Professional Documents
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COOK’S EXPLORATION INSIGHTS
Know Where You Are on this Graph
95% of stocks that start up this slope end up with nothing of importance
12
EXPLORATION MINING
High Risk – Sold to Miner Full Value
10 High Poten6al Value
8 SELL Speculators
Rela6ve Value
Leave
r
6
1 yea
Interpre6ng News Releases
Orphan
4 Specula6on
Period
2‐3 y
2
ars
BUY Ins6tu6onal
ears
1 ‐2 ye
0
Investment
~4 to 5 years
Time
Due Diligence Check List
BRENT COOK’S EXPLORATION INSIGHTS
1. Start‐‐ Market Cap vs. Cash vs. Spend
How long can they survive and what are you paying for that
“opportunity”?
2. Management History
Are they focused?
Are they financially commi_ed?
Are they right for the job?
3. Deposit Type
What is the deposit type they are looking for or developing?
What are the tonnes, grade, metallurgical and cost characteris6cs?
Due Diligence Check List
BRENT COOK’S EXPLORATION INSIGHTS
4. Target Size
Is the “prize” worth the risk?
Is the Explora6on/development strategy realis6c?
Is the explora6on/development/financing plan reasonable?
5. Financing and DiluHon
Do they have a clear idea of costs vs. goals?
Will you be diluted out of a success?
6. Who Cares?
Get it right from the start
Have an exit strategy
Junior Miner Business Models
BRENT COOK’S EXPLORATION INSIGHTS
Risk versus Reward
1. Drilling for Discovery. Most common and highest risk. Advantage is 100% of
upside if successful. Disadvantage is 100% downside in a business where
failure is the norm. Cri6cal to know property poten6al and management.
2. Prospect Generator. Uncommon model, lower risk. Uses partner’s money
to test high risk targets. Advantage is minimal dilu6on and leveraged
technical power. Disadvantage is end up with lower % of deposit.
3. Hybrid Generator. Generally these companies have been successful
prospect generators and have lasted long enough to make a discovery.
Advantage is that competent connected management ohen with royalty
payments of shares and sufficient cash (Virginia Mines, Al6us Minerals,
Mirasol Resources, Almaden Minerals)
Junior Miner Business Models
BRENT COOK’S EXPLORATION INSIGHTS
Risk vs Reward
4. Early Stage Resource. Company has defined resource or enough holes
to indicate a resource. Advantage is that as property progresses
economic risks are reduced and risk averse investors move in.
Disadvantage is can be very costly to reduce project risk (share dilu6on)
and always the chance of iden6fying fatal flaw (most do have flaws).
Cri6cal to have a good handle on economics and select only high‐margin
deposits
5. Small Miner. Competent and proven mining group that have the skill set
and financial connec6ons to define and build a mine. Advantage is cash
flow and profits that can be used to buy other deposits and grow
company. Disadvantage is that small mines usually only make small
money and they are always under capitalized.