RE: Pros and cons13 Mar 2016 14:48
Hi Daisan, credit to you for doing some in-depth research on Kolar. So many people are lazy and don't bother to research, just relying on the gossip and opinions of others or their own inbuilt prejudices. On the whole, your research is very sound and accurate with just a few points to pick up on or correct.
Cash burn is definitely NOT high. Indeed it is extremely low. Kolar has always managed its cash prudently but even more in response since the gold sector has worsened. A recent example of where they have looked to pare costs was late last year by moving main office.
Losing two board members: why is this a negative? It was a strategic move to save money. Spencer going will save them more than £250k a year and how much value had he brought to shareholders? I think having an Indian heading the company now could be helpful and he immediately took positive action on Spencers departure viz a viz strategic review. Spencer, you could argue had just sat on his hand, total inertia.
GMSI ultimate resource target is specified as 2-5m ozs + Kolars own licences ultimately targeting 1-10m ozs making Kolars share (at current stake) more like 500k ozs to 1.25m ozs on GMSI alone. That on its own would make the current SP valuation ridiculous in the extreme.
Indian bureaucracy - yes it has been very slow, but as we can see from recent developments, for example the mine auctions now in progress things are now on the move. I am convinced that the much higher gold price and the new bull market will be focusing some Indian govt minds a bit more closely on the sector.
Raising finance - there are two factors which will make this more favourable:
Firstly a rising and stronger gold price - this WILL attract foreign investment into the sector
Secondly, as you did point out, further positive developments with both GMSI/Jonnagiri + BGML.