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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSIONS ON FINANCING<br />

EXPLORATION FOR SEAFLOOR MASSIVE SULPHIDES DEPOSITS<br />

Summary of the presentation.<br />

Mr. Malnic said that when he was asked to speak about critical<br />

factors in financing seafloor massive sulphides exploration, initially it<br />

sounded a little bit difficult but fairly soon he realized that it was actually<br />

very easy because he only had to dig through Nautilus’ experience. He said<br />

that his presentation would try and touch on a very wide range of aspects<br />

involved in financing massive sulphides exploration. He added that many of<br />

the factors are non-technical and that they relate to the kind of information<br />

that investors look for, the kind of returns that investors are seeking, and why<br />

some investors want to put money into mineral deposits such as seafloor<br />

massive sulphides. He said that Nautilus <strong>Minerals</strong> Company has been<br />

seeking financing from public and private investors and institutions. In this<br />

regard, Mr. Malnic pointed out the range of different types of capital and said<br />

that the purposes of each type of capital vary.<br />

Mr. Malnic said that with exploration for seafloor massive sulphides<br />

barely half a decade old, there are no good statistical models for raising<br />

exploration finance for such deposits. Mr. Malnic said that whilst raising<br />

exploration financing for seafloor massive sulphides has a lot in common with<br />

traditional capital raising for land-based deposits there are some significant<br />

differences. Mr. Malnic said that when established in 1994 as a pioneer in<br />

this field, Nautilus <strong>Minerals</strong> had no idea of what to expect. Recalling the<br />

sequence of events, he said that the company’s first act was to apply for<br />

mineral licences in the waters of Papua New Guinea. When the licenses were<br />

granted, Mr. Malnic said that the whole world took off for the company. He<br />

also said that there was a large media interest.<br />

He said that one of the options being considered by the company is<br />

whether to offer shares of the company to the public. He noted that with this<br />

approach, Nautilus would be required to offer the titles for the deposits as<br />

security for the transaction. He said that the project capital being sought<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 346

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