Talking Points From This Episode- The dollar and why gold is the anti-dollar.- Comparing gold cycles with today's markets.- The lifecycle of a mining operation.- Finding value in a world of information.
Time Stamp References:0:00 - Introduction0:38 - Low Rates & Gold2:00 - The Anti-Dollar3:47 - Dow/Gold Ratio6:40 - Seven Gold Cycles8:38 - Mine Input Costs10:35 - CEO Discipline12:24 - Equities & Margins13:19 - Lassonde Curve19:38 - His Book20:53 - Investment Demand22:35 - Shareholder Value24:34 - Royalty Model28:15 - Optimal Deposits31:44 - World Gold Council34:28 - Philanthropy36:22 - Be an Outlier40:20 - Evaluating Sources42:30 - Concluding Thoughts
Tom welcomes mining legend Pierre Lassonde to the show. Pierre is the Co-Founder of Franco Nevada and Formerly President of Newmont Mining.
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Pierre discusses how the dollar and a low-interest-rate environment are good for gold. Real interest rates have to remain low or the debt can't be repaid. Effectively today, we have negative interest rates, and that is always good for gold.
When a reserve currency is strong, you don't need gold, but when it is weak, gold becomes the anti-dollar. The U.S. is doing everything it can to devalue the currency, particularly against the Yen and Yuan.
Pierre expects the Dow to Gold ratio to once again reach parity. He compares the 1976 to 1980 cycle where gold went from 90 to 800, and we saw rampant inflation. Today's situation is very similar, and that is why he expects gold to ramp up over the next three to five years.
He explains his metric called the Lassonde Curve and how it defines the lifecycle of a mine on a time-value basis. The curve highlights the relative risk-reward over time and where the opportunities occur for investors with patience.
The gold market has changed greatly over his career. Demand for gold as an investment is steadily increasing, while jewelry demand is relatively flat. Gold behaves as insurance, and often, price doesn't matter when people think they need it.
Pierre details the enormous power of the royalty business model and why it creates a lot of optionality.
There are advantages to having multiple metals in a deposit particularly of interest is copper-gold deposits. Copper is essential in the modern world, and demand for it will continue to increase due to electrification.
Pierre agrees that we are being deluged by information, and much of it may be wrong. He recommends going back to the source and conduct your own research. Then compare your results with others that you value. If the numbers are similar, you can likely trust their opinion.
He expects the next three to five years will be unbelievable but make sure that you have real value in your portfolio to outperform.
Pierre-Paul Lassonde is a businessperson who has been the head of 8 different companies. He is on the board of Franco-Nevada Corp. (former Independent Chairman), Gold & Silver Institutes and The Bishop Strachan School and Member of Order of Canada. In the past he was Director at New Gold, Inc., Chairman for Mus?(C)e national des beaux-arts du Qu?(C)bec, President, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Director at Franco-Nevada Mining Corp. Ltd., President & Co-Chief Executive Officer at Euro-Nevada Mining Corp. Ltd., Chairman of Quebec National Art Museum, Chairman for World Gold Council Ltd. and Chairman for Canada Council for the Arts. Pierre-Paul Lassonde received an undergraduate degree from the University of Montr?(C)al, an MBA from the University of Utah and an undergraduate degree from Ecole Polytechnique.