Re: Update......... Emails from Elmer
in response to
by
posted on
Nov 11, 2012 10:23AM
CUU own 25% Schaft Creek: proven/probable min. reserves/940.8m tonnes = 0.27% copper, 0.19 g/t gold, 0.018% moly and 1.72 g/t silver containing: 5.6b lbs copper, 5.8m ounces gold, 363.5m lbs moly and 51.7m ounces silver; (Recoverable CuEq 0.46%)
I have often thought about sending some questions directly to Elmer via email (I'm in a completely different time zone so phone is a bit harder to do. Furthermore I'm not a native english speaker so there a bigger chance of being caught off guard on phone).
After some on the board posted his personal email (and not just the INFO one) I finally did so.
I know many of the questions have already been asked but it was important for me to get a confirmation send directly from Elmer to me.
Questions are listed below in random order and Elmer's Answers are in BOLD and BRACKETS:
1) Are you concerned about the day to day share price especially at the moment with the down trend we're in? (The entire market has been in a down turn for approximately 12  months, I am of the opinion that this down turn in the  general market should start to turn around.  As for the daily trading  price of the shares, would I like to see the price higher, the answer is  yes, but the market (the buyers and sellers ) appear to want to trade  in this range)
 
 2) If Teck was to buy "us" out wouldn't it be a problem with the current  low share price as most buyouts are at a 50-100% premium of share  prices? (Normally that is one of the methods  used to purchase properties. However, that is  the purchasers starting position and requires the acceptance by the  Company being sold.  However recent market purchases have been completed  at higher premiums to market price. There are other methods that can be  used to value companies.)
 
 3) Unless you have some very long summers in Canada I'm kind of disappointed at the missed MID to LATE SUMMER BFS release date. (The work required to complete the Feasibility Study has been completed  by a number of independent engineering  companies, over which Copper Fox has limited control.  These  engineering companies provide estimated dates when they would completed  their work and that is what is provided to and used by the main  contractor Tetra Tech to estimate when they would be completed.   In addition to delays encountered by these companies, the work  completed by the various contractors have to be reviewed by competent  persons internal to those engineering companies and then passed on to  Tetra Tech.  If on review Tetra Tech has questions or  issues that have to be resolved before that information would be used  to move to the next stage/phase of the feasibility study.  The  cumulative effect of this process has led to delays (which were  unexpected). Please keep in mind that five independent contractors  were involved in providing information to the feasibility study.  Also a  number of Tetra Tech’s people were hired away by other companies during  this process.)
How come we have yet again missed a deadline. One would initially think you have run into problems with the BFS or (as I hope) it's Teck slowing the process down? (Teck  is not slowing down the process. We need to make sure that all data  used in completing the feasibility  study is correct and meets the level of detail and quality required to  meet the standards expected in a feasibility study. We have taken the  position that due to the importance of the delivery of the feasibility  study, that we do not want to give Teck any  reason whatsoever to challenge the feasibility study.  As you know the  delivery of the feasibility study triggers a period of time in which  Teck has to either elect to earn-back and interest in the project or  they can opt to walk away.  Clearly Copper Fox does not want any  delays when the feasibility study is delivered to Teck which would  prolong the time period in which Teck has to make their election with  regards to the Schaft Creek project)
 
 4) How do you personally feel about the many missed deadlines and the possible loss of credibility going forward? (I am not happy with the delays incurred regarding completion of the  feasibility study but as indicated above the  recent delays are beyond the control of Copper Fox. However  Copper Fox  needs to make sure that when Teck is delivered the feasibility study,  that the feasibility study is accepted by Teck and that starts the 120  day period.  You may be aware of  project in  Panama where Teck has an interest in a copper project.  Teck objected  to the feasibility study (not sure of the reasons) and held up that  process for I believe; 6 month.  Copper Fox is trying to avoid this  situation in the event that Teck wants more time to  make their election (for whatever reason.) 
 That said I think you and the rest of the management have done a great  job so I don't hope you will get insulted by that question. (Thanks you, we are all shareholders)
 
 5) If Teck is opting NOT to back-in etc. - do you have other interested parties in you project or are we "lost"? (If Teck elects not to earn-back then Copper  Fox would approach other companies.  However before Teck makes their  election, other companies would not spend much time looking/working on  Copper Fox simply because they are not sure  what percentage interest of the project would be available)
I mean it IS a large CAPEX project so potentially interested companies MUST be very limited or...? (The number of companies would be limited, however large companies  like large projects.  With the current resources at Schaft Creek, the  results of the 2012 exploration program (i.e. the Discovery Zone) and  other features of the project such as environmental footprint  would/should make this project of interest to other companies)
 
 6) Are Mr. Ernesto Echavarria and Mr. David M. Macdonald blacked out at  the moment and how much are they actually involved in the current  BFS-process? (Only the management and legal counsel are involved in the BFS process, external  directors will be appraised of the BFS when a draft news release is prepared and forwarded to them for review and discussion)
 
 7) The Northwest Power Line - is that a private or government build project? (Government built, under construction, a substantial amount of the work  (slashing line, footings for towers etc.)  required on the northern  portion of the  NTL is underway.)
I think it's a very positive sign in regards to our EA that the government has decided to build this power line. (Very positive)
Would they do this if they didn't intended to approve most of the mines' EA's incl. SC? Just wondering... (This may have been a part of the decision, but the published reason is for a move to clean energy to remove the diesel power  generators now used to generate electrical power in the northern communities)
 
7A) How many mines (approx.) will the power line serve when completed? (Three)
 
 7B) Will it deliver power to private households and businesses as well or only mines? (Also to the town of Iskut)
 
 8) The Port of Steward's facility agreement - was that also part of/included in the 2008 study? (Yes it was contemplated to use the Port of Stewart)
8A) In the 2008 study what source of energy was chosen for the SC project (Electrical power) and how much money will be saved with the NTL supplying us now (if you can tell)?  (Cannot say)
 
 9) You have previously stated that CUU is in control of the BFS but with Teck looking over your shoulders. (Teck have the right pursuant to the option  agreement executed in 2002 to review all data from the Schaft Creek  project, Copper Fox has adopted a transparent process regarding the  Schaft Creek project with Teck, regulators and First  Nations Groups)
Can Teck "force" CUU to delay the release of the BFS even if it is finished? (The news release is prepared by Copper Fox,  Teck has the right to make comments on the news release, Copper Fox has  the final say on if Copper Fox wants to accept Teck’s comments)
This could explain the latest missed BFS date... (No)
 
 10) How complete is the BFS approx. in %? (We are in the final stages of completing the feasibility study)
4) How do you see Teck's High Valley project compared to SC?  (Essentially the same size of operation, similar metallurgical process,  SC has more gold and molybdenum than reported from HV, logistical  support would be different due to locations)
The are both low grade. Ours even more low grade. (HV now lower grade and Teck are posting good margins and bottom line results)
High Valley though still seems to be a very profitable project. (I would agree)
 
 5) Finally - now where Teck has acquired most of the land between Galore  and SC do they need major infrastructure at Galore (tunnel etc) to  possibly transport high grade material from Galore to SC or can it be  done "just" by road? (I am not sure what Teck’s plans are with respect to northern BC. In  my opinion moving the material from Galore Creek to Schaft Creek for  processing would not make economic senses due to the cost incurred in  transportation.  Also to use a common mill facility  would require that the mineralization in both deposits are similar and  respond the same to the milling process.  Also there is the issue with  tailing disposal, combining the two operations would make this an issue  with the regulators.)
I know it's pure speculation but maybe Teck would be interested  in feeding some high grade material into the SC project to make it even  better. AND - as a stand alone project Galore doesn't work out that well  atm. Any comments? (High grading a deposit can cause serious economic issues at a later  date and in some cases renders the deposit uneconomic especially if  substantial capital expenditures are required to commence production at a  later date.  Also as stated above the metallurgy  response of the two mineralization would need to be the same for this  to work efficiently)
Investorish