RE: Boris in FT on his green revolution plans18 Nov 2020 13:37
Hi Tony,
Thank you so much for your reply; I always am grateful when someone makes the effort, so thanks for that.
Do you mind if I challenge you on a couple of points?
In the late October RNS, you can see from the cashflow report that they have a burn rate of about £2m a qtr. They needed to demonstrate that they are a going concern/viable and in doing so recognised that they only had one qtr of cash left.....but this was at the end of September which is the Q3 end date. Hence they conclude only 1qtr of cash remaining. But, post qtr end, on 6th October a further year of cashflow was achieved through the placing.....it was after the qtr 3 end, so could not be retrospectively included in the cashflow report for said qtr. This is my understanding. So financially, I think PRE is de-risked a little more than you might have concluded, but if I'm wrong, please point me in the right direction. I only learn from my own mistakes and I need folk to help me sometimes.
Risk 1. Boris is a berk. He has not done himself any favours in the last twelve months. This is a regional opportunity for places listed in the RNS.....I don't doubt that the local planners and economic partnerships will be competing for such a factory. Rate relief, capital allowances and simplified planning to mention but a few, but there will be local politicos wanting to see job creation in their local areas. I don't see how Boris has any influence over this at all. He is merely a mouthpiece in this respect and has limited opportunity to get involved in a commercial entity wishing to build a factory.
Risk 2. Brexit. Tariffs at WTO rates? hardly crippling. Plus, as a potential supplier to Europe, this is their tariff problem, not ours. It also makes domestic production and sales attractive if based in UK. I think WTO tariffs will not be the end of the world, just like VAT isn't. We get used to things......that's even if WTO applies.
Risk 3. Well, they are not actually building anything.....they are, as I recall, contracting the turnkey mine in Angola to our friends the chinese. Wood are at this time, investigating. But, you are right, if they were to begin building both at the same time, I would argue that this could generate some opportunities for screw-ups. I'd argue a third party in the UK should become a contract partner/owner outside of PRE, which provides opportunity for innovation and a more customer -focussed approach. After all, we are miners [aspiration], not manufacturers or even sub-assembly manufacturers. I think it requires a broader degree of expertise than is inherent within PRE at this time. Agree with this risk.
Risk 4. I don't see that PRE will actually build out and operate the UK side of the operations. I imagine a customer who upstreams may see and take on the opportunity.
Risk 5. Welcome to the Devaluation ride.....inflation here we come....everyone is in debt. they are smashing digital cash all over the ball park, in every currency.....daft ain't it.