Lycaon Resources Ltd (ASX:LYN)

Investment Memo:

Lycaon Resources Ltd (ASX:LYN)

- LIVE

Opened: 30-Nov-2022

Shares Held at Open: 2,631,247

What does LYN do?

Lycaon Resources (ASX: LYN) is a junior explorer focused on making a valuable metals discovery in Western Australia.

LYN is currently exploring for niobium, rare earths, nickel and copper.

What is the macro theme?

Niobium and rare earths exploration in the newly opened West Arunta region in WA. WA1 Resources recently made a discovery here, which saw it run from 13c to over $2.

Niobium, rare earths, copper and nickel, are highly topical “energy transition metals”. New supplies are needed to move the world away from fossil fuels.

Why did we invest in LYN?

Ground pegged before a region opening discovery

LYN holds a GRANTED Exploration licence in an emerging rare earths/critical minerals region. This means LYN can start firming up a drilling program over the project area immediately. LYN’s project is ~94km north of WA1 Resources and Encounter Resources.

Similar drill target to WA1 Resources

WA1 Resources discovery was made after the company drilled into a distinct geophysical anomaly. LYN’s project hosts a similar geophysical anomaly that warrants drill testing. We see this as a key drilling target for LYN.

Neighbour Encounter Resources firms up 2023 drill targets [30-Nov-2022]

Historic data confirming the right type of geology

In 1982, BHP ran a six hole drilling program on LYN’s ground and intersected “intrusives and strong carbonate alteration” that may be prospective for rare earth carbonatite mineralisation. BHP’s intercepts came from only 6m below the surface. BHP at the time were attempting to drill for diamonds.

Low shares on issue & tight capital structure

LYN has only ~34.5 million shares on issue, with ~4 million in escrow until November 2023. If a new discovery is made, the supply of shares available to buy could be relatively low, which may increase the strength of a re-rate in the company’s share price, should it materialise.

Relatively low market cap leveraged to exploration success

LYN has a current market cap of $18M, with $3.3M in cash at Sept 30, 2022, and an enterprise value of $14.7M. If a successful discovery is made, the share price should re-rate significantly. For example a ~$70M market cap on the back of a discovery would see LYN trading at around $2.

Neighbour Encounter Resources firms up 2023 drill targets [30-Nov-2022]

What do we expect LYN to deliver?

Objective #1: Pre drilling work at its niobium & rare earths project in WA.

We want to see LYN complete target generation work to refine its existing data further. This work will help improve the company’s understanding of its project and help design a drilling program.

LYN granted West Arunta ground near $336M WA1 Resources [31-Jul-2023]
LYN secures land access in the West Arunta, near WA1 Resources [18-Sep-2023]

Milestones

not done Geochemical surveys

not done Geophysical surveys

Lycaon upgrades its Niobium-REE Targets [12-Dec-2022]

Objective #2: Drilling at its niobium & rare earths project in WA.

We want to see LYN get on the ground and drill its project in the West Arunta region.

Milestones

not done Commence drilling

not done Assay results

Objective #3: Target generation and then drilling at its Nickel/Copper/PGE projects

We want to see LYN complete target generation work across its other projects to identify the highest-priority drill targets. We want to see at least one of these projects get drill tested in 2023.

LYN: A look at the coming field season [17-Mar-2023]

Milestones

complete Geophysical surveys

Helicopter EM surveys identify potential drilling targets [23-Feb-2023]

complete Geochemical surveys

complete Commence drilling

LYN hits nickel-copper sulphides at Bow River. [04-Sep-2023]

complete Assay results

What could go wrong?

Exploration risk

LYN is yet to make an economic discovery, with all of its projects considered early stage prospects. Inherently there is a risk that future drilling programs return nothing and LYN’s projects are considered stranded. There is plenty of time before drilling starts in 2023 - so there could be periods of share price weakness prior to drilling.

LYN hits nickel-copper sulphides at Bow River. [04-Sep-2023]

Macro Theme Risk

The West Arunta province is hot right now after WA1’s discovery and incredible share price run, but it could cool off before LYN drills its West Arunta prospect in the second half of 2023.

Nearology Risk

We have observed that Nearology plays rarely succeed - as we have seen over the years with failed investments in the Fraser Range Nickel rush, the Julimar Province PGE rush and the Earaheedy Basin lead-zinc rush. Whilst LYN’s current key project sits near existing discoveries and is prospective, the chances of the company actually making a discovery are low.

Funding risk

LYN is a junior explorer with no revenues to fall back on to fund its exploration. As a result, the company relies on new funding for future exploration programs. LYN may need to regularly raise new capital from investors to finance its exploration programs.

LYN raises $1.5M to fund drilling & advance land access [27-Jul-2023]

Market risk

LYN is an early stage exploration company chasing new discoveries. There is always a risk that a market wide sell off will hurt LYN’s share price the most, given investors will look to withdraw capital from the higher risk investments in their portfolios first.

What is our investment plan?

We are a substantial holder in LYN with 7.13% of the company. We Invested in the 10c pre-IPO, at the 20c IPO and again at 40c. Our average entry price over the last 18 months is 25.6c.

There are still at least three months before any drilling will take place (from the time of publishing this memo) - leaving plenty of time for a “pre-drill result speculation” price rise to creep in and probably also a few quiet periods where the share price may drift down.

The key goal is to hold a material position for discovery, but if the share price is trading at over $1.20 in March/April next year, we will consider selling around 15% of the position to de-risk, claiming some capital back for tax, operational costs and new investments elsewhere which is our general model.

Also see our trading policy here

Disclosure: S3 Consortium Pty Ltd (the Company) and Associated Entities own 2,631,250 LYN shares and 300,000 LYN options at the time of publishing this memo. The Company has been engaged by LYN to share our commentary on the progress of our Investment in LYN over time.