FT.TO
positive BFS für das NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth project (Jan 16) http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/070116/fortune_nico_study.html?.v=1
3-4 mio oz gold
dazu noch ein riesen Kohle deposit (Mount Klappan coal project)
Noch ein review vom Oktober und seit dem ist der Kurs immer noch unten .. billig 
Fortune Minerals Limited (FT C$2.32, TSX)
Visit to the NICO project in the Northwest Territories—positive first steps seen; maintain
Buy rating and C$9.37 target
Michael Fowler (416) 867-3593 michael.fowler@vmd.desjardins.com
Joanne van Ballegooie, Associate (416) 867-3765 joanne.vanballegooie@vmd.desjardins.com
The Desjardins Takeaway
We visited Fortune Minerals’ NICO project in the Northwest Territories last week. The company has intersected the ore zone at NICO
in a drift as part of extracting a bulk sample. A wide zone of mineralization was found and is a positive first step in the development
of the deposit. A feasibility study is expected in the next month, and a positive result could aid the stock price. Fortune has two large
development assets and the stock price is very inexpensive compared with the net asset value of the company. Further
development of these assets could give rise to share price increases. We maintain our Buy–Speculative rating and C$9.37 target price.
Event
On Wednesday October 11, we visited the NICO operations of Fortune Minerals, located in the Northwest Territories. The
deposit is in the development phase with a feasibility study due in the next month. Currently, the company has sunk an
800m ramp into the heart of the mineralization in order to take a 270t bulk sample. Drifting from the ramp has
intersected about 20m of mineralization and Fortune Minerals has extracted most of the 270t bulk sample. The
mineralization is a complex mixture of cobalt, bismuth and gold. The actual assays of the bulk sample are currently
unknown and full analysis will not be obtained until April 2007. The aim of the bulk sample is to verify metallurgical
recoveries on a large-scale sample. The data will essentially be an addendum to the final feasibility study.
The deposit is likely to be mined by a combination of underground and open-pit methods. Fortune envisions that onethird
of the mill feed will come from underground and the remainder from the open pit on a daily basis. The company
is contemplating a 4,000tpd production rate and a 15-year mine life. The products produced will be gold doré (ie gold at
site), a cobalt cathode, or possibly a concentrate and a bismuth concentrate. The company recently bought the Hemlo
mill from Newmont Mining, and the mill will be relocated to the NICO project in probably 2008/2009. The purchase of
the mill for C$3.3m will act as additional cost savings for the company.
The location of the project is 160km northwest of Yellowknife. Although there is winter road access, the company is
contemplating a new all-weather road planned in co-operation of the Tlicho (First Nation), Northwest Territories and
Canadian governments. We viewed the proposed road site and were impressed that the road development would not
be overly complicated. Power will be accessed from the Snare hydroelectric complex, located about 20km away.
Although NICO is in a remote location, upgrades to the area’s infrastructure should not prove overly costly. In addition,
the company appears to have a good relationship with the Tlicho (First Nation) people.
After the feasibility study is delivered in the next month, the company will embark on environmental permitting, which
should continue for most of 2007. Construction of the mine is slated for 2008/2009 and production in 2010.
Implication
What we saw was a positive first step for the NICO development as the company passes from development to
production. Visually the rocks were mineralized over a significant interval. The assay results are still pending. As the
company advances through to production, risk will be taken out of the project, thereby increasing the share price. The
next event awaited is the feasibility study.
In our valuation of Fortune, we have ascribed a C$1.64/share NAV for NICO, based on our own discounted cash flow
analysis. This, of course, will be updated as the feasibility study is tabled. We have valued the Mount Klappan coal
deposit (Fortune Minerals’ other main asset) at C$7.06/share. Our target for the company is based on the sum of these
and other smaller assets.
The stock is very undervalued based on the assets under management. As the company furthers these assets to
production, we fully expect the share price to increase in the long run.
Recommendation
We maintain our Buy–Speculative rating and C$9.37 target.