JSS Empowerment Mining Fund agreed to sponsor the new Junior Miners Pavilion, including the much anticipated Investment Battlefield Competition at the upcoming Investing in African Mining Indaba conference.
The conference is set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa from February 6-9, 2017, the organizers said. This newly launched $75 million fund, a partnership between boutique corporate finance firm Jaltech and JSE-listed Stefanutti Stocks, offers funding for junior opencast mining companies.
“We believe that junior mines that are viable now will be very profitable when commodity price levels improve in the future,” explains Gaurav Nair, Executive Director of the JSS Empowerment Mining Fund. “Supporting junior mining companies will directly benefit investors and stimulate growth in the South African economy. And the tax benefits for investors can be quite substantial.”
The sponsorship is a perfect fit for the Mining Indaba, says MD Alex Grose. “We have always focused on connecting mining companies with government and the investment community – this includes identifying and supporting the best junior mining companies.”
This year, Mining Indaba has devoted more of its resources to ensure that investment remains the overriding focus of the event. The Investment Battlefield Competition will give junior mining companies the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of expert investors, competing for a number of prizes that will support the development of new projects. Involvement and support from the JSS Empowerment Mining Fund will take this platform to the next level.
The JSS Empowerment Mining Fund joins the Chamber of Mines of SA and the DMR in supporting the Junior Mining Pavilion and the Investment Battlefield Competition.
The first five participants announced are Bannerman Resources (Australia), Consolidated Nickel Mines (UK), Energizer Resources (Canada), IPC Coal (South Africa) and Premier African Minerals (British Virgin Islands).
For junior mining companies yet to register for Mining Indaba, signing up for the Investment Battlefield Competition is free and will grant free entry to the Indaba for the presenter of chosen competing mining companies.