Will a bidding war begin on this copper junior?
Xanadu finally received a cash bid, but it came from anunexpected bidder. We’re hooked and naturally, we explore the likelihood of a bidding war should Zijin feel the pressure to bid now.
The most publicised sale process at the moment has to beRavenswood Gold. Amazingly, there’s only two bidders left. One of which is Regis, and we tell you why we don’t really think Regis will buy it.
Plus, we kick off by sharing some feedback from the Money Miners we’ve received over the last two days.
……………
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Introduction and Feedback from the Money Miners
(04:01) Xanadu to spark a Bidding War?
(16:12) Ravenswood Gold Mine Sale Dynamics
……………
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PARTNERS
Thank you to the mining services businesses that make thiscontent possible:
Mineral Mining Services – Your preferred mining contractor - 1300 546 117
Grounded - Infrastructure for remote mining and civil projects Australia wide | Paul Natoli: pn@groundedgroup.com.au
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CRE Insurance – Insurance Brokers for the construction, resources and energy sectors | davidh@creinsurance.com.au +61 2 9493 6100
K-Drill – Safe, reliable, and productive surface RC drilling | Ryan O'Sullivan: ryan@k-drill.com.au +61 427 783 190
KCA Site Services – Workforce and equipment solutions for mining and civil projects | admin@kcasiteservices.com.au 1300 143 947
Black Diamond Drilling Services – Drilling consumables supplier for the mining industry support@bddrill.com.au +61 450 944 489
Cross Boundary Energy – Independent power producer for the global mining industry | tim.taylor@crossboundary.com +61 466 184 943
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FOLLOW & CONNECT
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• Travis Ricciardo: @TRAVmoneyofmine
• Jonas Dorling: @JDmoneyofmine
• Email us Word on the Decline: gc@moneyofmine.com
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DISCLAIMER
All information in this podcast is for education and entertainment purposes only and is of general nature only. Please ensure you read our full disclaimer.
00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,320
JD, are we about to see a
bidding war for this copper
2
00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:04,920
junior?
There could be some alpha in
3
00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:06,880
this episode mate.
Maybe, maybe not.
4
00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:09,640
Because Xanadu has received a
bid from Bastion and it seems
5
00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,760
cleverly structured to elicit a
counter bid from Zijin at a
6
00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,320
higher price and fast.
I'm keen to explore that with
7
00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,640
you today mate.
Plus why we think Regis won't
8
00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,640
buy Ravenswood Asterisk mostly
depends on price.
9
00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,960
To kick things off mate.
We've had a really interesting
10
00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,040
few days reading all of the
emails that have come our way.
11
00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:29,760
I haven't replied to them all
yet, but I know that you have
12
00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,800
and.
I can't say they have yet.
13
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,160
So thanks a bunch of the people
that reached out.
14
00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:39,240
We added phenomenal feedback and
we thought we'd we thought we'd
15
00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,800
run through a couple of the best
replies, the things that made us
16
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,800
laugh a little bit.
There was some some wicked
17
00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,120
responses, some great ideas of
what we can think about going
18
00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,640
forward and a few great one
liners in there.
19
00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:52,160
So let's let's just bounce off
each other this.
20
00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:54,440
Is this is the one liners that
you've you've cut out here,
21
00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,480
you've ignored all of the
feedback, but you've just
22
00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,040
concluded the one liners, the
zingers from the money miners.
23
00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,080
Massive appreciation for sending
through your thoughts and
24
00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,480
comments.
It means a lot to know that that
25
00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,040
yeah, the the listeners you guys
are still invested in in the
26
00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,320
future of of of money of mine.
And that certainly came across
27
00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:11,200
in those emails.
But I'm I'm intrigued in these,
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00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:12,760
these one liners, mate, what
have we got?
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00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,000
All right.
Here we go.
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00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,360
I'll start us off so talking
about our Abbott dour Thursday
31
00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:19,000
episode.
Mate.
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00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,920
Saw your episode today.
It was like watching 2 guys
33
00:01:21,960 --> 00:01:23,680
whose 20 year old dog had just
died.
34
00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,840
Pretty grim stuff.
Oh, I got one for you.
35
00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,800
If Black Sabbath can break up
and reunite, maybe you guys will
36
00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,320
too.
Someday, who knows?
37
00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,040
Who knows?
I saw the same actually about
38
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:36,560
wasn't wasn't about Black
Sabbath.
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00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:37,360
Maybe.
Maybe you've.
40
00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:38,000
Got it.
Might be coming.
41
00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,320
It might be coming.
Hold your breath.
42
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:44,080
All right, so to give you
context on how big a fan I am, I
43
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,560
was listening to your episode on
the worst mining deals so
44
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,240
intently in my car that I missed
my turn off by 25 kilometers.
45
00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,600
Didn't realize for 25 guys.
You might need to use your phone
46
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,520
or your sat NAV for that, but we
are thrilled that we could be so
47
00:01:57,520 --> 00:01:59,600
engaging in a podcast.
Unreal.
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00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:02,680
All right, go on for you mate.
I was keen to hear more on the
49
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,680
battlefield, Lenora and the
activist interview about
50
00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,680
Abyssinian medals and they got
completely pulled.
51
00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,080
I listened to it twice before it
vanished.
52
00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,560
I still remember driving down
the street in Vancouver nearly
53
00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,320
having a car accident because I
was so locked in.
54
00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:15,840
Maybe one day we'll bring that
one back.
55
00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,560
I don't know, JD.
Actually, no, it's deleted
56
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,280
forever unfortunately.
It's out of our hands, but maybe
57
00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,760
we can tell a story one day.
Last but not least, money
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00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,480
miners.
Imagine how much ACDC would have
59
00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:33,360
wanted to quit when Bond Scott
died and yet they came back even
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00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,200
better with the new guy.
It's fantastic.
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00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:41,280
I never thought we would get
mentioned or compared to a CDCI.
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00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,320
Didn't think those sort of words
went in the same sentence mate.
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00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,720
But lo and behold, lo and
behold, us and ACDC being
64
00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,840
compared.
Thanks a lot to all the money
65
00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,280
miners for getting in touch with
us, sharing your feedback.
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00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,840
We haven't got back to all of it
because it's been a complete
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00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,960
mountain, but we will get there.
Every day I say I'll be happy if
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00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:02,040
I end my day with like, no, no
emails sending in my inbox.
69
00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,800
And it just gets bigger.
But we'll get there, mate.
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00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,320
We'll get there.
Those messages from the money
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00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,000
miners, they've brought in the
mood here and they've, they've
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00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,360
given me some energy, which I
didn't, I didn't think it was
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00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,480
possible to get that energy in,
in this period of time, JD.
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00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,360
But it's it's very relevant
because I've actually prepared a
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00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,560
quiz for you today.
Have you?
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00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,040
I have mate, no pressure, but
your reputation's on the line.
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00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,600
Are you ready?
Question one who's building
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00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,880
state-of-the-art hybrid power
stations for enormous mine sites
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00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,400
all over the world?
Cross boundary energy is the
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00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,320
only name that comes.
Correct question two.
81
00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,640
Who actually owns and operates
them so the mining company
82
00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:35,720
doesn't have to lift a finger.
Steel cross boundary.
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00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:37,720
He's on fire.
Final question, who's helping
84
00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,200
mines cut diesel, cut costs and
cut emissions, all without
85
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:43,600
CapEx?
That's an easy one mate.
86
00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,040
Cross boundary energy.
Clean sweep mate, want to know
87
00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,240
what you win?
Hopefully their phone number
88
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,280
mate.
If you're if you're running or
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00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:52,760
building a mine and want lower
energy deals without building
90
00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,560
your own bloody power plant,
talk to Tim Taylor across
91
00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,440
Boundary Energy.
That's the answer every time.
92
00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,000
Phone number and show notes.
Go cross boundary energy.
93
00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,440
All right, mate.
Xanadu copped a beer.
94
00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,120
I think up front.
We've got to do a Ding, Ding,
95
00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,160
Ding Jada, you and I have been
shareholders for best past six
96
00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,760
months, I want to say in this
stock so.
97
00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:10,800
Something about that since
better.
98
00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,640
To disclose that up front.
Yeah, we, we spoke about this
99
00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,680
one about 6 odd months ago and
it intrigued us so much, so much
100
00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,640
that a little while after that
we decided to, to pick up some
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00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,440
shares.
So yes, we're talking our own
102
00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,040
book, but we think it's super
relevant for the money miners
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00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,600
and it is a fascinating story.
We're going to try answer the
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00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:30,360
question, will there be a
bidding war at Xanadu?
105
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,680
It's currently trading above bid
price, which we'll get into and
106
00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,800
there are some some juicy
details to this one mate.
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00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,640
What's, what's the one-on-one?
You know, fast, fast background
108
00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,040
on what's going on here, mate.
All right.
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00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:46,120
In in a nutshell, Xanadu holds a
stake in a huge undeveloped
110
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,840
copper gold project in Mongolia.
The asset is called Karmagtai.
111
00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,560
Now the CapEx is close to US 900
million.
112
00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,920
That's the important detail to
know because that has always
113
00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:59,200
been the impediment for Xanadu
to develop this asset.
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00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,240
Now they have had a bit of a
relationship forming with Siege
115
00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,160
in over time.
Xanadu owns about 38% of this
116
00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,640
big project with our great
friends in China, Z Gin.
117
00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,800
So everyone long suspected Z Gin
of being the ultimate owners of
118
00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,200
this one, and the company have
made no secret that they've
119
00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,200
tried to get a deal done to that
end in recent times.
120
00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:23,720
And effectively over the the
course of history, there's a few
121
00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:25,720
different deal structure
options.
122
00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,880
It's all coalesced in, in what
was briefly an exclusivity
123
00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,880
period for Z Gin last month.
That exclusivity actually
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00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,680
lapsed.
And then, you know, we, we, we
125
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,840
kind of woke up, was it
yesterday And Xanadu copped an 8
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00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,760
cent bead not from ZZ in very
interestingly.
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00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:46,640
Yeah, fascinating.
So the the bead itself, we're
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00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,880
just churning away, sitting in
the office here drumming up
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00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,320
content for the Director Special
newsletter.
130
00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:53,760
It's early.
Sign up if you're not already,
131
00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:56,360
by the way, get.
On in the show notes and then we
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00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,480
see it recommended 8 cent cash
offer.
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00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,440
Now, like you mentioned that
we'd long been suspecting a bid,
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00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:07,160
but we were a bit surprised in
the form that it took.
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00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,600
So like I said, Colin Moore head
the CEO of the company and the
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00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:11,320
whole company have been working
pretty hard.
137
00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,960
They've had webinars, they've
had calls they've mentioned in
138
00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,400
countless presentations over
recent months.
139
00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,520
Now Z Gen. was the glaringly
obvious partner to this.
140
00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,000
So long behold, we crank open
this announcement that we see
141
00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:29,080
and Xanadu and Bastian have
entered into a agreement.
142
00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,240
My first thoughts mate, Who the
hell are Bastian?
143
00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,160
Second thoughts, which I thought
right after that.
144
00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,080
You bloody beauty.
We could be on for some
145
00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,520
competition here mate.
I think we got lucky to be
146
00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:41,840
honest with you, mate, because
like, no, we've talked about
147
00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,280
this before, but no one ever
makes real money trying to
148
00:06:44,280 --> 00:06:46,600
predict an M and a corporate
transaction.
149
00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,160
And we're like reading the tea
leaves a bit.
150
00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,280
Thinking was pretty, everything
was transparent.
151
00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:51,720
It was like, yeah, these are all
the dates.
152
00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,920
These are the options.
We're like, it just makes sense
153
00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,240
for the agent to buy this.
So we that's.
154
00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,800
The thing there was a timeline
on, Yeah.
155
00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,880
And that was the the only reason
in what you, yeah, can otherwise
156
00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,320
describe as a pretty fruitless
strategy, at least for a punter.
157
00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,840
Totally and there was it was a
non controlling or became
158
00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,400
effectively like non controlling
interest.
159
00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,440
So we sort of you often get
screwed over in those
160
00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,800
situations.
And we, we also thought, I don't
161
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,040
know if there's actually any
like credible other party
162
00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,120
bidding here or, or, or putting
forward a credible funding
163
00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,160
option.
So when we saw it was Bastion,
164
00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,080
well, like, yes, there's there's
someone else here.
165
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,560
This is, this is interesting.
But yeah, I I was stoked to say
166
00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:27,760
that.
Yeah, absolutely, mate.
167
00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,560
So clearly we've got to unpack a
few more details in what came
168
00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,320
out.
So cash offer for $0.08.
169
00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,640
Now there is quite a bit more
meat on the bone here.
170
00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,080
You've got Xanadu, the directors
in the company recommending
171
00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,680
shareholders accept this.
Then you've got Bastian, which
172
00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,920
is a consortium of a couple
parties, excuse me, subscribing
173
00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,120
for shares at six cents.
Now 8 cents bid, six cents is
174
00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:53,600
what they're subscribing for
shares at.
175
00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,680
And it's not just a completely
paltry amount, $17 million
176
00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:58,480
worth.
Now, as I mentioned, a
177
00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,560
consortium that is made-up of
this group called Peru, which is
178
00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:08,720
Singapore based, and Xanadu
director by the name of Ganbaya.
179
00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,880
Now, Ganbaya is a very important
character in this whole
180
00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:17,760
narrative because he also owns
what is a 13.5% stake in the
181
00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,040
project.
Very, very important detail back
182
00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:23,920
to the placement.
So there's a catch to that.
183
00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,480
And what you start to uncover as
you read more about this deal,
184
00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,960
right, is that they're doing
everything they can to prompt
185
00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,600
Zijin to get the work, to get to
work.
186
00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:37,480
And Zijin have been dragging
their feet as we just described.
187
00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:41,200
Siegen have for the longest
period thought they're the only
188
00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,080
natural buyers.
They already own a big stake in
189
00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:45,680
this.
It's Mongolia has sort of
190
00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,920
attributes that make it more
appealing to a Chinese buyer,
191
00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:52,560
all these sorts of things.
Now, I think the market as well
192
00:08:52,560 --> 00:08:55,680
as us thought best case Siegen
come in and, you know, we'd
193
00:08:55,680 --> 00:08:57,360
kicked about this idea about
maybe a month ago.
194
00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,080
Eight cents, maybe 88 and a half
cents if we're lucky.
195
00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:02,040
But we'll see what sort of
happens.
196
00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:03,640
We didn't really think there was
a.
197
00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,880
Logical Plan B what's your Plan
B?
198
00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:06,960
Yeah.
We actually thought that Plan B
199
00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,600
was the put option and thought,
OK, if worst case scenarios, 25%
200
00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:13,600
carried interest, whatever, like
that's, that's, that's like can
201
00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,720
live with that feels like a
downside somewhat, you know,
202
00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,120
protected, Yeah, but didn't,
didn't think there was a
203
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:21,120
credible Plan B of another,
another party.
204
00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,000
But it is interesting, right?
The way it's kind of zigging was
205
00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,600
had exclusivity because they had
tended an NBIO, which the board
206
00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,480
of Xanadu deemed to be a, a a
superior proposal to what the,
207
00:09:33,680 --> 00:09:36,880
you know, the alternative was
going to be the the 25% put
208
00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,800
option would have been
shareholders were asked to to go
209
00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:41,240
to go and go and vote, vote on
that.
210
00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:46,720
But instead they deferred that
let gave gave CGN exclusivity.
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00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:49,200
And clearly whatever number CGN
put it put on the table in that
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00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,920
NBIO, they backed out of it.
And I think they were just kind
213
00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,560
of who knows, right?
But it's, it's, it's, it's
214
00:09:54,560 --> 00:09:57,080
potential that they just played
hardball, realised they've got
215
00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:58,440
all the power in the negotiating
position.
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00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:00,240
They're exclusive to your
lapses.
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00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,680
Then all of a sudden that was
actually the, the, the Plan B we
218
00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:05,800
didn't know about all along
comes the party.
219
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,160
And there's real pressure on
Zijin here because of that
220
00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:09,520
placement.
Like you talked about that
221
00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,280
placement of 70 million bucks at
six cents.
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00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,200
Now Ziji's got to make their
mind up.
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00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,040
Do they, do they, do they want
more ownership at, at, at a, at
224
00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:19,600
a price that's, you know,
reasonable or do they not?
225
00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,000
And if they, they do, they're
going to have to pay north of
226
00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,880
north of the $0.08, which means
that on that 70 million bucks of
227
00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:28,280
cash that's going to be put into
the pro forma, they might be
228
00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,000
having to pay like 25,000,000
bucks for that in terms of, you
229
00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,520
know, what they actually pay.
So their incentive to put
230
00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,160
forward a more compelling bid is
only up in like is they let's
231
00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,600
say you know, at least 7,000,000
bucks if they submit that offer
232
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,080
before the 26th of May, which is
only 6 days away.
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00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:48,240
If they submit an offer before
then, then and and it seemed to
234
00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:53,080
be a superior proposal and the
the board recommends it and
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00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,920
Bastian doesn't exercise their
matching right, then all of a
236
00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:59,720
sudden CGM will save 7,000,000
bucks.
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00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,120
That's a decent enough incentive
for them to come to the party.
238
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,400
Hence why we're kind of yeah,
really interested in in how the
239
00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,200
next six days plays out.
Now, I don't think we have like
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00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,360
stars in our eyes about what
what value can be really
241
00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,480
attained here because everything
about this doesn't look like
242
00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,080
Bastian wants to enter a bidding
war.
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00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,920
It just looks to me like Bastian
wants XI Jin to pay a fair bit
244
00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,400
more than they, you know,
currently being willing to.
245
00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:23,520
And that's where the other part
of the ownership that Ganbaya,
246
00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,480
that director comes into play
because there is potential if
247
00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:33,320
Xanadu goes into another party's
hands, IE Ganbaya, that when you
248
00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,000
take into account his ownership
interest in the project outside
249
00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,280
of this sort of joint venture
between XI Jin and Xanadu, that
250
00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:45,800
he would have a bigger stake.
He and his, you know, partners
251
00:11:45,800 --> 00:11:49,640
in the in the consortium would
have a bigger stake than Seijin
252
00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:51,600
and that is a key, key detail
here.
253
00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,240
Totally, there's a lot more
negotiating leverage that is is
254
00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:58,120
concentrated with Gumbaya in
that case.
255
00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:00,920
And if Seijin really wanted to
consolidate the, you know, full
256
00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,400
ownership of the project laid
down the track or or at least as
257
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,960
much as they can without
government, then then Gumbaya
258
00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,000
holds a lot more power and cards
in all of that.
259
00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,440
And, and right now what, what,
what could they feasibly get get
260
00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,360
away with paying well at 8.3
cents, That's where Bastion kind
261
00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,600
of starts to, to, to actually
make money otherwise.
262
00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:26,920
So I think any, any offer from
Zegen that like, that's the
263
00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,360
absolute sort of starting point.
But depending on the leverage
264
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,280
that can be, you know, held
between Gabby are because what
265
00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,520
Zegen wouldn't want to do is
let, let let Bastion, you know,
266
00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,400
acquire this stake in, in the,
in the project by acquiring
267
00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,080
Xanadu.
And then all of a sudden you
268
00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,320
have to pay like 15 cents
instead of $0.10 equivalent for
269
00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:46,480
the entire thing.
So.
270
00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,400
And what what you're sort of
describing there is the, the
271
00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,320
optionality at play here for
shareholders who would go onto
272
00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,040
the market and pick up these
shares, right?
273
00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,920
So after the deal got announced
yesterday, we start seeing it
274
00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,760
trade in the high sevens, you
know, below the the bid.
275
00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,920
But people aren't paying upfront
over expecting anything to come
276
00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:07,360
through.
And then that changes today.
277
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:10,520
Clearly some people have
cottoned on to say, hey, we have
278
00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,280
sort of solid footing at 8
cents.
279
00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,520
Yeah, but but we might get 8 and
half, we might get 9.
280
00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,600
Whatever we we can, you know,
weigh those probabilities
281
00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,240
against each other.
Whatever you might think it is,
282
00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,720
it's pretty hard to pick into
the mind of what Z gin Yeah, but
283
00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,480
you've got your downside in the
sense protected and that's the,
284
00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,000
that's the base you've got.
That's the that's the downside.
285
00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,240
You're not losing an awful lot
of money if you can pick them up
286
00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:35,880
like some shareholders were
yesterday at 7.67.7.
287
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:37,360
Awesome.
Your beauty, right?
288
00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:38,680
Totally.
Yeah, totally.
289
00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,920
Yeah, it, it doesn't look like
there's too much risk of of deal
290
00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:46,120
failure in the sense of invest
in not getting 50.1 acceptances,
291
00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,040
I think becomes unconditional at
that point.
292
00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,080
So I do think deal risk is
actually pretty low here on the
293
00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:56,240
balance of probabilities.
The the asymmetry is skewed dish
294
00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,440
to the upside.
However, I wouldn't get carried
295
00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,080
away with like a bidding war.
I think there's like, you know,
296
00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:01,960
one more bid.
Is it $0.09?
297
00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:02,880
Is it $0.10?
I don't know.
298
00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,240
I don't know what gets the deal
done, but I I'm, I'm hopeful as
299
00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,840
a shareholder.
I'm still still yes haven't
300
00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:09,560
haven't sold my stake.
Yeah, exactly.
301
00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:12,960
I mean credit to the to the team
at Xanadu, they they managed to
302
00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,080
drum up interest where most
people thought there there
303
00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:18,200
wasn't an awful lot of interest.
So I came to see how it kind of
304
00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,680
plays out from here.
But it's a it's an interesting
305
00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:25,000
one.
Your, your talking point on how
306
00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,720
solid is the, the deal is an
interesting one because shortly
307
00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,280
after we realized it wasn't CGN
and it was someone else who were
308
00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,640
like, well, clearly they're
trying to prompt CGN to come in.
309
00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:37,120
So like, is this someone that's
just come in randomly trying to
310
00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,440
product?
Like, are they solid?
311
00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:39,840
You know, do they have a bit on
them?
312
00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,200
And yeah, long behold, they do.
So that's the relief, Yeah, I
313
00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,320
think we got lucky, JD, but.
I think we got more than lucky
314
00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:47,840
mate count now.
Lucky stars.
315
00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:50,600
Awesome, that was really
interesting mate.
316
00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:54,440
So now JD, the the Billion
Dollar Man, Mr. Derek heard of
317
00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,800
Sandvik ground support.
He sat down with us last week
318
00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,920
and he told us boatloads about
ground support.
319
00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,240
We're pumped to to share a bunch
of these kind of one minute
320
00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,520
snippets from the combo that we
had with the Billion Dollar Man
321
00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:07,680
over the coming weeks, starting
with this, how has ground
322
00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,680
support changed over like the
the last 20 years for example?
323
00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,680
Some people might say not much
at the end of the day because it
324
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,680
looks like a a steel bolt or a
splitty or a friction bolt.
325
00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,400
Depends if you know what you
call it sort of thing.
326
00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,360
But they've been around forever
and a day because they're a good
327
00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,240
product at the end of the day
and they they do their job.
328
00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:32,440
But there's been a lot of
evolution on sort of the dynamic
329
00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,480
capability of products, you
know, that can hold more
330
00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,920
capacity, more energy.
Again, as these conditions
331
00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,800
become more challenging, you
know, there's more requirements
332
00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,240
for, you know, higher capacity
products at the end of the day.
333
00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:48,200
The other thing that that's
probably changed over the years
334
00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,120
is the, the frequency of use
probably ground support probably
335
00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,880
was a almost an afterthought,
you know, 20-30 years ago.
336
00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,240
Now it's a critical as part of
the development cycle, you know,
337
00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,480
to provide again, provide that
safe working environment.
338
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,760
Thank you, Derek, Kurt and
Sandvik Ground support.
339
00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:06,240
Thanks Wiser, you know he was
in, he started his career in
340
00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,520
R&D.
That's why he cares so much
341
00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:08,520
about how things have changed
over.
342
00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,200
Time I did.
It was a pleasure to learn a lot
343
00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:11,160
from Derek.
Thank you.
344
00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,400
And to round out JD, we actually
had a chinwag about Ravenswood.
345
00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:19,760
We've recorded it the same days
we did our Lion Town episode,
346
00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:23,440
but because we chose to include
that kind of post episode RIP,
347
00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,840
we just wanted to make the
podcast a realistic time to
348
00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,360
consume.
And we've reserved it to to
349
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,360
Chuck.
And today it's still just as
350
00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,240
relevant.
Nothing has changed since, but
351
00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,480
we're going to have a good yarn
about why Regis isn't going to
352
00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:38,160
buy Ravenswood.
No less relevant.
353
00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,840
Here we go.
Who's going to buy Ravenswood?
354
00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:42,920
Well, this is, this has been
like one of the more advertised
355
00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,520
sales processors out there,
especially in the data room
356
00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,520
column.
There's not much going on on
357
00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,280
sales price fronts.
So you got to, you got to write
358
00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,880
articles about something.
And Ravenswood, Ravenswood's
359
00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:53,840
gotten a fair bit of attention,
but Ravenswood gold mine in
360
00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:57,200
Queensland, it produces about
200,000 ounces of gold annually.
361
00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:01,360
It's on the market and, and all
of the, the articles, they kind
362
00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,079
of advertise this gold mine as
A2, a $2 billion price tag
363
00:17:04,079 --> 00:17:07,040
grant.
Now this, this mine is jointly
364
00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:12,599
owned by EMR Capital and Golden
Energy and Resources, which is
365
00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:16,280
called Gear often when it's
referred to EMR Capital, they're
366
00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,200
obviously private equity firm.
You've spoken with Owen on the
367
00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:23,839
podcast in the past, JD and then
you've got Gear now that is a
368
00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:27,000
majority owned by Indonesia's
Bujaya family.
369
00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:30,920
They, they do a lot in coal and
see them kind of with Latimore's
370
00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:32,800
and and Stanmore and all those
sorts of things.
371
00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:38,080
So anyway, EMR and Gear acquired
Ravenswood in 2020.
372
00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,000
The up to 300 million bucks was
the price tag, 100 million of
373
00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,760
that was was upfront and 300 and
the remaining 200 million was
374
00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,120
kind of contingent.
That's largely all all paid or
375
00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:52,440
payable.
Since then they've invested a
376
00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,040
fair bit into Ravens.
What a lot of capital is going
377
00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,680
in here.
They've reportedly extended the
378
00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,280
mines life by 15 years to 2022.
I say reportedly because there's
379
00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,840
a few asterisks to that
extension, which I will get to
380
00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,760
this is a a sale process that
has been publicly advertised
381
00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,600
since November last year.
That was six months ago.
382
00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,680
That's that's like quite a long
time to be banging on about our
383
00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:17,400
sales process with lots of
articles in data room.
384
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,920
And over that time, we've
watched the bidding pool narrow
385
00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:23,520
down in all of the columns to
now it's just two bidders left
386
00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:25,480
early days.
There were tons of potential
387
00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:26,920
bidders like named in these
articles.
388
00:18:27,360 --> 00:18:28,760
Everyone was saying Capricorn,
Gold, Rd.
389
00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:30,440
Remelius, Evolution, dot, like
you name it.
390
00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,920
Every every mid tier was always
kind of like reference with a
391
00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,920
bunch of Chinese, a bunch of
Indonesian capital, all that
392
00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,960
sort of stuff.
And now we've got just two names
393
00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,240
and final bids are due next
week.
394
00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:45,880
The only two contenders
apparently left ASX listed Regis
395
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:49,040
Resources and Indonesia's United
Tractors.
396
00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,520
A good set name.
It's funny.
397
00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,120
United Tractors.
Yeah.
398
00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,240
I want to talk about some of the
maybe not so obvious elements to
399
00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:02,480
to this sale process if you're
interested in reading kind of
400
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,360
past the press.
Spell them out mate.
401
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:06,720
What are?
What are the details you can to
402
00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:10,240
discuss?
Firstly, this is, this is a sale
403
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:14,320
process from private equity and
you know my golden rule when it
404
00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,680
comes to sales processes from
private equity.
405
00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,280
JD.
Never forget mate, never buy the
406
00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:21,840
bags of PE.
Never buy private equity bags.
407
00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:27,440
Like I, yeah, I just, we private
equity is remarkably good at
408
00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,640
dressing things up a lot better
than they are.
409
00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,600
And because they're auctions,
like they're often, you know,
410
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:34,960
competitive.
There's a lot of like those
411
00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,600
dynamics where you dress
something up to be really,
412
00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,640
really good and then maybe in
the long run, it might actually
413
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:42,160
turn out to not be as good.
And because it was an auction or
414
00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:43,760
a sales process, it's
competitive.
415
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:45,200
Everyone really, really wants
it.
416
00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,000
And maybe a couple of people
need it and they bid and they
417
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,680
aren't bid.
And it's private equity guys.
418
00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:50,880
They're pretty damn good at kind
of harnessing the competitive
419
00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,440
attention and, and often you
don't quite realize, you know,
420
00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:59,320
what you might have truly bought
until a year or so later.
421
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:02,680
And then the reality is, you
know, some of the policies have
422
00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:04,840
washed off a little bit, But
that's a generalization.
423
00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:06,920
It's not to say you can't make
money buying off private equity.
424
00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,920
And plenty of people will point
to plenty of examples where
425
00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,320
people have made lots of money
buying off private equity.
426
00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,720
But in general, that's like a, a
blanket kind of, you know,
427
00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:16,200
heuristic.
I I roll with.
428
00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:19,920
To to to go specific now on on
Ravenswood, spell out some of
429
00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,480
the the key risks as you kind of
see.
430
00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,280
Them well, well, even even a
step before that, the
431
00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:27,800
generalization is it's going to
be competitive.
432
00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:30,120
This is different.
This isn't competitive.
433
00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,880
You've got 2 two parties left in
a sales process submitting final
434
00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,480
bids.
Like that's kind of crazy to me.
435
00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,560
So in in general, the
competitive nature might lead
436
00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:42,360
people to overpaying for
something that is not going to
437
00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:43,680
turn out to be as good as you
think it is.
438
00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,880
This one, it might not have the
same competitive tension.
439
00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,160
So I.
And even even 2 might not be
440
00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,240
what it might first appear to
people on the outside.
441
00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,440
One could just be hanging in to
the end with a with a lowball as
442
00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,000
well.
So it's not as if you've got 2
443
00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:57,320
eager buyers.
But I think there could be none
444
00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,680
like, but yeah, absolutely,
that's a real potential.
445
00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,160
So the other point too is
there's some critical risks that
446
00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:08,720
you you kind of need to accept
as a bidder in this sale
447
00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,800
process.
What's being, you know, talked
448
00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,040
about or what what's kind of
come out in the price in the
449
00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:16,280
duration of the sale process?
Why there are only two it is
450
00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,680
left.
Well, there's a very substantial
451
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:20,080
out of the money hedge book in
place here.
452
00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,600
Bidders, whoever buys Ravenswood
has to assume that hedge book or
453
00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:28,120
maybe they could alternatively
stump up their own funding to to
454
00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:29,960
close it out, restructure it,
whatever.
455
00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,160
I, I haven't been able to get
the exact number out of anyone
456
00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,600
of what the true value of this
out of the money hedge book is.
457
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:42,040
But I think it is enormous.
Like my, my intuition, the kind
458
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,800
of range that I've I've been
told or guided towards this is
459
00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,920
very, very substantial.
Like north of, you know, 5
460
00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,920
hundred 607 hundred $800 million
sort of substantial.
461
00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,680
To the huge detriment of the the
current owners, right?
462
00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,680
Totally.
That's a that's, that's a pretty
463
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,120
chunky.
Yeah, it's pretty chunky, part
464
00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:03,720
of the capital structure, right
And.
465
00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,160
You touched on earlier the the
life extension component and
466
00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:11,040
this sort of off reported 15
years that they have sort of
467
00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:13,760
worked on.
What are you thinking on that?
468
00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,440
This, this, I don't think a 15
year mine life extension is as
469
00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:19,560
certain as it might imagine.
This kind of comes into the part
470
00:22:19,560 --> 00:22:22,520
where private equity could have
kind of, yeah, making things
471
00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,480
look better than they, they
actually might be.
472
00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:27,880
So there's in that within that
mine plan, there's new ore
473
00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,720
bodies that kind of rely on
untested or sorting.
474
00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,120
All of all of that has risk,
right?
475
00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:36,880
If you, if you're taking on kind
of new technological or applying
476
00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:38,800
technology to untested already,
all those sorts of things,
477
00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,800
there's, there's risk there.
And another, another kind of,
478
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,440
you know, part of this sale
process too is do you remember
479
00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,480
when, when Newmont was selling
Telfer, that sale process was
480
00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:51,000
sort of plagued by a, a leak in
one of the, the TSFS they had
481
00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,080
there.
There's a bit of deja vu here.
482
00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:57,080
One of one of the TSFS here is
yeah, there's, there's, there's
483
00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:02,320
a, you know, I don't think it's,
you know, terminable kind of
484
00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:05,920
leak, but there is, there is an
issue here, yeah, the tailing
485
00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,080
storage facilities here.
But my, you know, my, my broader
486
00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,440
point is this is a week before
final bids and there's, there's
487
00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,760
two parties supposedly
submitting a binding offer in
488
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,920
the midst of a gold bull market.
That's that kind of speaks
489
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:23,720
volumes to like issues that the
bidding bidders have had A, with
490
00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,640
the asset quality and B,
reconciling asset quality with
491
00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:30,720
the valuation expectations of
the vendors, like $2 billion to
492
00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,960
accept a lot of risk and edge
book and all that sort of stuff
493
00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,520
doesn't compute.
Hence 2 bidders left.
494
00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:38,880
So let's talk about how it, how
it plays out, how it plays out
495
00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:43,480
in reality then.
I think so.
496
00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,800
So you're not attractors and
Regis left, right in this
497
00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:49,920
apparently you're not
attractors.
498
00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,880
He's an Indonesian group.
One of the vendors of this is is
499
00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,480
Gear Indonesia links, you know,
EMR notorious kind of like
500
00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,720
Hegity has kind of connections
to yeah, Indonesian capital, all
501
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:02,160
those sorts of things.
So I don't, I kind of interpret
502
00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:06,280
United Attractors interest as
that questionable in and of
503
00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,440
itself.
I'm not, I'm not convinced that
504
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,520
United Attractors is a, is a
genuine kind of credible bidder
505
00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:15,280
purely because I'm like, is this
like, is it a, is it a favour to
506
00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:17,480
look like a A?
Competitor.
507
00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,720
It's a big question, but.
But yeah, I'm I'm told that
508
00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,880
maybe they are kind of serious
and they're, but that they might
509
00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,560
not be serious anywhere near the
value expectations of the actual
510
00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:30,760
vendor.
So you're not attracted in and
511
00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:34,280
of itself.
I'm like unsure of even even
512
00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,440
like assume you're not attracted
is a serious bidder.
513
00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,160
And they might actually like
have, you know, a value, a value
514
00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,640
that is unpalatable.
I'm not even sure they'd get fib
515
00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:46,680
approval.
And I know that's kind of maybe
516
00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:50,480
a bit questionable or absurd
because because this isn't
517
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:55,080
Indonesian capital as opposed to
Chinese capital, but there's
518
00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,880
definitely overlap like the
Chinese ethnic Indonesian
519
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,000
capital is.
I don't know, I don't know how
520
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,440
like down the track you want to
get, but but Ravenswood is a
521
00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,320
stone's throw away from
Townsville military base.
522
00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,320
That's a pretty kind of critical
area.
523
00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:11,760
Ferb might be a lot more
interested than they otherwise
524
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:14,400
would, given proximity to a
pretty cool, pretty critical
525
00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:15,200
military base.
So.
526
00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,680
Anyone who's had mates in the
army, they've they've swung
527
00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:18,760
through Townsville at some
point.
528
00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,360
Yeah, yeah.
I don't think it's impossible.
529
00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:26,800
I'm here obviously like was able
to buy this times are different
530
00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:29,640
in 2020 as well.
But I just think like it's not,
531
00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:32,680
it's not a home run furb outcome
in my mind.
532
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,920
I think there's I think there's
like there's risk there.
533
00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:38,880
And as vendors you've got to
kind of question, well, how much
534
00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:40,680
conditionality am I willing to
accept?
535
00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:43,520
You accept more conditionality
when it's not very competitive
536
00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:48,120
And then Regis, right?
Do we actually think Regis is
537
00:25:48,120 --> 00:25:52,080
going to buy this?
I don't, I'm not convinced, I'm
538
00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:53,800
not convinced.
And I like, I'm certainly not
539
00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,640
convinced that they're there at
any anywhere near the value
540
00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,200
expectations that the vendors
have.
541
00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,640
That that's the, that's the
point, right?
542
00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:04,160
Because I think yeah, they would
pick it up if they could do it
543
00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,240
completely on the price that
they want.
544
00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,000
But is that anywhere near what
EMR are expecting?
545
00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,400
If you're, if you're already
assuming a call it close to a
546
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:21,680
billion dollar like out of the
money hedge book, it's, it's it
547
00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,360
that, that's, it's, it's, it can
be a stretch here when there's
548
00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:28,480
technical risk as well.
And even in Regis's case, who
549
00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,320
are clearly keen to buy
something, I mean, that's no, no
550
00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:33,480
doubt.
And they're making tremendous
551
00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:37,200
cash at the moment, but they're
obviously looking to add growth,
552
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,640
improve their portfolio.
Whether Ravenswood actually does
553
00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,280
that, I don't know.
And and Regis doesn't have the
554
00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,280
same license for M&A in the same
way that a lot of other mid
555
00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:50,720
tiers do because the last goal
of it was buying its stake in
556
00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:52,960
Tropicana, which was really
poorly received by the market
557
00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,560
for for a good period of time.
Their big consensus was that
558
00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:57,720
they overpaid.
Now they've like built up a bit
559
00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,840
more trust gold prices run that
you know improved their hedge
560
00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:02,560
book.
Tropicana is clearly the best
561
00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,960
part of their portfolio now, but
they have the same license for
562
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:08,280
M&A.
It's interesting what a few
563
00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:12,160
years did into that deal and
they solid run in the in the
564
00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,360
gold price.
But you know, license to do a
565
00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:19,440
deal as as you sort of frame it
is clearly more limited at
566
00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,520
outrageous than it is at other
companies all the while they're
567
00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,040
growing their cash bar.
They, they and they have to
568
00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:28,800
benchmark this opportunity next
to like the other opportunities
569
00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,200
which are clearly in the market
at the same time.
570
00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,880
And on that point there, there
are like 2 like very present
571
00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:37,640
real ways that they could
allocate their, their capital or
572
00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,720
seek growth.
And both of them are far more in
573
00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:44,320
their like their home court.
I'm talking about Bellevue who
574
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,000
was like publicly declared that
they're running a strategic
575
00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:49,760
review.
Like we're pretty sure that
576
00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:51,960
they're like showing signs of
being serious about that.
577
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,280
There's the data room.
To the best of our knowledge, a
578
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,440
bunch of, you know, companies
mid tiers have been invited into
579
00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,240
that data room.
I don't know like details about
580
00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:03,200
timing or everything like that,
but there's a, there's a proper
581
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,600
process that underway there for,
for Bellevue to maximize
582
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,280
shareholder value, which
certainly involves exploring
583
00:28:08,280 --> 00:28:11,680
kind of best, best value M&A on
its cards, which it's very
584
00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,640
possible Regis could be a
serious contender in that.
585
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,960
And the other one is, we've
talked about it a few times,
586
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:23,320
Focus Minerals is, is actively
selling their Laverton, all of
587
00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,640
their like, yeah, tenure in the
Laverton, which there's a lot of
588
00:28:26,640 --> 00:28:30,000
gold there that focus of kind of
land grabbed for many years and
589
00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:32,760
not done very much with.
But there's, there's a there's
590
00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,640
there's a lot of answers there,
the quality and how long it will
591
00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:38,000
take and all that sort of stuff.
All of that's to be proven out,
592
00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:40,080
but.
Much more under the radar given,
593
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,480
you know, Chinese ownership and.
Totally.
594
00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:45,880
Or or the sort of questions
around that, but.
595
00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:47,840
In the right part of the world
though, and there's a lot of,
596
00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,280
yeah, a lot of players in that
labour and region, even Regis
597
00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:51,880
themselves have will have
synergies.
598
00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,760
But there's yeah, there's you
know, possibly like 4 million
599
00:28:54,760 --> 00:29:00,000
ounces of mineral resource that
can be acquired there for like,
600
00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,080
you know, in the hundreds of
millions of dollars.
601
00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:07,360
But a reasonable number that
that like what would the market
602
00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:09,480
prefer to see Regis do?
I think it would have much less
603
00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,880
appetite for it to to go go
Interstate, take on like, again,
604
00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:17,920
more hedging, take on technical
risk, all those sorts of things.
605
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:22,280
But yeah, that's my gut feeling.
And where does that leave the
606
00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:27,880
sales process?
Well, if you were Regis, what do
607
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,120
you do?
Probably put in a pretty lowball
608
00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,520
bid.
And that lowball bid might be
609
00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,200
just like, like the actual price
you'd be willing to, you know,
610
00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:42,360
stump up if it like a super
lowball bid and private equity,
611
00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,240
what are they going to do?
They're probably not going to
612
00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:45,840
accept it.
I put good money that this
613
00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:47,960
doesn't sell.
Like that's my, like my, my
614
00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:50,920
leading hypothesis is that it
doesn't, it doesn't sell.
615
00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:58,360
Or maybe maybe gear buys EMR,
EMR stake that like in for like
616
00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:00,680
negligible profit.
And that lets kind of, you know,
617
00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:05,840
EMR have the, the, the kind of
closure outcome that's required
618
00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,120
for their for the LP's and the
funds and the asset and all that
619
00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,800
sort of stuff.
But I struggle to sort of see if
620
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:13,080
these are the only two parties
there.
621
00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:18,200
I'm I'm more skeptical of a of
an outcome that kind of will
622
00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,480
actually be acceptable and
palatable unless they accept the
623
00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:22,920
very low ball off of ranges.
Yeah, absolutely.
624
00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,440
That's that's the other aspect
just to emphasize with PE, they
625
00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:30,800
bought it in 2020, but who knows
when the that particular fund, I
626
00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,520
think that was already a couple
years old.
627
00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:34,800
They have definitive timelines.
They have pressure on when they
628
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,240
need to have outcomes and get
stuff done.
629
00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:42,560
And if it doesn't sell now, you
know, maybe they can extend a
630
00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:43,840
few years with the fund and
stuff.
631
00:30:43,840 --> 00:30:45,840
Maybe they had a few more years
up their sleeve.
632
00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:49,960
But they have outcome pressures
that unless they roll it into
633
00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,920
the next fund and these sorts of
things which PE does over time,
634
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,600
but they no doubt have pressures
put on them as well to achieve
635
00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,520
outcomes so.
I I do think both like Focus and
636
00:31:00,520 --> 00:31:02,800
Bellevue are going to be
competitive and.
637
00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,680
Undoubtedly.
And LV back.
638
00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:06,480
Down at that below the raise
price.
639
00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,520
Yeah.
And Ravenswood is not like not
640
00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:13,560
competitive, right.
So there's like, yeah, like what
641
00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,760
kind of bargain you're going to
get on a relative basis, like, I
642
00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:21,880
don't don't know.
But but yeah, like they'd be the
643
00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:24,400
equations for for a company like
Regis.
644
00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,480
Yeah.
Given we've also said in the
645
00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:31,520
past that winning a competitive
auction process is is no great
646
00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,480
achievement, but we'll see what
happens on that front given that
647
00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:36,080
the nature of it.
Absolutely, mate.
648
00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,320
I think we've got some Marks and
partners to thank mate.
649
00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:41,520
Absolutely a massive thank you
to Mineral Mining services,
650
00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:44,600
Grandeur, Sandvik Ground
support, CRE Insurance, K drill,
651
00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:47,960
KCA site services, Black diamond
drilling services and Cross
652
00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:48,640
Boundary Energy.