1. OCTOBER 2010
Group 150
October 2010
Darren Martin
Gresham Advisory Partners
dmartin@gresham.com.au
+61 8 9486 7077
+61 412 144 719
ASX RESOURCES - GROUP 150
We are pleased to present the October edition of ‘Group 150’, a ranking of the top 150 ASX listed resources companies (excluding oil and
gas), by market capitalisation.
The market value of the Group 150 at the end of September was $525 billion, up 8.1% from August. An incredible 141 of the Group 150
companies recorded an increase in market value during the month. The entry point into the Group 150 for September was $95 million
versus $77 million for August. The ASX/S&P 200 Resources Index rose 5.7% in the month, while the ASX All Ordinaries and ASX/S&P 200
Index increased 4.5% and 4.1% respectively.
The most interesting developments over the past month have been in the currency rather than equities markets. The Australian dollar
continued its steady rise against most currencies in September, increasing 8.8% to a high of 97.3 US cents on the back of a potential
increase in interest rates by the Reserve Bank and a widespread expectation that the US Federal Reserve will undertake a second round
of quantitative easing in November.
During September we also witnessed a record surge in precious metals prices in US$ terms. Gold reached US$1315 per ounce and silver
achieved US$22 an ounce—the highest since 1980. Gold and silver prices have increased 19% and 29% respectively since the start of
2010. Platinum increased 9% and Palladium increased 16% in US dollar terms during the month.
Given the strength in the gold price, we thought it timely to complete an assessment of the ASX listed gold landscape in the past 10 years.
The number of Australian listed gold producers has shrunk dramatically over that period, with only 7 out of 25 listed companies surviving
the wave of domestic mergers and foreign acquisitions. The consolidation in the sector has also seen the annual production by Australian
listed gold companies decline from 8.9m oz in 2000 to 5.6m oz in 2010. Currently there are 43 listed gold companies in the Group150.
So, the interesting question remains - who will survive the next 12 months, let alone the next 10 years? Starved for choice at the top end
(+500koz per annum) following Newcrest’s acquisition of Lihir, both local and international investors are now actively seeking exposure
to the Australian mid tier and near term producers, leading to a gradual increase in market ratings. This exposure also provides leverage
to the likely wave of in-market consolidation in the sector, as local producers pursue scale to replace the “Lihir void”. We also expect North
American gold companies to continue to selectively seek to acquire the best assets (like Andean) to exploit ratings arbitrage between the
two markets. Played right, some Australian gold shareholders may enjoy and capture the “double premium”.
In this edition of the Group 150, we have updated the “MRRT-impact” chart from the September edition, to determine whether the market
capitalisation of the constituents of the Group 150 have recovered following the outcome of the election. As presented in the last edition
the MRRT, as presently conceived has a long path to travel before it becomes legislation. The average market value of domestic focussed
companies since the proposed MRRT was announced has increased 42.3% (vs 20.0% in August and 15.4% July). International focused
companies increased 49.1% (vs 14.1% in August and 7.6% in July).
Gresham Advisory Partners Limited
Gresham Advisory Partners is a leading Australian mergers and acquisitions/corporate advisory
Edition 7 business and one of Australia’s largest and highest ranking independent corporate advisors.
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4. Group 150
Group 150 mArkeT cApiTALiSATion ASX indeX performAnce - SepTember
Group 150 SecTor mArkeT cApiTALiSATion - SepTember
Market Capitalisation (A$b)
merGer & AcquiSiTionS - Announced in SepTember
Percent Premium - Premium -
Date Value Consideration
Target Acquirer Sought 1 Day Prior 1 Month Prior
Announced (A$m) Offered
(%) (%) (%)
Common
Anatolia Minerals Development Ltd. Equity; Rights
8-Sep-2010 Avoca Resources Ltd. (ASX:AVO) 1,147.2 100 10.7 24.7
(TSX:ANO) / Warrants /
Options
2-Sep-2010 Andean Resources Ltd. (ASX:AND) Goldcorp Inc. (NYSE:GG) 3,637.8 100 34.2 79.4 Elections
Source: Capital IQ
Announced Australian Resources (excluding oil and gas) Mergers and Acquisitions >A$10m
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5. OCTOBER 2010
who wiLL Survive The neXT 10 YeArS? - ASX LiSTed GoLd compAnieS
The Australian listed gold producers have shrunk dramatically since 2000, with only 7 out of 25 surviving the wave of domestic mergers
and foreign acquisitions. The recent acquisition of Lihir by Newcrest, further widens the gap to the up and coming mid tier producers
- NCM’s proforma FY10 production of ~2.8m ozs is ~8x larger than the next biggest producer in Resolute with 352k oz.
The consolidation in the sector has seen the annual Australian listed gold production decline from 8.9moz in 2000 to 5.6moz in 2010.
Starved for choice at the top end (+500koz per annum) following Newcrest’s acquisition of Lihir, both local and international investors
are now actively seeking exposure to the Australian mid tier and near term producers, leading to a gradual increase in market ratings.
This exposure also provides leverage to the likely wave of in-market consolidation in the sector, as local producers pursue scale to
replace the “Lihir void”. We also expect North American gold companies to continue to selectively seek to acquire the best assets (like
Andean) to exploit ratings arbitrage between the two markets. Played right, some Australian gold shareholders may enjoy and capture
the “double premium”.
So the interesting question remains - who will survive the next 12 months let alone the next 10 years?
2000 Annual Production of Gold
2010 - Annual Gold Production (‘000 oz)
8.9 Moz produced by
30 listed gold companies
ASX gold universe in 2000
2010 Annual Production of Gold
2010 - Annual Gold Production (‘000 oz)
5.6 Moz produced by
43* listed gold companies
New gold companies since 2000
Source: Gresham, Company Reports
*
Currently in the Group 150
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6. Group 150
Group 150 - “mrrT impAcT” - bASed on projecT/S LocATion
The “MRRT-Impact” chart below, supports the resurgence of the resources sector in the past month. As discussed in the last edition the
MRRT, as presently conceived has a long path to travel before it becomes legislation.
The average market value of domestic focussed companies since the proposed MRRT was announced has rebounded 42.3% (vs 20.0%
and 15.4% at the end of August and July respectively), while international focussed peers increased 49.1% (vs 14.1% and 7.6% at the
end of Auguts and July respectively). Global diversified companies have also recovered 27.3% (vs 13.7% and 14.3%) during the same
period.
Market Capitalisation - Performance Since Proposed MRRT Announced
Overseas/
Monthly Performance Overseas Domestic Total
Domestic
End of September
Spread of "Group 150" by Project/s Location 51 81 16 148
- Simple Average Return 49.1% 42.3% 27.3%
End of August
Spread of "Group 150" by Project/s Location 47 85 16 148
- Simple Average Return 14.1% 20.0% 13.7%
End of July
Spread of "Group 150" by Project/s Location 49 84 16 149
- Simple Average Return 7.6% 15.4% 14.3%
Only 148 companies in September and August data set as Astron Resources and Guildford Coal were new IPO’s during the period
Only 149 companies in July data set as Guildford Coal was new IPO’s during the period
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7. OCTOBER 2010
bASe meTALS - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Copper Nickel Zinc
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
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8. Group 150
coAL - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
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9. OCTOBER 2010
diverSified - SecTor performAnce induSTriAL minerALS - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance
9
10. Group 150
GoLd - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
10
11. OCTOBER 2010
iron ore - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
11
12. Group 150
urAnium - SecTor performAnce
Share Price Performance - September 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 30 June 2010
Share Price Performance
Share Price Performance - Since 1 Jan 2010
Share Price Performance
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14. recenT reSourceS TrAnSAcTionS
Group 150
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and Acquisitions
2010 2009
GRAM
2009 2009 2008 2008 2006
Advised BHP Advised BG Advised Guandong Advised Allied Gold Advised Kalahari Advised Gem Advised IAMGOLD
Billiton on its Group on its $1bn Rising on its $216m on its $54m Minerals on its Diamonds on its Corporation on its
$204m offer for takeover offer for cornerstone acquisition of $140m proposed $300m acquisition $265m acquisition
United Minerals Pure Energy investment in Pan Australian merger with of Kimberley of Gallery Gold.
Corporation. Resources Aust. Solomons Gold. Extract Resources. Diamonds.
Limited.
TakeoverDefence
Takeover Defence
2010 2010 2010 2009 2009 2007 2007
Advised Polaris Advised Indophil Advised Advised Energy Advised Brandrill Advised Summit Advised Tethyan on
Metals NL on on $545m Centaurus Metals on its $86m Limited on its Resources on its its $220m
$178m takeover recommended Resources on its proportional takeover $45m takeover A$1.2bn takeover competing takeover
offer by Mineral offer from Zijin $20m merger offer by China offer by Ausdrill by Paladin Energy. offer by Crosby and
Resources with Glengarry Guangdong Nuclear Limited. Antogafasta/Barrick.
Limited. Resources. Power Group.
Strategic Advisory, JointJoint Ventures and Capital Markets
Strategic Advisory, Ventures and Capital Markets
2010 2010 2009 2008 2009/08 2008 2008
Advised BHP Introduced Advised BHP Advised Advised Iluka on its Advised Advised Iluka
Billiton on its Denham Capital to Billiton on the Bannerman $114m Murchison Metals Resources on its
US$116bn iron Trans Tasman disposal of the Resources on its institutional on its joint venture $54m Narama coal
ore production Resources resulting Yabulu Nickel financing with placement and with Mitsubishi. divestment to
joint venture with in NZ iron sands refinery. Resource Capital $353m accelerated Xstrata.
Rio Tinto. investment. Funds. right issue.
Gresham Advisory Partners Limited
A.B.N. 97 003 344 269
Level 17, 167 Macquarie Street, Level 10, 1 Collins Street, Level 3, 28 The Esplanade,
Sydney NSW 2000 Melbourne VIC 3000 Perth WA 6000
Telephone: 61 2 9221 5133 Telephone: 61 3 9664 0300 Telephone: 61 8 9486 7077
Facsimile: 61 2 9221 6814 Facsimile: 61 3 9650 7722 Facsimile: 61 8 9486 7024
Website: www.gresham.com.au
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