Northisle Copper & Gold (TSXV:NCX) - $2B NPV Project Signals Significant Value Gap at Current Prices

Jun 12, 2025

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Interview with Sam Lee, President & CEO of NorthIsle Copper & Gold Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/northisle-copper-gold-tsxvncx-long-life-high-margin-canadian-project-6739

Recording date: 5th June 2025

Northisle Copper & Gold is positioning itself as a premier copper-gold development story, combining exceptional project economics with strategic board additions that signal institutional credibility. Led by President and CEO Sam Lee, the company has assembled a world-class team to advance what it characterizes as an extraordinary project trading at significant discount to its underlying value.

The company's preliminary economic assessment reveals compelling fundamentals: a CAD$2 billion NPV after tax with 45% internal rate of return over 29 years at conservative metal prices. At current spot prices of $4.60 copper and $2,900 gold, the economics expand to a remarkable CAD$3.7 billion NPV. Despite these metrics, Northisle trades at approximately $250 million market capitalization, representing just 0.1 times net asset value.

Strategic board appointments underscore the project's institutional appeal. Alex Davidson, a 30-year Barrick Gold executive vice president instrumental in identifying major global gold projects, brings unparalleled operational expertise. "If there's a major gold project in this world, Alex has touched it somehow," Lee noted. Complementing Davidson's experience, Dr. Pablo Mejia, former VP of Exploration at Ero Copper, contributes AI-driven geological analysis capabilities to unlock value from the project's extensive 60-year database.

The company has engineered a phased development strategy that prioritizes high-grade, high-margin zones delivering 70% EBITDA margins. This approach, following the successful Teck Resources model, uses early gold production of 200,000 ounces annually to fund broader district development across a 35-kilometer porphyry system.

Northisle's systematic exploration approach has delivered consistent results, with four consecutive phases generating a 3:1 return ratio—each $7 million drilling program translating to $25-30 million market capitalization increases. This disciplined execution, combined with strong political support for Canadian critical mineral development and strategic tidewater access on Vancouver Island, positions Northisle as a compelling investment opportunity in an increasingly strategic sector.

View NorthIsle Copper & Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/northisle-copper-gold