Top Stories This Week: Gold Awaits Fed Meeting, Who's Funding Juniors Right Now?

Experts focus on financing for juniors at Roundup

This week I had the chance to attend the AME Roundup in Vancouver. This event is described as being "by explorers for explorers," and it brings together geoscientists and prospectors, as well as financiers, investors and other key industry players.

Financing was a topic that received a lot of attention, and for good reason — 2022's volatility made it a tough year for many juniors to raise money. In a presentation, mining finance executive Daniella Dimitrov highlighted how important it's becoming to source capital from different areas, including royalty and streaming companies and alternative debt providers.

Cassie Boggs of Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) also spoke about the financing challenge for juniors, saying that while the world is finally recognizing the importance of mining, new sources of cash are becoming increasingly necessary. She mentioned the rise of family offices, and also said more mid-tier miners are looking to work with juniors. Aside from that, supply chain security initiatives are boosting government support for some commodities.

Well-known investor and speculator Rick Rule had his own tips for juniors looking for funds. He said he's actively looking to write checks — but only for companies that can get through his extensive vetting process. Among other requirements, he wants to see management teams that can explain what questions they would address with the money he might provide.

INN gearing up for VRIC

With Roundup in the books, the INN team is now gearing up for the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, scheduled to run from January 29 to 30. I'll be there interviewing resource sector favorites like Rick Rule, Ross Beaty, Lobo Tiggre and more — if you have any questions you want me to ask, please send me an email at cmcleod@investingnews.com.