O
Callahan's, yeah.
929
00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:19,400
Special it's yeah crazy.
It's a it's a it's a it's a it's
930
00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:23,560
an amazing story to see the, the
the price in, in, in pence, you
931
00:48:23,560 --> 00:48:26,720
know, return to its all the time
high from which, which, which
932
00:48:26,720 --> 00:48:29,920
was truly like, you know,
epitome of kind of like mania
933
00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:32,960
and and crash back in the day.
But the the retail Baggies are
934
00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:35,560
back in the money.
So good on Dave.
935
00:48:35,560 --> 00:48:37,440
It's been absolutely wonderful
speaking with you as always.
936
00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:40,680
And yeah, Congrats on on on the
funds performance.
937
00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:43,720
We continue to follow your work
and look forward to chatting
938
00:48:43,720 --> 00:48:44,880
next time.
Thanks, Trav.
939
00:48:45,080 --> 00:48:46,000
Thanks, JD.
Thank you.
940
00:48:46,240 --> 00:48:48,640
A mining stock spectacular.
I must have talked about 20 or
941
00:48:48,640 --> 00:48:50,640
30 different names.
I always love chatting with Dave
942
00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:52,880
and going through how he's
thinking about the portfolio.
943
00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:57,040
Trav, huge thank you to Sandy
Ground Support Focus, the
944
00:48:57,040 --> 00:49:00,600
platform by Market Tech,
Intralinks, exceed capital and
945
00:49:00,600 --> 00:49:02,840
metal sub.
Hooteru money monis hooteru.
946
00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:06,760
Now remember, I'm an idiot.
JD is an idiot.
947
00:49:07,080 --> 00:49:09,200
If you thought any of this was
anything other than
948
00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:11,840
entertainment, you're an idiot
and you need to read out
949
00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:12,360
disclaimer.