I've mentioned Sundance Resources a couple of times this year as a company readers may want to take a look at:
seekingalpha.com/author/wildebeest/comme...
seekingalpha.com/author/wildebeest/comme...
Sundance Resources is currently undertaking a definitive feasibility study on its large Mbalam irone ore project in Cameroon. I did have a speculative stake in this company before the GFC and keep it on my watch-list to consider re-entering.
While I was away in June a plane carrying 6 of the Sundance Resources board, including the company chairman, the CEO, and the largest shareholder (Aussie mining magnate Ken Talbot) crashed near the Cameroon/Congo border. All people on the plane were killed. In the interim the company has appointed Gindalbie Metals founder George Jones, who was involved with the company a few years ago, as strategic advisor to help them through the transition period until a new board and CEO are appointed.
Hard to say how the stock will trade when it emerges from the trading halt. My feeling about the longer term prospects of this company is that, given the size of the project, it would be unlikely that they'd get the funding without Chinese involvement. The exact amount needed will be known when the feasibility study is completed but numbers of the order of $2.5 billion have been talked about, admittedly speculatively, in the past. It could well be that the upheaval resulting from this tragedy, and the death of a major shareholder, could provide an opportunity for Chinese participation in the project. It is worth noting that George Jones has strong Chinese connections through Gindalbie (which is 36% owned by Chinese steel producer Ansteel) and was previously involved in a proposal to merge Sundance Resources and Gindalbie Metals.
Due to the flatlining of the global economy I have been in no rush to buy mining stocks this year -- among other things I have said often that they look overpriced at the moment -- but it might be time to (re)consider Sundance Resources, starting with a small stake, as a bet on a stronger price if and when a Chinese company becomes involved.
SDL Price at posting:
13.0¢ Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
