Astron Corporation Limited Donald Mineral Sands Project · Corporation Limited’ domiciled in HK...

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1 Astron Corporation Limited Donald Mineral Sands Project March 2013 Simon Peters, Development Manager ASX Code: ATR

Transcript of Astron Corporation Limited Donald Mineral Sands Project · Corporation Limited’ domiciled in HK...

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    Astron Corporation Limited

    Donald Mineral Sands Project

    March 2013

    Simon Peters, Development Manager

    ASX Code: ATR

  • 2

    Disclaimer, Forward Looking Statements and Competent Person’s Statement

    This presentation has been prepared by Astron Corporation Limited (the “Company or Astron”). It should not

    be considered as an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in the Company or as an

    inducement to make an offer or invitation with respect to those securities. No agreement to subscribe for

    securities in the Company will be entered into on the basis of this presentation. This presentation contains

    forecasts and forward looking information. Such forecasts, projections and information are not a guarantee of

    future performance and involve unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results and developments will almost

    certainly differ materially from those expressed or implied. The Company has not audited or investigated the

    accuracy or completeness of the information, statements and opinions contained in this presentation.

    Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws Astron makes no representation and can give

    no assurance, guarantee or warranty, express or implied, as to, and take no responsibility and assume no

    liability for, the authenticity, validity, accuracy, suitability or completeness of, or any errors in or omission, from

    any information, statement or opinion contained in this presentation. You should not act or refrain from acting

    in reliance on this presentation material. This overview does not purport to be all inclusive or to contain all

    information which its recipients may require in order to make an informed assessment of the Company's

    prospects. You should conduct your own investigation and perform your own analysis in order to satisfy yourself

    as to the accuracy and completeness of the information, statements and opinions contained in this presentation

    before making any investment decisions.

    Competent Person’s Statement

    The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results and Mineral Resources is based on information

    compiled by Dr Boris Matveev, who is a Member of The Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Dr Matveev is a full-

    time employee of Astron Ltd and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and

    type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person

    as defined in the 2004 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resource

    and Ore Reserves’. Dr Matveev consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in

    the form and context in which it appears.

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    Presentation Agenda

    Introducing Astron

    Donald Mineral Sands Project, Murray Basin, Australia

    Project Fit & Market Dynamics

    Conclusion

  • Introducing Astron

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  • 5

    History

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    A Corporate Snapshot

    Listed on ASX since 1983 – holding company ‘Astron Corporation Limited’ domiciled in HK

    Dedicated focus on mineral sands mining and processing

    Tier 1 Donald Project in Murray Basin, Australia

    Near-term production project in Niafarang, Senegal

    Approx. ~$115m of cash; no debt

    25 years in China – strong presence and reputation in mineral sands processing and marketing

    Operate a Chinese mineral sands trading business with close relationships to all key customers

    Technology leader – significant research and technology development

  • Location of Operations

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  • ‘000

    $/share A$m

    Cash and term deposits

    0.94 115

    Donald (including water rights)

    0.41 50

    Niafarang

    0.01 1

    PPE & land use rights

    0.21 26

    Investments

    0.02 2

    Net current assets 0.03 3

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    Astron Corporation Limited - Overview

    Share Price Performance Financials

    ASX Code ATR

    Market Cap A$134m

    Ordinary Shares 122m

    Enterprise Value A$19m

    Net Asset Value A$198m

    Trading at a ~30% discount to net asset value

    Shareholder Structure Asset Value Per Share*

    *As at 31 December 2012

    A$

    Firback Finance Ltd(50%)

    PT Arafua (26%)

    Other Top 20shareholders (15%)

    RemainingShareholders (9%)

    0

    500

    1,000

    1,500

    2,000

    2,500

    3,000

    0.600.700.800.901.001.101.201.301.401.501.60

    Avg Volume Astron S&P ASX 200 (rebased)

  • Donald Mineral Sands Project

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    Donald Mineral Sands Project

    One of the largest undeveloped deposits in the world

    Next Generation Tier 1 resource

    4 billion tonnes of resource at 4.8% THM

    JORC reserve of 150mt

    Stage 1 to produce 950ktpa of HMC; 30 year mine life

    World class location – Murray Basin

    Close to existing infrastructure: port, rail and road

    Standard open-cut mining operation

  • 50km from regional city of Horsham

    Skilled workforce

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    World Class Location

    Intergenerational resource sits within 300km from port

    Road and water networks in place

    300km to ports

    70km to rail hub

  • Astron Tenements

    Historically identified strandline HM mineralisation

    Known extensions of WIM deposits

    5595 sq. km licenses

    Held by subsidiaries Donald Mineral Sands & Sovereign Gold

    Donald & Jackson two of the largest WIM type deposits in the region

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    WIM Style Deposits - Geology

    Geology Hosts Massive multi commodity Resource

    Large, lobate, sheet-like

    Laterally extensive individual heavy mineral lenses separated by barren sand

    Relatively uniform grade over large areas

  • Basis: Rutile price = US$1330/t FOB

    Zircon price = US$2200/t FOB

    Ilmenite price = US$200/t FOB

    • High zircon, high-grade titania

    concentrates

    • High value in ground

    • relative to other mining

    opportunities

    • relative to other feasible projects $0

    $200

    $400

    $600

    $800

    $1,000

    $1,200

    $1,400

    50% 55% 60% 65% 70% 75% 80% 85% 90% 95% 100%

    % TiO2

    Valu

    e o

    f ti

    tan

    ium

    feed

    sto

    ck p

    rod

    ucts

    Murray Basin fine

    concentrates

    Rutile

    Synthetic

    Rutile

    Sulphate

    Ilmenite

    WIM Style Deposits - Opportunities

    • Large ore tonnages

    • Good grade

    • Favourable assemblage

    • High-quality Ti content

    • Rare Earth Credits provide

    multiple opportunities

    Next Generation Product Supply

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    Resource Geology

    • 4,039Mt @ 4.8% HM Measured + Indicated + Inferred Mineral Resource *

    • 461Mt @ 5.9% HM Proved + Probable Ore Reserve**

    • Includes 150mt @ 5.8% HM Proved Ore Reserve

    * combined Measured + Indicated + Inferred Mineral Resource at 1% HM cut-off

    ** calculation: tonnes below 1% HM / tonnes above 1% HM

    AREA AVERAGE GRADE

    HM%

    RESOURCE* (MT)

    AVERAGE STRIP RATIO**

    2 4.5 407 1.6

    3 3.7 951 0.9

    ML 4.5 452 1.3

    4 4.2 267 1.7

    5 5.1 545 1.5

    6 6.1 427 1.7

    7 6.1 486 4.3

    8 5.5 501 4.0

    * ASX announcement dated 1 December 2011

    ** ASX announcement dated 15 June 2012

    ML

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    Previous Challenges now overcome

    Secured long term high security water supply

    Developed process flow with adequate recoveries based on proven technologies

    Developed Hot Zircon Wash process to decrease impurities of Fe U & Th

    Value Adds – Monazites and Tertiary Zircon Products

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    Project Fit & Dynamics

  • 0.0%

    2.9%

    5.9%

    8.8%

    SFX GUN MDL MZI DRX BSE KMR SRX PFP ATR IMA ILU WTR

    To

    tal H

    eav

    y M

    inera

    ls (

    %)

    Average

    Peer Comparison – Highly Competitive

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    264.6

    74.9

    90.3

    90.0

    69.1

    0.8

    18.7

    4.7

    1.6

    70.2

    32.2

    8.1

    12.6

    13.4

    0 50 100 150 200 250 300

    Iluka Resources

    Kenmare Resources

    Sierra Rutile

    Mineral Deposits

    Base Resources

    Astron

    World Titanium Resources

    Sheffield Resources

    Pathfinder Minerals

    Image Resources

    Miatilda Zircon

    Gunson Resources

    Diatreme Resources

    Mineral Commodities EV / Zircon Eq ($A/t)

    Source: Bell Potter, Astron

    0

    200

    400

    600

    800

    1,000

    1,200

    1,400

    1,600

    MZI DRX GUN IMA SFX BSE WTR MDL ATR PFP

    Sale

    ab

    le p

    rod

    ucti

    on

    (K

    tpa)

    Average

    0.00

    0.50

    1.00

    1.50

    2.00

    2.50

    3.00

    3.50

    4.00

    4.50

    IMA SFX GUN DRX ATR(D)

    ATR(N)

    MDL WTR BSE ILU

    Rev

    en

    ue / C

    ost

    (tim

    es)

    *ATR (stage 2)

    SFX – Sheffield Resources

    GUN – Gunson Resources

    MDL – Mineral Deposits

    MZI – Matilda Zircon

    DRX – Diatreme Resources

    BSE – Base Resources

    KMR – Kenmare Resources

    SRX – Sierra Rutile

    PFP – Pathfinder Minerals

    ATR – Astron Corporation

    IMA – Image Resources

    ILU – Iluka Resources

    WTR – World Titanium Resources

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    Donald’s Position & Fit

    Major Comments Major Suppliers

    Summary of Development Projects

    F/Production

    TiO2

    ('000t/pa) Zi

    ('000t/pa) Zi Ratio

    Rank Zi:TiO2 Funding $Am

    (D/E)

    Financed

    Grand Còte Senegal (Mineral Deposits JV with Eramet)

    Late 2013 591 85 4 0.14 198/305

    Kwale, Kenya (Base) Late 2013 330 25 5 0.08 173/140

    Being Financed

    Coburn (Gunson) 2014 106 40 1 0.38

    Donald (Astron) 2015 340 121 2 0.36

    Niafarang (Astron) 2014 82 15 3 0.18 Nil debt

    Toliara Sands (WTR) 2014 407 32 5 0.08

    13%

    16%

    12%

    8% 4%

    4%

    43%

    TiO2 units (6.5Mt)

    Others

    QIT

    (Rio 80%)

    RBM (Rio 74%)

    Exxaro Kenmare

    BeMax

    Iluka

    Astron 4%

    39%

    16%

    13%

    7%

    5%

    4%

    3%

    2% 2% 9%

    Zircon (1.5Mt)

    Others QIT (Rio 80%)

    RBM (Rio 74%)

    Exxaro

    Kenmare

    India

    Iluka

    China

    Indonesia

    BeMax

    Astron

    8%

    • 8% world supply of Zircon

    and 4% of Ti02

    • 80% of revenue from high

    value materials (Zircon and

    Rutile)

    • Largest new Zircon project

    to come on stream

    • Rio Tinto forecast titanium dioxide

    market to grow 46% to 9.5Mtpa

    in 2020

  • • Outlook for pricing has deteriorated

    • Producer inventories have increased

    • Producers managing production to limited further inventory build

    • Outlook for Ti02 is better than zircon

    • Downstream inventories remain low

    Long Term

    Short Term

    Market Dynamics

  • • Fundamentals underlying strong zircon demand growth expectations,

    in particular in China, remain intact

    • Global zircon production will decline unless new resources

    are brought on stream

    • Titanium markets to grow 40-50% by 2020

    • Growth to come from China

    Long Term

    Short Term

    Market Dynamics

  • Conclusion

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    The Astron Value Proposition

    Extensive history

    in Chinese

    marketplace –

    25 year record

    Active mineral

    sands import and

    trading business

    in China

    Massive resource

    base

    Robust long term

    product demand

    Robust balance

    sheet

    Well advanced

    path to

    production

    Major Permits

    in place with

    Understand key

    requirements of

    customers and

    Chinese market

    dynamics

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    For further information please contact

    Simon Peters

    Development Manager Email: [email protected]

    Tel: +61 4 08502248

    Website: www.astronlimited.com