Following up pogohere's post of August 29th 1st of all pogohere, Teck missed the boat here and failed to grab hold of something right under their nose.
No excuses for them when you read further below and see how Dr. Norman Keevil Jr. Chairman Emeritus of Teck became Dr. This is typical example of how Big Miners lose out on something right under their nose given Sept 6th, 2023 news. THIS WAS A BIG OOPS by TECK! No excuse given the grand-fathered production license too.
Here's the facts for anyone seriously following Nicola. So TECK isn't the only buyer here re Nicola and its wholly owned "10,000+ hectares which includes the old Craigmont Mine. $25M Invitation LOI for 40% of New Craigmont with Nittetsu who is world class." You'lllike the major upgrade on Nicola's website and all their videos on the website hone page and their video page. MEanwhile thisis a good start:
https://nicolamining.com/projects/new-craigmont-property/ Nittetsu is a big deal and their non dilutional 40% buy in on Sept 6th must have had Teck spitting their coffee out, having a WTH moment. They look more world class and right up there with Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Marubeni an dothers. Their overseas copper mine development business started in 1975 by developing the Qaleh-Zari Mine in the Islamic Republic of Iran, followed by the development of the El Roble Mine in the Republic of Colombia of South America. It operates the Atacama Copper Mine in chile and currently it ias in the process of developing a second copper mine there and has just funded exploration in Peru via Camino Copper. Yep they're a big stage world player as is Mitsubishi and want quality copper offtake from the Quesenl Trough too, not just from South America.
https://www.nittetsukou.co.jp/eng/industry/resources/development.html
https://www.nittetsukou.co.jp/eng/industry/ Nittetsu's roots as a diversified company go back to its founding back in 1899 , It currently has operations globally that includes:
- mining and distributing industrial minerals;
- purchasing and distributing coal and petroleum products;
- developing and distributing equipment, machinery and environment-related products;
- real estate;
- power generation using renewable energy;
- the supply and sale of electricity.
It took 7 years for Nicola to consoiidate over 10,900 hectares under single ownership. that hasn't happened since the 1960's. Important to note that the Craigmont Mine was B.C.’s first modern, large-scale open-pit mine, which evolved to an innovative sublevel caving method of underground mining when the maximum safe depth for the open-pit method was reached. Niclla's New Craigmont hosts the wholly contained "Craigmont Mine" which is still the highest grade primary Cu mine ever in N. America. 1961-1982, it produced ~1B lbs. Cu at a 1.28% Cu grade. Highland Valley's remaining Measured + Indicated + Inferred grade = 0.27% Cu. New Craigmont has several 1.00%+ Cu hits, some over substantial widths, from the past five years" .
Its historically important to point out that the Craigmont Mine solely operated a Cu Skarn Mill, so it ignored surrounding porphyry targets as they couldn't produce them without a dedicated porphyry mill. We might presume that Teck mistakenly belittled the significance of Nicola having the grand-fathered Production License at Craigmnt. Th eMine shutdown in 1981 solely because of $0.60 per lb. copper whereas Cominco rolled up Bethlehem, Lornex and Hignmont Copper into what is known today as the "Highland Valley Copper Mine" righ tbeside New Craigont, though closer to Logan Lake, BC.
Nicola CEO Peter Espig, fluent in both Japanese and German, is a no nonsense, all business, Goldman Sachs Japan Alumni. Guess Teck missed that tid-bit. Meanwhile Peter Epstein in 2 reports February 14, 2023 and August 22, 2023 has commented " "I think 2023 is going to be a big year. CEO Espig will have the opportunity to almost or completely pay down debt (if he wants to). Or, make acquisitions (acquisition valuations are declining along with gold/silver/copper prices). It's a buyer's market and Espig is an expert in M&A and distressed/turnaround situations. Pay down debt, buy cheap assets, what else?"
Feb 14, 2023 https://epsteinresearch.com/2023/02/14/every-junior-miners-dream-cash-flow-blue-sky-upside/ Aug 23, 2023 https://stockhouse.com/opinion/independent-reports/2023/08/23/nicola-mining-produces-copper-silver-gold-with-current-cash-flow-prolific-b-c Sep. 7, 2023 MUST READ
Research Report authored by Jim McFadden of Trmont Capital of Toronto. https://nicolamining.com/files/Tormont-Report-on-NIM-9-7-23.pdf He like Peter Espig is an ex-Goldman Sachs Banker. Here his impressive CV: https://tormontgroup.com/jim-mcfadden/
NICE HISTORY ON THE CRAIGMONT MINE
https://www.exploregoldcountry.com/pdf/caches/Craigmont%20Mine.pdf
https://www.merrittherald.com/gearing-edge-the-craigmont-mine-more-than-20-years-of-prosperity/
My oh my, Chrmn Emeritus of Teck, Dr. Norm Keevil Jr. earned his PhD Doctorate by writing his graduation thesis on Craigmont in 1965. Here's a 25 page Dissertation of that Thesis.
Yep so Teck let this one get away from them as even Dr. Keevil with all his accolades has obviously let this one slip through his grasp for now while Nicola led by CEO Peter Espig, has patiently consolidated and assembled over 10,000+ hectares of land , more than when Craigmont was in production. great read. Click on the link, accept all cookies and you're in.
https://www.proquest.com/openview/a7113c7ab046cbf5927b71848f81ca55/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
A successful retired businessman who worked for IBM commented on the deal saying "I have dealt with the Japanese in the past (Yamaha, Toyota and Nissan). When they approve an announcement of a LOI or joint venture they are committed to moving forward. Peter's experience in Japan with Goldman Sachs is invaluable. This is a major game changer for NIM IMO."
On September 6th, Peter Epstein said the following on https://ceo.ca/NIM "Nicola would not have to spend any money exploring & developing New Craigmont for several (3-5?) years as Nittetsu Mining invested C$25M into the project. Nicola is already free cash flow + and owns 100% of an operating gold mill that would take 5+ years to permit, construct & commission (and deal with bonding, reclamation obligations, tailings disposal) at an all-in cost over those 5+ years of up to C$100M. And, it has a permitted high-grade silver asset. (Treasure Mtn. Silver Mine) ...... How much of a premium would Nittstsu (or Teck, Newmont, Freeport, New Gold, Hudbay, Seabridge, Centerra Gold, etc.) have to pay for a controlling 60% stake in New Craigmont?"
So much more good stuff to read on their website, I however prefer the videos on the ir website homepage as well as their video page. The short ones are the best, no longer than 7 1/2 mins.