Interview with Nic Earner, Managing Director of Alkane Resources Ltd.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/alkane-resources-asxalk-post-merger-gold-producer-targets-180k-aueq-ounces-7916

Recording date: 17th November 2025

Alkane Resources has successfully completed its transformational merger with Mandalay Resources, establishing itself as a diversified mid-tier gold producer with three operating mines across Australia and Sweden. The integration, finalized in August 2025, has delivered on all key strategic objectives while positioning the company for its next phase of growth in a strengthening gold price environment.

The merger has transformed Alkane's market profile substantially. Production guidance now stands at 160,000-175,000 ounces annually, with management targeting a 180,000-ounce run rate by next year. Market capitalization has expanded from approximately A$900 million at the pro-forma merger date to around A$1.4 billion currently. Trading liquidity has improved dramatically, with daily ASX turnover reaching A$8 million and the company securing placement in the ASX 300 index while approaching ASX 200 status.

Perhaps most significantly, Alkane maintains a pristine balance sheet with A$170 million in cash and bullion and zero debt beyond equipment financing. This financial strength, combined with the company's largely unhedged production profile, creates substantial cash generation capacity. Managing Director Nic Earner explained the mathematics: with 80% of production unhedged, "each 100 bucks you add to the gold price, it's 15 million bucks" in additional cash flow.

Looking ahead, management has established a 12-month timeline for potential acquisitions while maintaining strict jurisdictional discipline, focusing exclusively on tier-one regions including Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, and Scandinavia. Simultaneously, operational priorities center on cost reduction at Sweden's Bjorkdal mine, where initiatives could reduce all-in sustaining costs by 20-25% from US$2,700 to approximately US$2,200 through production increases and grade optimization.

The company's disciplined capital allocation framework, operational focus, and accelerating cash generation position Alkane as a compelling investment opportunity in the current gold market environment, with management emphasizing that superior cash accumulation should drive valuation re-rating versus comparable peers.

View Alkane Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/alkane-resources

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