Norton Gold Fields Ltd NGF Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Deal of the century - two mills, reserves and gold price heading north
Recommendation Speculative Buy
Overview Following a review of its extensive database, NGF has announced an increased mineral resource for its Paddington project of 54.5 million tonnes averaging 1.8 g/t and containing 3.17 million ounces of gold. The resource is contained within 10 separate deposits within the project’s 1,200 sq km of tenure. Within this resource is a mining reserve of 18.1 million tonnes averaging 1.7 g/t and containing 1.0 million ounces of gold. The Paddington mill is located 30 km north west of Kalgoorlie and its replacement value is estimated at $150 million. NGF acquired the project from the Barrick Group in August 2007 for a consideration of $45 million. The acquisition included the Paddington gold treatment plant that commenced operation in 1985 and was upgraded to 3.0 million tonne per annum capacity in 1994 at a cost of $70 million. At the time of acquisition resources were estimated at 1.4 million ounces. Also included in the transaction was the 0.7 million tonnes per annum Kundana gold treatment plant that the company intends to relocate to its Mount Morgan tailings project in Queensland. That project has an initial target of treating 4 million tonnes of tailings at an average grade of 1.69 g/t to produce 180,000 ounces of gold over five years. The tailings dam and mullock dumps contain approximately 8 million tonnes of material that is available for reprocessing, with further potential from mineralised slag dumps. The project is located 35 km from Rockhampton. NGF effectively reduced the purchase price of the Paddington acquisition to $39 million by on selling tenements that contained refractory gold for a consideration of $6 million. It subsequently paid $3.7 million for all gold in circuit. The acquisition was funded by an equity raising of $35 million and a further $40 million in convertible notes. The company has a hedging commitment of 330,000 ounces of gold at a price of A$875 over five years. The Paddington database that was acquired upon purchase contained details from approximately 60,000 drill holes. It reflected 69 previously drilled deposits and more than 100 known orebodies contained within a 40 km radius of the Paddington plant. Since the acquisition of the project a total of 63,020 ounces of gold were produced in the 18 weeks to 31 December 2007 representing annual production in excess of 150,000 ounces per year. NGF has an ongoing extensive drilling program representing an investment of more than $5 million per year. The company also has advanced gold and copper projects, including Norton and Many Peaks in central Queensland. Impact When NGF acquired the Paddington project from the Barrick Group on August 24, 2007 the gold price was US$660.85 per ounce (London PM Gold Fix). Today the gold price has increased by 36% leaving the company in the enviable position of being able to lower cut off grades leading to increased ore continuity and subsequently increased contained gold. Yesterday the company reported a mineral resource of 3.17 million ounces of gold, up considerably on the 1.4 million ounces that were on the table at acquisition. Performance since the handover appears to be clockwork with an impressive 63,020 ounces produced to the end of 2007. The acquisition included a second gold treatment plant that will be put to good use retreating tailings in Queensland with an anticipated production rate of 50,000 ounces per year. Snapshot Last Price $0.67 Market Cap (m) $217.3 52 Week High $0.675 52 Week Low $0.075 Sector Metals & Mining Investment Fundamentals Cash reserves $36 million Shares on issue 324.4 million Options on issue 8.29m listed 20 cent Oct’2010 61.8m unlisted options Directors Anthony McLellan (Chairman) Tim Prowse (Managing) Jon Parker (Non exec) Mark McCauley (Non exec) Major shareholders BPI Norton Pty Ltd 19.95%
Business Description NGF has recently become a significant Australian gold producer with a plant and reserves capable of sustaining a production rate in excess of 150,000 ounces per year. This is likely to be supplemented by an additional 50,000 ounces per year from a tailings retreatment operation. The company has active gold and copper exploration projects.
NGF Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Not Held