Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The 2023 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" was commodity heavy with 4 of our 5 picks coming from this sector. Three out of five declined between 15-25%. </li>
<li>Our best performer was unloved <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mongolian-mining-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4382:1" rel="noopener">Mongolian Mining (975 HK)</a> which returned 234% even beating <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nvidia-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5891:1" rel="noopener">NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US)</a> YTD performance.  Miracles happen: Coal mining beats AI.</li>
<li>Our 2024 vintage of top ideas for the year will hopefully have a higher hit ratio. See below for more details which are our five high conviction ideas for 2024.</li>
</ul>


The 2023 vintage of "5 High Conviction Ideas" was commodity heavy with 4 of our 5 picks coming from this sector. Three out of five declined between 15-25%. 
Our best performer was unloved Mongolian Mining (975 HK) which returned 234% even beating NVIDIA Corp (NVDA US) YTD performance.  Miracles happen: Coal mining beats AI.
Our 2024 vintage of top ideas for the year will hopefully have a higher hit ratio. See below for more details which are our five high conviction ideas for 2024.


Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/los-andes-copper-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35434:1" rel="noopener">Los Andes Copper Ltd (LA CN)</a> published its long-awaited PFS in late February. The PFS shows an NPV of 2.77 billion USD vs a 240 million USD market cap.</li>
<li>In our opinion, LA is one of the largest, Chile-based copper miners without a strategic investment partner. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lundin-mining-corp-92352503-3781-4fcb-a4db-62e6f6343783" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25356:1" rel="noopener">Lundin Mining (LUN CN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hudbay-minerals-inc-79e1a8a8-5377-44fa-b0d2-453fa494a1fa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33286:1" rel="noopener">,  Hudbay Minerals Inc (HBM US) and </a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/glencore-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:764:1" rel="noopener">Glencore Plc (GLEN LN)</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hudbay-minerals-inc-79e1a8a8-5377-44fa-b0d2-453fa494a1fa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:33286:1" rel="noopener"> have announced offers for copper producers recently. Last year Rio and BHP also made copper acquisitions.</a>
</li>
</ul>



Los Andes Copper Ltd (LA CN) published its long-awaited PFS in late February. The PFS shows an NPV of 2.77 billion USD vs a 240 million USD market cap.
In our opinion, LA is one of the largest, Chile-based copper miners without a strategic investment partner. 

Lundin Mining (LUN CN),  Hudbay Minerals Inc (HBM US) and Glencore Plc (GLEN LN) have announced offers for copper producers recently. Last year Rio and BHP also made copper acquisitions.



Los Andes Copper: PFS Published and M&A Scene Heating Up

<ul>
<li>Our insight <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/2024-high-conviction-junior-copper-miners" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:122425" rel="noopener">2024 High Conviction: Junior Copper Miners</a> garnered significant interest in late 2023, we hereby provide an update on our favorite junior copper names.</li>
<li>Copper prices have started to to tick up (+5% YTD) on the back of gold making new all-time highs late in 1Q24, and more importantly squeezed global supply.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/entree-resources-ltd-3aeeb68c-80d0-4ada-822e-898883fbb28e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26727:1" rel="noopener">Entree Resources (ETG CN) </a>has performed strongest +22% while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arras-minerals-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40384:1" rel="noopener">Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY)</a> has been a laggard at -18% YTD.</li>
</ul>


Our insight 2024 High Conviction: Junior Copper Miners garnered significant interest in late 2023, we hereby provide an update on our favorite junior copper names.
Copper prices have started to to tick up (+5% YTD) on the back of gold making new all-time highs late in 1Q24, and more importantly squeezed global supply.

Entree Resources (ETG CN) has performed strongest +22% while Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY) has been a laggard at -18% YTD.


Junior Copper Miners: An Update After 1Q24

<ul>
<li>2023 was the year of Uranium. Both the underlying commodity and most uranium equity-linked stories performed strongly.</li>
<li>2024 will be the story about copper and supply side issues becoming front and center as the "energy transition" benefits copper usage.</li>
<li>Buy a basket of junior copper companies with high M&amp;A likelihood such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/los-andes-copper-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35434:1" rel="noopener">Los Andes Copper Ltd (LA CN)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/solaris-resources-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40176:1" rel="noopener">Solaris Resources (SLS CN),</a> <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/arras-minerals-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40384" rel="noopener">Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/entree-resources-ltd-3aeeb68c-80d0-4ada-822e-898883fbb28e" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26727:1" rel="noopener">Entree Resources (ETG CN)</a>. </li>
</ul>


2023 was the year of Uranium. Both the underlying commodity and most uranium equity-linked stories performed strongly.
2024 will be the story about copper and supply side issues becoming front and center as the "energy transition" benefits copper usage.
Buy a basket of junior copper companies with high M&amp;A likelihood such as Los Andes Copper Ltd (LA CN), Solaris Resources (SLS CN), Arras Minerals (ARK V EQUITY), and Entree Resources (ETG CN). 


2024 High Conviction: Junior Copper Miners

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/solaris-resources-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:40176:1" rel="noopener">Solaris Resources (SLS CN)</a> yesterday announced it engaged Chinese investment bank CICC to help it with unsolicited M&amp;A approaches.</li>
<li>Solaris, Filo, Entree Resources, and Los Andes Copper are just four of the junior copper miners screening extremely well on M&amp;A criteria. </li>
<li>Most copper supply/demand models forecast a large supply shortage of copper in the coming decade. Junior copper miners with large deposits will become increasingly valuable.</li>
</ul>



Solaris Resources (SLS CN) yesterday announced it engaged Chinese investment bank CICC to help it with unsolicited M&amp;A approaches.
Solaris, Filo, Entree Resources, and Los Andes Copper are just four of the junior copper miners screening extremely well on M&amp;A criteria. 
Most copper supply/demand models forecast a large supply shortage of copper in the coming decade. Junior copper miners with large deposits will become increasingly valuable.


Chinese Interest in Solaris Resources Highlights Value in Junior Copper Equities

Canada

Los Andes Copper Ltd. explores for copper in Latin America.

Los Andes Copper Ltd (LA CN)

Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Our stand-out performer in FY23 was little loved Mongolia Mining. For FY24 we provide five new names which we think can perform strongly.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Los Andes Copper: PFS Published and M&A Scene Heating Up

Los Andes Copper is a sitting duck in the current copper M&A frenzy. Lundin, Hudbay and Glencore have all recently announced copper acquisitions....

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Junior Copper Miners: An Update After 1Q24

Update on favorite junior copper miners as copper prices rise, Entree Resources (+22%) outperforms while Arras Minerals (-18%) lags.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

2024 High Conviction: Junior Copper Miners

2023 was a strong year for uranium in 2024 it could be copper's time to shine due to supply issues and the "energy transition." Consider investing...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Chinese Interest in Solaris Resources Highlights Value in Junior Copper Equities

Solaris Resources appointed Chinese investment bank CICC to look at all M&A approaches going forward. Media reports suggest multiple bidders are...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Overview of My Winners and Losers in 2023...and 5 High Conviction Ideas Going Into 2024

Our stand-out performer in FY23 was little loved Mongolia Mining. For FY24 we provide five new names which we think can perform strongly.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Los Andes Copper: PFS Published and M&A Scene Heating Up

Los Andes Copper is a sitting duck in the current copper M&A frenzy. Lundin, Hudbay and Glencore have all recently announced copper acquisitions....

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Junior Copper Miners: An Update After 1Q24

​Update on favorite junior copper miners as copper prices rise, Entree Resources (+22%) outperforms while Arras Minerals (-18%) lags.

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

2024 High Conviction: Junior Copper Miners

​2023 was a strong year for uranium in 2024 it could be copper's time to shine due to supply issues and the "energy transition." Consider investing...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Chinese Interest in Solaris Resources Highlights Value in Junior Copper Equities

Solaris Resources appointed Chinese investment bank CICC to look at all M&A approaches going forward. Media reports suggest multiple bidders are...

Nicolas Van Broekhoven

Update on favorite junior copper miners as copper prices rise, Entree Resources (+22%) outperforms while Arras Minerals (-18%) lags.

2023 was a strong year for uranium in 2024 it could be copper's time to shine due to supply issues and the "energy transition." Consider investing...