Ivan Bebek personifies the "go big or go home" philosophy. An early career as a stockbroker buying mining stocks was not enough for him. He wanted to make a large mineral discovery, so he changed course and did just that . . . but not just one.
"My passion is discovery because that's the most rewarding part of the sector, and that's where the most money is made for people who speculate on the mining sector," he told Streetwise Reports in a recent interview.
After successes with two gold projects, Asanko in Ghana (Keegan Resources) and El Barqueno in Mexico (Cayden Resources), he went even bigger. He applied his Midas touch to prospecting globally for opportunities that could deliver a top-tier discovery and has spent over CA$100 million (over US$73M) since 2015 pursuing the Sombrero Project and other world-class exploration opportunities.
He identified many and had the chance to collaborate with Newmont Corp. (NEM:NYSE). One is an area in Peru's Andahuaylas-Yauri belt being explored by Coppernico Metals Inc. Another is an area in a Paleocene porphyry belt, also in Peru, being explored by Tier One Silver Inc. Bebek, now in his 25th year in the mining industry, is involved in both companies.
Coppernico Metals
Of the identified opportunities, Bebek — who supports all new entities — chose Coppernico Metals Inc. (COPR:TSX) due to the potential and the efforts required to bring Sombrero online as the co-founder, CEO, Chair, and Director.
"As I've had more success, I've looked for a bigger and bigger prize," he said. "And Coppernico Metals, with the big copper potential project in southern Peru, represents one of the largest opportunities I've seen in my career to date, based on the evidence we've collected both on surface and from some historical drilling."
The British Columbia-based company is carrying out its inaugural drill program at the Sombrero project and recently completed hole four out of ~30 planned, noted Bebek. The current plan is to drill continuously through 2025.
Thus, near-term catalysts for the company's stock are releases of drill results in batches, starting in the next three to four weeks and continuing until this year's end, Bebek said.
Major Copper Rally Imminent
Copper, the star of Sombrero, has been performing well and looks ready for its next big upleg, which could be massive, Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote in an August report.
"This, therefore, is a good point to buy copper and all things copper," he added.
According to Marin Katusa of Katusa Research, the tightening of the copper market could cause a price surge, he wrote in a recent article. Three metrics indicate a copper supply crunch is impending. They are the rapid decline in days of forward consumption, the long-term global market balance for copper moving toward a deficit, and a slowing of global mine production. From 2015 to 2023, only 18,000,000 (18 Mt) of copper were discovered versus 28 Mt in 2014 alone.
Meanwhile, demand for the red metal is "unstoppable," wrote Katusa. Driving it is the green energy transition, as copper is used in electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, electric grids, and more.
"Investors, take note: The train could leave the station with copper stocks any day now," Katusa added.
Joe Austin, senior analyst at Chaikin Analytics, reported the copper supply will peak at some point in the next two years then start to decline, according to the International Energy Agency. The agency estimates a copper shortfall of about 7 Mt by 2035, about a third of output forecasted for that year.
"By 2040, the available supply of copper will be roughly two-thirds of what we produce today. But by then, the demand for copper will have soared far higher than where it is today," Austin wrote.
Analyst: A Story to Invest In
Steven Therrien, analyst at 3L Capital, visited Coppernico's Sombrero project late last month and left "very encouraged," he wrote in a September 10 research report. His impression was that the project has the requisite elements to potentially become a globally significant copper project.
"With plenty of cash in the treasury and up to 49 holes permitted, we firmly believe Coppernico is one of the best copper discovery drill stories one can currently participate in," Therrien wrote.
Ownership and Share Structure
Regarding ownership of Coppernico Metals, according to company estimates, strategic investors, including insiders, own 55.46%. More specifically, CEO Bebek holds 3.45%, management and directors have 1.6%, close associates own 34.23%, Newmont Corp. (NEM:NYSE) owns 6.28%, and Teck Resources (TECK:NYSE) recently acquired 9.9% in May 2024.
Institutional investors hold 17.75%, and retail investors account for 26.79%.
The company has 177.24M outstanding shares and 126M free float trading shares. The shares owned by both Teck and management are not free trading.
Its market cap is CA$78M. Its 52-week trading range is CA$0.26−CA$0.53 per share.
Tier One Silver
Tier One Silver Inc. (TSLV:TSXV; TSLVF:OTCQB) offers the potential for "a world-class, major silver discovery with incredible grades of silver that we haven't seen before in any other silver exploration project," in addition to copper potential, Bebek told Streetwise, remarking that he is Tier One's chair.
In July, the Canadian company launched a two- to three-month program of exploration field work at its flagship Curibaya project, including sampling and geological mapping, noted a news release. The objectives are to expand and define the potential of the precious metal epithermal corridors and the porphyry target and to delineate targets for future drilling.
Therefore, investors likely can expect findings from these efforts to be released in the near future, which could be a positive catalyst for Tier One's share price.
*An increase in the silver price also could catalyze the stock, Technical Analyst Clive Maund wrote in a June report.
Silver Breakout Inevitable
The silver market is an unusual situation in which prices seem stuck between US$28/oz and US$30/oz despite an ongoing and growing supply-demand imbalance, Peter Krauth of Silver Stock Investor said in a Sept. 6 video.
Silver is expected to have its fourth consecutive year of a global supply deficit in 2024, according to an International Banker article. The deficit is expected to increase this year, too, by 17%, due to a 2% growth in demand and a 1% drop in total supply, according to data from The Silver Institute.
John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management, told Kitco News that silver is undervalued and its price should soar now that gold has reached an all-time high above US$2,500/oz.
"It's mind-boggling to us that silver is still below US$30," Ciampaglia said. "It is obviously way off its 2010 highs, and we would love to see it get back to the US$50 level. We think it has the ability to do that over time."
Yes, silver "is languishing" despite its technicals signaling an imminent upsurge, noted a Sept. 5 article on Citizen Watch Report. Maybe it is going to take a trigger event to reset the price.
"The simple fact that gold and silver prices have been so out of sync suggests that silver's inevitable breakout could be more significant and prolonged than even the most bullish analysts can say," the writer added.
When silver does bust out beyond US$30/oz, Maund wrote, it will be the start of a "massive unprecedented bull market," and the time to buy is before that happens.
He explained, "What this means is that silver and all things silver are a terrific bargain here with these sorts of prices not expected to last much longer and may never be seen again."
Streetwise Ownership Overview*
Tier One Silver Inc. (TSLV:TSXV; TSLVF:OTCQB)
Analyst: "Strong Investment Opportunity"
*According to Maund, Tier One Silver is "a strong investment opportunity," creating value for shareholders through discovery and the potential for higher silver prices.
Given the solid fundamentals of the company, it is primed for a rerating, he wrote.
Ownership and Share Structure
According to Refinitiv, seven strategic entities, including insiders, own 5.02% or 8.59M shares of Tier One Silver. The largest shareholder amongst the board is Chair Ivan Bebek with 3.24% or 5.55M shares.
Retail investors hold the remaining 91.41%. There are no institutional investors.
According to the company, it has 171.05M shares issued, 9.93M options and 45.55M warrants for a total of 226.53M fully diluted shares outstanding.
Tier One's market cap is CA$11.36M, Reuters reports. Its 52-week trading range is CA$0.065−CA$0.19 per share.
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Important Disclosures:
- Coppernico Metals Inc. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.
- As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Coppernico Metals Inc. and Tier One Silver Inc.
- Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor.
- This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.
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* Disclosure for the quote from the Clive Maund article published on June 10, 2024
- For the quoted article (published on June 10, 2024, the Company has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$1,500.
- Author Certification and Compensation: [Clive Maund of clivemaund.com] is being compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, for writing the article quoted. Maund received his UK Technical Analysts’ Diploma in 1989. The recommendations and opinions expressed in the article accurately reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the designated securities discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed
Clivemaund.com Disclosures
The quoted article represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks cannot be only be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy and sell securities.