MelloMonday, 13th January 2025, 5pm - 8pm
Programme
5pm Introduction to Mello events in 2025
5:10pm Company Presentation from Tharisa plc
5:40pm Educational Presentation
5:55pm Company Presentation from Polar Capital Global Financials Trust
6:35pm Company Presentation from CQS Natural Resources Growth & Income plc
6.55pm Discussion Panel: The Role of Shareholder Voting with Jonathan Davis, Mark Bentley, Annabel Brodie-Smith and Paul de Gruchy
7:35pm BASH (Buy, Avoid, Sell, Hold) Panel featuring Mark Simpson (Avation)
Company presentation – Tharisa plc
Tharisa is an integrated resource group critical to the energy transition and decarbonisation of economies. It incorporates exploration, mining, processing and the beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics of PGMs and chrome concentrates, using innovation and technology as enablers. Its principal operating asset is the multi-generational Tharisa Mine, located in the south-western limb of the Bushveld Complex, South Africa.
Tharisa is also developing the Karo Platinum Project, a low-cost, open-pit PGM asset located on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe, while simultaneously focusing on beneficiation in the form of chrome and PGM alloys. A 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with Etana for the procurement of wheeled renewable energy and a 40 MW solar project under construction will ensure that Tharisa Minerals’ drive to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 is well within reach, forming a major part of a roadmap to become net carbon neutral by 2050.
Redox One is accelerating the development of a proprietary iron chromium redox flow long-duration battery utilising the commodities we mine. Tharisa plc is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: THA) and the Main Board of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: THS).
Phoevos Pouroulis, Chief Executive Officer
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science and Business Administration, (Boston University, USA)
Phoevos Pouroulis is the Chief Executive Officer of the Tharisa plc, with responsibility for overall strategy and management. Phoevos has held various senior managerial and operational positions in his more than 21-year career. He has extensive experience in project management, mining design, commissioning and mining operations, including PGM and chrome, having been involved in South Africa’s mining industry since 2003. He has served as Commercial Director for Chromex Mining plc and was a founding member of Keaton Energy. Phoevos currently serves on the board of the World Platinum Investment Council.
Company presentation – Polar Capital
Polar Capital is a specialist, investment-led, active fund manager. The company prides itself on its collegiate and meritocratic culture where capacity of investment strategies is managed to enhance and protect performance. Since its foundation in 2001, it has grown steadily and currently has 14 autonomous investment teams managing specialist, active and capacity constrained portfolios, with combined AUM of £23.9 billion (as at 08 November 2024).
George Barrow, Fund Manager
George joined Polar Capital in September 2010 as an analyst on the Financials Team. He is a co-manager on the Polar Capital Financial Opportunities Fund, with John Yakas, and the Polar Capital Global Financials Trust, with John and Nick Brind. He has over 10 years’ experience analysing Europe, Asia and emerging markets. Prior to joining Polar Capital, he was an analyst at HIM Capital from 2008 where he completed his IMC.
Company Presentation – CQS Natural Resources Growth & Income plc
The Company actively invests in global energy and mining companies, with a focus on total return. It also pays a regular quarterly dividend. The flexible mandate allows the Company to shift its portfolio weighting between energy and mining, with the aim of maximising returns depending on the point in the cycle, whilst providing relative value opportunities.
The closed end structure is well suited to allowing the investment management team to focus on the best returns profile, rather than liquidity as is the case with Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”). The nature of this focus results in the Company holding a large proportion in names that fall just below major index or ETF inclusion, adding additional upside potential should they become included.
The portfolio is invested mostly in producers, with strong earnings profiles and market caps around £300m to £2bn, although also below and above this range. North America, Australia or the UK. The majority of holdings are listed in North America, Australia or the UK.
Robert Crayfourd
Robert Crayfourd joined the CQS team in 2011. He holds a BSc in Geological Sciences from the University of Leeds and is a CFA holder with over 15 years’ experience, having previously worked for the Universities Superannuation Scheme and HSBC Global Asset Management where he focused on the resource sector.
Keith Watson joined the CQS team in 2013. Prior to this he held senior analyst, research and portfolio manager roles across Mirabaud Securities, Evolution Securities, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Commerzbank and Credit Suisse/BZW. Keith began his career in 1992 at Scottish Amicable Investment Managers and has a BSc (Hons) in Applied Physics from Durham University.
Keith Watson
Discussion Panel: The Role of Shareholder Voting with Jonathan Davis, Mark Bentley, Annabel Brodie-Smith and Paul de Gruchy
Mark Bentley
Private Investor
Annabel Brodie-Smith
The AIC
Paul de Gruchy – ShareSoc Director
Jonathan Davis
Presenter of the Money Makers
The Mello BASH (Buy, Avoid, Sell & Hold)
Mark Simpson, Private Investor