RE: Is this article a load of rubbish ?6 May 2023 02:31
I think a sale of IM would be a mistake. Yes we might get 50m cash but I don't see that doing much for our investment other than a sharp spike on the day of the RNS that will be sold into heavily by the traders. We'll end up back at the share price we started the day on within a couple of weeks. And then what, less debt on the books. I admit that is a positive as well, but the debt as is will be very manageable once we hit these 400-500m revenue figures JW has mentioned for a couple of years from now.
For the alternatives, I do see it being very expensive to develop ourselves. Hundreds of millions. Likely funded through the National Infrastructure Bank. Presumably this loan would be against the Island Magee part of the business only, and not the wider HARL group. So less risk if we were to take it on. It would have to fund and pay for itself, and likely take quite a few years before it becomes profitable. But once it does, we'll be a very profitable business.
The other alternative is the farm out. Retain 25-30% and let some bigger fish develop the caverns for us. Less debt overall for the company, and allows us to see profits earlier.
I'm not sure which of those I prefer, just definitely not a sale. Maybe the numbers need to be made public as Kaeren suggests. Then have a shareholder vote on it. Unless we trust JW to make the correct decision.
As for the article, not a load of rubbish. Just one person's opinion, and a well written article.