House Mountain Partners

WLCDF

2016: There's Something in the Air

Chris Berry2 Comments

By Chris Berry (@cberry1)

For a PDF version of this note, please click here.

As is the case this time of year, we start to close the books on 2015 and position for 2016. While we have effectively and indefinitely moved “to the sidelines” with respect to stock picking in the junior mining space, there were some notable successes, in particular with the merger between Western Lithium (WLC:TSXV) and Lithium Americas. This combination positions the new company in a unique strategic light as electrification, underpinned by the lithium ion battery, gathers steam in 2016. Galaxy Lithium’s (GXY:ASX) restructuring is another positive development. We’ll be watching the developments with these two companies closely.

In 2015, there was very little to be cheerful about in the metals markets and to be blunt, we expect this malaise to continue into 2016. China’s RMB devaluation last summer...

Tesla Buys an Out of the Money Call Option on Lithium Supply

Chris Berry2 Comments

By Chris Berry (@cberry1)

For a PDF version of this note, please click here.

 

It’s been interesting to read the mainstream media’s impression of the recently announced lithium hydroxide supply deal between Tesla Motors (TSLA:NASDAQ) and Rare Earth Minerals PLC (REM:LON) and Bacanora Minerals (BCN:TSXV, BCN:LON), a joint venture with lithium concessions in Mexico. Arguably the biggest misconception is that TSLA has consummated a deal with companies operating an existing mine. This is not the case as the deposit at the center of the agreement is just that – a deposit.  

Semantics aside, the agreement between the companies offers an interesting window into TSLA’s supply chain strategies, and in the end what the company has really done has purchased an out of the money call option on future lithium supply.