Member Info for antelope

So we can't be bought out until April next year. What about if CEZ want to buy our shares (ie not a 3rd party)?

Happy... but who? Know one is buying the things so who's 'getting them on the cheap'?

Bob, it has occurred to me that CEZ could make a bid for EMH for 100m, pocket money for them, pay off KC and Pavlik with a million each in Switzerland as a golden hello to a board position on CEZ/Geomet, and we get dumped. I choose to dismiss such thinking, but it's a measure of how lack of information can lead to such thoughts. I doubt I'm alone.

Who are 'them'? I don't see any buyers soaking up the sellers. Volume is pathetic, and always is. We rarely is ever feature in any industry write up or tipster sheet. There's no news about what's going on. It's like being invested a dead cash shell.

HC boards are saying it was pumped on small volume and has crashed back.

Says "tesla has NOT signd any offtake deals with Geothermal based suppliers" (VUL). Huh? [about 13.45]

"Go long on the owners of resources, not the refiners, unless they also own the resources" [about 19.35]

They specialise in processing nickel and lithium ores. There aren't many suppliers of lithium raw materials in Europe. ;-)

For info, EV Metals Group are expanding operations into Europe, partly through Caerus Minerals (CMRS), a copper mining junior based in Cyprus in whom I own shares. EVM have just partnered with them.

EVM specialise in setting up processing factories for producing LiOH etc from raw materials.

Quote: :Caerus is also the preferred vehicle by which EVM will further its ambitions in the European raw materials market via acquiring advanced mining and production projects. These projects will guarantee EVM surety of supply and ongoing compliance with RoO and TCA. In this context, the Company announces it is reviewing a number of exciting investment opportunities and is in early-stage discussions with [several] potential targets that offer exposure to key clean energy commodities."
(the CMRS RNS: https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/CMRS/ev-metals-strategic-alliance-and-portfolio-update-eovmovzxcdyj2lv.html)

https://www.evmetalsgroup.com/

The entire car industry is undergoing a revolution. EVs are batteries and software. Motors are simple, and car assembly is simple, especially when compared to ICE assembly.

Batteries and software. Software dev is an area of expertise that car manufacturers simply don't have. The likes of google and apple do, and others. Battery manufacture too is something being done by companies outside the car manufacturing sector. So the fundamental basis of car manufacture - batteries and software - can and are being done by non car industry players.

All that's left is design and assembly. This is why you get the likes of Sony and Apple talking about bringing out cars. But car production is an area of investment and skill in itself. So presumably, the likes of VW have to....

A/ make batteries even though they'll be in competiton with non industry players
B/ make software, again ditto...
C/ do their main thing which is design and assembly.

If they don't do A and B, only C is left. All this means in reality is, I suppose, that car manufactuirers become even more less identifiable by brand... already if you buy a Nissan, much will be Renault or Dacia.... or if you buy a Skoda, it's really a VW or an Audi... etc. The whole industry is already a melting pot of shared components and manufaturing. This will now become more the case as a company like VW becomes little more than a style brand... they design and assemble, but the parts could be made by anyone, including companies that are traditionally completely outside the car industry.

Tesla are succeeding becasue they were a startup, and have ben doing A,B and C from the beginning. VW on the other hand has to reinvent itself, restructure, retool and reskill. Same goes for all trad car manufacturers. ANd al are going to suffer in the proces of changing over.

Seems the whole thing, which apparently saw Diess storming out of the boardroom hurling abuse, is about a combination of his personality and his supposed failure to get a grip on the software dev apsect of VW's EV operations. Given that EVs are basically about battery tech and software, this is an issue, and I say from experiecne that develoipoing software requires it's own unique skillset and methodology.

So the debate at VW is do they dev their own s/w or rely on Apple or Google. Blume has no experience of s/w dev and has already held meetings with Apple.

Anyway, one has to assume that despite Blume's passion for the ICE and efuels, VW will continue the EV route and none of this should affect the gigafactory plans. Presumably. As if they outsource s/w, they only have battery manufacture and car assembly left.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-ceo-herbert-diess-is-stepping-down-11658507894?st=l7ul6be7v6he3xo

I didn't realise that that issue a few months ago where the Grman finance minister intervened in the EV transition debate in favour of ICEs and efuels was part of this sub-deebate so to speak. Looks like it's been defeated according to this, at least in Germany..

https://www.politico.eu/article/how-the-greens-duped-christian-lindner-into-killing-das-auto/

"...it’s clear eFuel could serve as a niche complement to the mostly-electric future"

https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2021/04/what-is-efuel-how-porsche-s-synthetic-fuel-could-save-the-combustion-engine.html

.. is out, and replaced by Blume, who I undersand is a believer in efuels (synthetic fuels made from combining hydrogen with co2 to mke methanol, which is then converted to petrol through a 'methanol to gasoline' process invented by Exxon.)

Remains to be seen if Blume defocusses from EVs and expands his (daft, mad) efuels approach. But this could affect VW's approach to the battery market. I woud imagine it would be impossible for him to shift VW completely away from EVs, but he may confuse VWs efforts and direction in the short term.

Is anyone else here in EMN and have a view? I went in quite heavily and am well under, but can't help but believe it's a winner. It seems to have completely stagnated. Even worse than EMH. Interesting that it's also in the Czech Republic.

Ah we all have our share of dogs. EUA's one of mine too. One of them.

KC? Hard times? Don't you believe it.

Of course 'battery related activities' could include a host of things, not least manufacture.

They also say their stake in the GF is likely to be 10% only. Meaning that the vast majority will be owned by the JV partner.. sound more like a sweetener to attract that 3rd party to me. ONe that kills two bords with one stone, givinbg CEZ a play in battery manufacturing whilst also helping to atract VW or whoever. An effective 10% subsidy.

"Also in the footnotes that they’re likely to never be fully consolidated, so presumably they’re not looking for 100% ownership either?"

Yes, interesting point.

Notice they're talking about partnerships in battery production, presumably meaning the GF would be a JV.

VW? If this were the case, then an offtake agreement with CEZ would effectively also be an offtake agreement with VW.