The Sprott Natural Resources Symposium kicks off in Vancouver today.
It’s the first time in the three year history of the Sprott conference that junior resource markets are buoyant, and many of the best promoters in the business will be there to sell their wares.
The four-day event connects retail investors with natural resources experts and some of the junior mining companies Sprott does business with.
Investors from around the world attend pay up to US $899 to attend, on top of travel expenses. That makes for a committed and well-heeled audience.
The event takes place at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and is fully sold out, reflecting the revival in resource capital markets. For those without a ticket, there should be plenty of action in the nearby bars and restaurants.
Here’s a quick guide to the Sprott conference, from a veteran of these shows.
Tonight is checkin and networking in the Pacific Ballroom. Don’t get too carried away at the bar as it’s going to be a long week.
TUESDAY
Tuesday morning—July 26- Stansberry Research editor Steve Sjuggerud is speaking at 8:20am on his best investing ideas right now. Sjuggerud is the best followed newsletter writer at the conference, and will provide investors with a generalist’s view of the gold sector.
Sprott USA Chairman Rick Rule will introduce all of the exhibiting companies at 9:30am in Alphabetical order. This serves the dual purpose of helping attendees understand who’s who and Rule may provide a unique comment and his outlook on each. It's also marketing for the exhibitors.
A few of mining’s best presenters are up Tuesday at 11am: Amir Adnani, Ivan Bebek and Keith Neumeyer.
Mining legend Robert Friedland follows in a Q&A with Sprott’s Rule. Friedland has a large following in Vancouver and his presentations here have led to short-term volume and share price increases for his Ivanhoe Mines TSX:IVN previously.
Author, financier and gold aficionado Jim Rickards is hosting a lunch at 1:05pm. He’s the most credible pro-gold voice out there today and I wouldn’t miss his presentation.
Exploration analyst Brent Cook is hosting a panel on prospect generators at 3pm with a few quality executives from the space.
Tuesday afternoon workshops include Gold Standard Ventures, Mariana Resources, GoviEx Uranium (CEO.CA sponsor), Newmarket Gold and Dalradian Resources.
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday morning presentations are worth getting up early for. Sprott’s Rick Rule, Silver Wheaton’s Randy Smallwood, Adrian Day, Morgan Poliquin and Rudi Fronk are veterans of the industry with mostly good reputations.
I’d be interested to catch newsletter writer Sean Brodrick at 11:15am and McEwen Mining CEO and mogul Rob McEwen at 12:20. McEwen is on again at 3pm.
Afternoon workshops include Ron Little from Orezone Gold Corporation, as well as Day and Brodrick.
A “Living Legends” panel at 4:50pm Wednesday with Ross Beaty, Robert Friedland, Rob McEwen, Bob Quartermain and Randy Smallwood sounds promising.
THURSDAY
Brent Cook is kicking things off Thursday at 8am. Stay in your seat for Matt Badiali, an influential newsletter editor, Pretium CEO Bob Quartermain, and author Byron King.
Junior resource analyst John Kaiser, speaking at 11:45am Thursday, will cover valuation metrics for juniors.
Osisko Chairman Sean Roosen is speaking at 12:15pm. He’s one of the most successful mining entrepreneurs in Canada and this is his first appearance at the Sprott conference, so I would recommend that session.
Bear Creek Mining, Goldmoney, Cordoba Minerals, Skeena Resources, Integra Gold, Colorado Resources and Nevsun Resources are among the afternoon workshops Thursday worth attending. Brent Cook and John Kaiser also speak again.
Five influential writers are hosing a “Is Past Prologue?” panel at 5pm on Thursday.
FRIDAY
Catch Dan Ferris from Stansberry Research at 8am on Friday, followed by portfolio manager and promoter Marin Katusa at 9am on the subject of greed.
Real Vision TV founder Grant Williams speaks at 9:30am. Williams produces some of the most fascinating presentations in all of finance, and I would not miss the opportunity to hear him speak.
He’s followed by bestselling author and speculator Doug Casey at 10:10am.
Rickards speaks at 11am followed by Rule at 12pm.
Doug Casey and Marin Katusa are hosting a “Friends Unplugged” session at 2pm.
The closing panel at 3:20pm Friday will focus on what was learned at the conference.
Stay very skeptical (as you would at CEO.CA) and have an excellent conference.
Here’s a link to the Sprott site with more information.
