This boardIn 2019 we changed management and the objectives of the company. Instead of faking a way to develop a mine that would have failed, we focused on getting the technical data right (geology and engineering) and 1) build a 500 tpd mine, 2) expand to a 1000 tpd mine, and 3) prove that this is an orogenic camp, and do it in the context of 5 years.
Under excruciatingly difficult circumstances, we were able to deliver that first objective, and are well advanced on our 2nd and 3rd objectives.
This is how we measure ourselves.
I am very sympathetic to investors who were in Golden Reign prior to 2019, but if you were invested in that company after the original Sailfish stream came in, you were invested in a company with flawed technial data (i've spoken about that ad nauseum), and with an encumberance that would have rendered the mine uneconomic. We have now reported 2 quarters of operating results and 1 quarter of financial results to show that that IS A FACT.
Everything changed in 2019. Firstly, the cap structure changed dramatically with the .10 rights offering that expanded the share count by ~80%. But it wasn't just that. Not only was the stream restructured (in 2018), but I was able to get our team in control of the operations and afford our exploration team (who were mostly from Golden Reign and excellent, BTW) all of the leeway they needed to get the technical aspects of the business in order. This did not exist with the previous management team.
As I mentioned on the webinar, the only thing that matters is the stock price. We don't believe in technical successes. But this is in relation to our 5 year plan. STARTING IN 2019! Whatever invesmtent you made prior to that is irrelevant, as that company doesn't exist anymore. in terms of short term stock price movements and drawdowns, I don't particularly care what happens on any given trading day. Up until a few days ago, I didn't think our stock was particularly weak vs. the industry. That probably changed a bit on Thursday, so our antennae are up wrt the NCIB now (although we will be information restricted for the next few days until our next PR comes out).
I do spend a good portion of my day talking to the sell side and investors (and not just on Twitter). It's not like we are treating this as a private compnay. But this is a divergent investment theme from the traditional gold mining company, and therefore it is always a difficult task to bring in new investors, especially in a bear market. But this will change over time, as the business plan was intended to make us look more "convergent" to what is considered a normal mining business after the execution of our plan is complete.
So if you are concerned about this stock, it's not worth the mental aggravation to keep your position. If you're concerned about the execution, you should reevaluate. If you are concerned about me and Wexford, they aren't going anywhere. ALL OF THIS should have been known in 2019, if not 2018 (when Mako was created) or even 2014 when that first Marlin/Sailfish investment was made.
But the truth of the matter is that execution has been excellent, the mangement of the business has been VASTLY improved, and the position that Mako is in has truly never been stronger.
So we will keep executing on our plan. But dudes, let's come back to reality here.
Cheers,
Akiba