The Energy Report

Source: Streetwise Reports   10/04/2018

Two analysts relayed the relevant background of the newly appointed executive and shared their thoughts about the timing of the replacement.

In a Sept. 27 research note, Eric Zaunscherb, a Canaccord Genuity analyst, reported that eCobalt Solutions Inc.’s (ECS:TSX; ECSIF:OTCQX; ECO:FSE) president/CEO, Paul Farquharson, was retiring as of Oct. 1, 2018, and Michael Callahan was assuming those positions. Farquharson, however, will be present through year-end 2018 to assist through the transition.

“Callahan’s appointment comes after several months of planning, and he is taking the helm at a pivotal time for eCobalt as it advances the Idaho cobalt project toward production,” Zaunscherb noted.

The new president and CEO, an Idaho native, will oversee the release of the optimized feasibility study (OFS) of Idaho, expected in October, and resume project financing discussions.

“Going forward, Callahan will oversee the release of the optimized feasibility study, planned for October 2018, and continue project financing discussions,” wrote Zaunscherb.

As for Callahan’s experience in the mining industry, he most recently was the president of Western Pacific Resources, moving into the CEO role in 2014. While there, he “oversaw restructuring activities in a challenging market as the company focused on rehabilitating and exploring the Deer Trail Mine in Utah,” Zaunscherb relayed.

Prior to that, starting in 2009, Callahan, as president, grew Silvermex Resources Inc. from a $12 million junior explorer into a $175 million gold-silver producer, and left when First Majestic Silver acquired it in 2012.

For the 20 years between 1989 and 2009, Callahan worked at Hecla Mining, holding various finance, accounting and corporate development positions. One highlight was his appointment in 2000 as president of the company’s mining operations in Venezuela.

As for Callahan’s predecessor at eCobalt, Farquharson, he spent more than a quarter-century at the Idaho-based cobalt company, fostering its growth through acquisitions and advancing its Idaho project.

Canaccord Genuity has a Speculative Buy rating and a CA$0.90 per share target price on eCobalt, whose stock is currently trading at around $0.78 per share.

Like Zaunscherb, analyst Craig Hutchison with TD Securities wrote, in a Sept. 27 research report, that indeed eCobalt’s president/CEO substitution is taking place at a critical juncture in the company’s development.

For one, it is about to release the OFS for its flagship project, Idaho, in October, which represents a further postponement beyond the initial Q2/18 and subsequent Q3/18 targets. The extra time affords Callahan the chance to “review the model and projected economics prior to its release,” Hutchison indicated.

Also, the company is in the middle of ongoing dialogues regarding potential financing and offtake agreements. In fact, since pilot-level testing finished, eCobalt has been providing potential offtake partners with a sample of the clean cobalt concentrate it intends to produce. While the company has not indicated when such agreements might be finalized, TD Securities estimates they could take about a year.

As for the appointment of Callahan, his experience with Silvermex will be especially beneficial to eCobalt, Hutchison noted, as it evolves from an explorer/developer into a producer.

Like Canaccord Genuity, TD Securities has a Speculative Buy on eCobalt. Its price target on the company is CA$1.35. Again, eCobalt’s current share price is CA$0.78.

Sign up for our FREE newsletter at: www.streetwisereports.com/get-news

Disclosure:
1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: eCobalt Solutions. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports’ terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.

Disclosures from Canaccord Genuity, eCobalt Solutions Inc., Flash Update, September 27, 2018

Analyst Certification: Each authoring analyst of Canaccord Genuity whose name appears on the front page of this research hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in this research accurately reflect the authoring analyst’s personal, independent and objective views about any and all of the designated investments or relevant issuers discussed herein that are within such authoring analyst’s coverage universe and (ii) no part of the authoring analyst’s compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the authoring analyst in the research.

Analysts employed outside the US are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of Canaccord Genuity Inc. and therefore may not be subject to the FINRA Rule 2241 and NYSE Rule 472 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account.

Required Company-Specific Disclosures (as of date of this publication):

eCobalt Solutions Inc. currently is, or in the past 12 months was, a client of Canaccord Genuity or its affiliated companies. During this period, Canaccord Genuity or its affiliated companies provided investment banking services to eCobalt Solutions Inc.

In the past 12 months, Canaccord Genuity or its affiliated companies have received compensation for Investment Banking services from eCobalt Solutions Inc.

Canaccord Genuity or one or more of its affiliated companies intend to seek or expect to receive compensation for Investment Banking services from eCobalt Solutions Inc. in the next three months.

Disclosures are available here.

Disclosures from TD Securities, eCobalt Solutions Inc., Flash Note, Sept. 27, 2018

Analyst Certification: Each analyst of TD Securities Inc. whose name appears on page 1 of this research report hereby certifies that (i) the recommendations and opinions expressed in the research report accurately reflect the research analyst’s personal views about any and all of the securities or issuers discussed herein that are within the analyst’s coverage universe and (ii) no part of the research analyst’s compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the provision of specific recommendations or views expressed by the research analyst in
the research report.

Full disclosures for all companies covered by TD Securities can be viewed at here.

( Companies Mentioned: ECS:TSX; ECSIF:OTCQX; ECO:FSE,
)