More NEWS from the New York Hard Assests Conference.
in response to
by
posted on
May 12, 2008 05:10PM
(PRESS PROFILE TAB FOR FACT SHEET & UPDATES)
Here are more of the notes that Letitfly and I took in today's meeting with Dave Webb:
1. What can be done to avoid the Minefinder’s depressed share price
pattern that may follow the time Tyhee begins investing in a mine (or
begins a Feasibility Study)?
Dave really did not have an answer to
this other than to explain that such a company progression and share
price action is based on a rotation of investors---those that
appreciate exploration are exchanged with those more favored toward
production companies.
2. What were Dave Webb’s “ */terrible lows”/* -- “Exploration and
development of mineral resources is a gut wrenching experience. Great
highs*/, terrible lows/*.” D. Webb, April 29, 2008.
Lows occur when expectations are not met which results in
disappointment. The earlier .12 financing was one such low point
3. What’s the best way to evaluate Tyhee’s PA relative to others in
its peer group so, if the Mkt. responds poorly to the PA, how might we
have the best perspective on whether any selling pressure is
justified?
Dave was very emphatic about this point. When comparing
PA's, one must look at the price of gold used in the analysis; the
capital costs used in the analysis; as well as the revenue stream
coming out of the project. Capital costs are escalating. In fact, for
the PA, the company must use new equipment costs for its analysis even
if they actually end up buying used mill equipment, trucks, etc. The
capital costs are the most effective method to determine the proper
extraction process--- open pit vs. underground mine. The resource
evaluation is calculated to 500 meters below surface.
Dave recommended that people read the PA and compare it to other PA's to
get a firm feeling for any apples to apples comparison. Dave referenced
the Fortune Minerals 2007 PA as a good comparison since that property is
150 miles from Yellowknife.
4. Likewise, if the Ormsby revised resource estimate raises Tyhee’s
resource to only 1.7 million ounces when expectations are for 1.8
Million ounces or 2 million as you indicated to JP in December 2006
what could be done to mollify disappointed investors?
Prospective drill results will be added on to the resource estimate.
5. In your 2007 video you said that Tyhee was progressing on plan.
Did Tyhee stay on plan since then and what’s the plan now?
The only disappointment is that he hoped the PA had been issued earlier.
6. What might explain why there’s been *no* sign of insider buying
while Tyhee’s share price have been so low recently?
There have been no insider transactions since they are now in a corporate 'blackout'
period. This means that there is material news pending and that
insiders are presumed to be aware of and consequently should not be
making any transactions. Please note that this material news can be
good or bad.
7. How many of the more than one million shares purchased by JP in
this First Qtr were from warrants?
Can't say--not public information.
8. How likely is it that JP has inside information (via Leanne
Baker, Keith Barron or others) that there is substantial interest or
progress in a potential take over?
He doesn't know, ask JP.>
9. In Tyhee’s 2007 video you said that Tyhee was ahead of schedule.
Is Tyhee still ahead of schedule? And, what’s schedule now?
On schedule.
10. Do you foresee the $25/ounce discovery rate ongoing in 2007 and
2008?
Dave mentioned that the discovery rate might even improve with
time. They have reached their drilling limit on Nicholas Lake (NL) and
will not be adding more ounces here. Goodwin Lake holds potential for
good results which will positively impact the discovery rate.
11. Regarding a Tyhee Feasibility study. When would it begin? How long
does it take now and how long might it take for one to be completed
for Tyhee? What might be the cost of such a study? Does Tyhee’s robust
PA shorten the time to complete its Feasibity Study Is there anything
that could be done to speed up the process?
The feasibility study depends on what the PA contains. If its a good PA, they could go
directly to a feasibility study which would take one year. The
feasibility study is already budgeted.
12. Now that it seems from your limited analysis of Canaccord/Adams
that the valuations don’t much differ for those juniors with a PA,
Feasibility or that are in production. How do you think it will be possible to raise Tyhee’s Market Cap to over $100M?
While Dave cannot control the share price, he is focused on trying to raise the market cap.
13. At this point, what is the most exciting piece of the TDC story?
As Dave is intent on stating to new investors, Tyhee intends to move
toward production. We did not get the feeling at all that Tyhee is
looking to prove up resources in an effort to sell out. (However,
that does not mean that a major may not swoop down if tempted by the
resource potential) That was the old business model. The reason to
pursue the PA and Feasibility study are for the purposes of going
into production. Dave went on to explain the benefits of an Archean
gold deposit---such deposits tend to grow their resource, allowing you
to generate cash as you explore and define new ounces that were not in
your original resource plan. Dave mentioned that they had a new
diagram that referenced the measured, indicated and inferred--- and
also included deeper areas marked as potential. These are the
potential growth areas that an Archean gold deposit offers, but which a resource plan does not mention.
14. How many holes are left to be announced for Ormsby?....and how
long before they are all in?
Should all be in within 6-8 weeks more or less more or less.
15. How much easier will an update to the Ormbsy resource be than was
putting together the Nic Lake? i.e .Is the Ormsby resource update
fairly quick and easy once the numbers are in?
Ormsby will be easy to update as they know the model. They are waiting for the last holes
(6-8 weeks) before they do the revision.
16. Have they already been working on the PA? or do they wait for all
Ormsby results to be recieved?...Ie: Do they have much of the PA
already done?
Dave has seen components of the PA, but not the entire
report.
17 . How much contact does Webb have with Puplava on a weekly/monthly
basis? With 20million shares controlled by Puplava, how much work
does he do with introduction to new stockholders etc? With 20million
shares does Puplava intend to bring in suitors? Ie: partners/minoritiy
interest holders in the form of Majors? Does Puplava actually control
much more than the listed 20million shares?...directly or indirectly?
We did not get the feeling that Dave & JP chat frequently. However,
After news releases, Dave will follow up with the large investors to
make sure they have received the release and if they have any questions.
18. Do they expect to do a blockbuster financing in 2008? ie: raising
50-100million dollars?.........obviously after a PA is released?
Dave stated that they will have to see what the PA states before
making that decision.
19. As of today, how far away is TDC from getting mining licences?
One year.
20. Will there be an investor's day or other community event by Tyhee
in Yellowkinfe this summer? If so, what tentative date?
No investors's day planned due to potential liability issues and costs.
21. Can Dave address the lack of skilled engineers employed by Tyhee
this year? Is one of the reasons the PA is delayed due to the
subcontracting of work to engineering companies and consultants?
Seems Tyhee is relying on the input of too many people out with their
control. Always looking for qualified engineers and drill operators.
Would be happy to get independent engineers to close the loop for
PA/assay results. Dave will evaluate the PA to look at ways to
fix/decrease capital costs as well as looking to increase ounces.
22. Please ask if we can have some maps on the website showing the
future possible drill programs on Nick Ormbsy properties.
Drill positions change constantly so not a good use of their time to update
website daily.
23. I would like to understand where the additional ounces are coming
from and where they expect to see further potential.
Ormsby, Bruce Lake, Goodwin, Nicholas Lake---all have potential for further ounces.
Nicholas Lake can have an economical open pit operation, but will also
have an underground component. > It is still early with Clan Lake & Goodwin—need to drill more.
24. Will Tyhee adopt a shareholder rights plan ?
Doesn't know. And would it allow shareholders to have a say in a takeover and what else? > Any takeover plan will have to be voted on by the shareholders.
25. “/Even though the Giant Mine produced about 8M oz. and the Con
Mine about 5.5M oz, there was never a time ever at either mine when a
resource of more than a 3M ounces could have been demonstrated.”/
/In fact, for most ot the 1980's and 1990's they never had a 2 million
ounce resource!/
Did they not(back then) try to demonstrate a 3M ounce resource or
better through extensive drilling etc...........or because it was not
possible........or because they just did not need to bother because
they were finding enough gold to simply continue mining it?
26. What is the burn rate of the Company(cost per hole drilled)and
when will the Company run out of cash.
The current monthly burn rate is $130,000 for each drill (3 drills) and $110,000 for administration.
'Have to manage the drill program wisely'. Tyhee is currently fully
financed for the balance of the year.
As for a mine, construction takes 1 year; permitting takes 1 year; and
the feasibility study takes 1 year. One purpose of the feasibility study
is for an avenue to approach the banks for money.
27. What are TDC environmental issues that may demand increasing
amounts of company time and resource, covering not only the physical
environment (where actual legislation will govern company
requirements) but also the socio-cultural component (where local
communities are capable of stalling potentially viable ventures if
their concerns are not addressed.
Environmental issues are taken care of as they go along.
28. What are the cost escalation assumptions over the next two years.
Contractor escalation occurs at the end of each contract.
29. Tyhee could benefit from coverage by some of the top resource
investment letters - Dave is at a possibility?
Dave is wary of investment letters. He stated we would be surprised how many request
compensation of some sort.
30. Is Tyhee any closer to knowing if the tungsten can be recovered.
'The average tungsten content of the deposit (0.022% WO3)represents
approximately one tenth of the gold value and is material. Initial
metallurgical testing reveals gravity recoveries in excess of 70% of
the scheelite (tungsten mineral).
Further work on the tungsten recovery is required to properly assess its potential to contribute to
the overall project economics'. Tungsten and silver will be mined
alongside the gold, but there is not a material concentrate of either
to get excited about or worth assays on their own.…………&...
Further thoughts--- The current drill locations are 2 drills on Nicholas
Lake (one will be moved to Ormsby soon) and 1 drill at Big Sky. The Big
Sky drill is currently dormant as there is not enough daylight to
support more than 1 shift and therefore not economical.
Tyhee is fully financed for the balance of the year, unless they hit
something big (at least 5 grams over 10 meters)
Goodwin Lake--they will be drilling there soon and the gold can be
trucked to Ormsby which is 13 kilometers away. Ormsby has the biggest
resource. Nicholas Lake is 10 kilometers from Ormsby. Trucking adds
$1/ton as a cost.
As for promotion, Dave met with investment groups last week in Boston,
as well as this week in NY. Leanne Baker's group has been handling
marketing operations and has set up meetings for Dave to explain the
Tyhee story.
Dave is confident that Tyhee can meet all schedules under their control.
The PA is beyond his control and therefore a stumbling block.