Niocorp Developments Ltd (NB)

[The_Gman]

I'll answer your last question first, No. China has been manipulating the market for over a decade and thereby influencing private financing. EXIM unlocks funds that might not otherwise be available. That's their mission.

You would have to ask Jim why he said what he said. I can tell you that a PR guy saying that he can't say unless he, A. Knows, AND B. Can release it, is standard procedure. He doesn't know the EXIM answer and even if he did, he can't release it. He has to respond in some order. Maybe they're so confident in EXIM, the next priority is funding for the FS.

I've posted all this before. This is my opinion, based exclusively on facts and timelines, not supposition, innuendo or emotion. You're welcome to yours. Perspective is everything and ours are clearly different. I don't read those comments the same way that you do, and I don't view the future the same way you do, especially considering your previous posts. But, I'll give you credit if you actually bought back in.

The first sentence says they are working on multiple funding opportunities. He has said many entities are interested across government and private sectors. Nowhere does it say EXIM needs an updated FS. There are two. I think REEs are cherries on top of the cake. My opinion. Do your own due diligence and make your own investment decisions.

NioCorp initially applied to EXIM 2/2023
EXIM provided an LOI 3/2023.
Drilling was completed 6/2023.
Niocorp formallly applied to EXIM 6/2023
Stellantis came on board 7/2023.
Nebraska’s Senator and Congressman Secure $10 Million in Federal Funding for U.S. Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy Production 9/2023
Niocorp passed first level EXIM review 10/2023
EXIM posted the pending Niocorp transaction in 11/2023
Titanium Is a Strategic Metal – And the U.S. Might Not Have Enough 1/2024
EXIM issued term sheet 4/2023

The U.S. supply of niobium, which is used in steel and superalloys, “has been a concern during every national military emergency since World War I,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey

https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/02/12/u.s.-military-and-nato-face-serious-risks-of-mineral-shortages-pub-91602

Mark said that he hoped that funding would be available, conservatively, by the end of Q2. There is nothing currently in the public domain that I am aware of that makes the end of Q2 impossible. They know the results of the rare earth studies. They could be working on everything simultaneously from multiple angles, but that might justify their salaries and I know many of you feel that's abhorrent. The studies showed they could potentially cut out some steps and possibly reduce costs. This is not 2011, or 2015, or 2019 or 2021. Let's not forget about the latest loan conditions and the payment schedule. Did they just guess and hope that could work?

https://www.voanews.com/a/chinas-rare-earth-minerals-supply-manipulation-could-backfire-132605798/168140.html
://www.exim.gov/
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-receives_800-million-letter-of-interest-from-exim-bank
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-issues-2023-year-in-review-report//
https://www.niocorp.com/niocorp-completes-geotechnical-drilling-campaign-at-the-elk-creek-critical-minerals-mine-site/
https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases/2023/july/stellantis-and-niocorp-sign-rare-earth-offtake-term-sheet-in-support-of-stellantis-commitment-to-reaching-carbon-net-zero-by-2038
https://www.niocorp.com/nebraskas-u-s-senator-deb-fischer-and-congressman-don-bacon-secure-10-million-in-federal-funding-for-u-s-aluminum-scandium-master-alloy-production/
https://news.clearancejobs.com/2024/01/02/titanium-is-a-strategic-metal-and-the-u-s-might-not-have-enough-of-it/