Interview with John Black, CEO of Regulus Resources (TSX-V:REG)

In the mining country of Peru, Regulus Resources specialise in identifying promising copper or copper-gold exploration projects. Large copper and gold projects are in high demand and short on the ground. This team thinks they have the perfect asset for a major mining operation to extract.

Regulus has a market cap of $120M and while the share price rose in March to $1.92 after promising drill results (34 holes with 820 meters of a 0.77% copper equivalent), they've now receded down to around $1.36.

Regulus Resources is an excellent example of a copper/gold company in the evaluation period of its life cycle. There is clear potential exemplified by the level of investment by management in Regulus projects, the experience and track record of the management team, and their strong list of assets. However, Regulus Resources has work to do before investors can think about scheduling an extravagant party with no expenses spared upon the sale of their shares.

While no hitches are expected, Regulus Resources is still waiting for a permit to come through for their asset in the North of the property, which isn't the fastest process in Peru. Liquidity of their stock is an issue: a symptom of the company's position in its life cycle but also because the stock is so closely held by a just few insiders, c.70%. Regulus Resources is conscious of this as they enter their next round of fundraising. Capital is available but management must decide what type of investor they want to come in at this stage. Regulus Resources needs to convince prospective retail investors their copper/gold project has what it takes. This can take a significant amount of time and not all investors are willing to play the long game.

Regulus Resources is in a heavy drilling phase that has only just begun and there is lots of work left to do and funds to raise. The management's track record suggests that they are capable of creating real value for shareholders by developing exploration assets. While Regulus Resources looks like a safe, stable investment, with solid if unspectacular long term prospects, it looks unlikely to be making shareholders money anytime soon; that will require them reaching a point where larger mining operators come in and bring it through to production. For the patient investor, money is certainly there to be made, but just how long is the long-term?

What did you make of John Black? 

Company page: https://www.regulusresources.com/

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