Email response from Ken for some insights:
My QSN: First of all, I'm excited that Vale is interested! Well done, and congratulations to all of us! The PR says that VALE has paid $20,000 (and possible 75,000 for extending this 3 yrs) to own the option to JV with KATX. If Vale chooses to spend at least .75 million for exploration costs, they then own 80% of the claims, and 20% stays with KAT. My first question is, what if Vales does not choose to do this, but chooses to exercise the option to JV, what kind of terms might we be looking at, and is it better for KATX to fund the exploration ourselves, prove up reserves and get a more valuable deal?
Ken's ANS: First off, the $20K & $75K is money that is paid at the beginning of each anniversary date is just to cover the cost of administration. No major company will pay much of anything until they are pretty certain there's something there. If Vale does not complete the 3 year deal and spend .75 million(which would take them to a feasiblity study so they know there's a deposit there) then the property returns to KAT 100%. The advantage KAT has is , VALE is building a $2.5 billion refinery just to the south of the Lucky properties and need copper for process. If there is a deposit there worth mining they will not sit on it has thats their reason for working with in such an urgent way.
My QSN: 2ndly, why has KATX agreed to give up 80% of its interests in return for this sub-million exploration cost, the exchange appears vastly disproportionate? I am not knowledgeable on the mining industry, so I'm not sure if really the 80:20 will turn out to be a really balanced exchange eventually accounting for all associated costs etc (I don't know these). And/Or perhaps it is justified to significantly sweeten the deal for VALE for subsequent dealings to work out in our favour. Please give me some insights into these.
Ken's ANS: After the 3 year option is execised then comes a feasibilty study which would cost nothing less then $50 million to which Vale will have to pay 80% of the cost. If there is not an ecomomical deposit then we've saved our money and Vale has wasted its. Also, most deals like this for a smaller company like KAT might just stand the chance of only being able to retain a 2% NSR(net smeltering royality). A copper/silver deposit such as could possibly be on the Lucky property has the potential to be valued at $5 billion and much more. That being the case KAT owning 20% of the deposit would equal in value of $1 billion for KAT, which any company would be happy to own. Therefore 20% of an economical deposit has tremendous value for a company.
I sent this today around noon time Europe,and got a reply in 45min.
