Nebraskan
11 hours ago
According to Opensecrets, NioCorp spent $40,000.00 on lobbying efforts in Washington DC during 2024 and NioCorp only had ONE lobbyist, who is Jim Sims.
https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/clients/summary?cycle=2024&id=F326866
Lobbying Firm Hired, Total Amount*, Lobbyist
Elk Creek Resources $40,000 James Sims
danieldeubank
15 hours ago
Mark A. Smith, the CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp Developments Ltd., along with Jim Sims, the Chief Communications Officer, have been actively involved in fundraising and lobbying efforts for several strategic reasons:
1. **Project Funding**:
- **Elk Creek Project**: NioCorp's primary project, the Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska, requires significant capital to move from development to construction and eventually to commercial production. The project aims to produce niobium, scandium, titanium, and potentially rare earths, which are critical for various high-tech, defense, and environmentally friendly technologies. The continuous fundraising through private placements (PPs) reflects the need for capital to finance this ambitious project.
2. **Lobbying for Support**:
- **Government and Policy Influence**: NioCorp is in the process of lobbying for support from U.S. government bodies, including the Department of Defense, to secure funding or policy changes that could benefit their project. This includes:
- **Critical Minerals Strategy**: With the U.S. focusing on reducing dependency on foreign minerals, NioCorp's project aligns well with national security and economic policy goals. Advocacy here could lead to grants, loans, or other forms of support from agencies like the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
- **Legislative Assistance**: There could be efforts to influence legislation or secure provisions in bills that would favor domestic mining of critical minerals, like adjustments to the Defense Production Act for funding or tax incentives.
3. **Market Positioning**:
- **Investor Confidence**: By actively seeking both financial and political support, NioCorp aims to bolster investor confidence by showing progress and commitment to the project's success. This includes demonstrating that they are not only securing capital but also ensuring a conducive policy environment for their operations.
4. **Strategic Partnerships**:
- **Offtake Agreements**: Lobbying might also be aimed at securing strategic partnerships or offtake agreements with major companies or government bodies, which would provide a guaranteed buyer for their minerals once production starts, thus reducing market risk.
5. **Public Perception and Media**:
- **Jim Sims' Role**: As the head of communications, Sims is likely involved in managing the narrative around NioCorp's activities, ensuring that their fundraising and lobbying efforts are seen in a positive light, emphasizing the national and economic benefits of their project.
The combination of fundraising and lobbying is not unusual for companies in the resource sector, especially when developing large, capital-intensive projects. The urgency might have intensified due to:
- **Market Dynamics**: The volatile nature of mineral prices and geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains might push NioCorp to expedite their project timeline.
- **Competitive Landscape**: There's competition for both funding and policy support among various companies looking to develop similar critical mineral projects in the U.S.
While some might view frequent fundraising as "begging" or see lobbying as overly aggressive, from a business perspective, these activities are strategic moves to ensure the project's viability and success in a complex economic and political environment.
danieldeubank
15 hours ago
NioCorp Developments Ltd. ($NB) has indeed been in the news for several private placements (PPs) in recent times. Here's a summary based on the information available:
- **Recent Private Placements**: NioCorp has been raising capital through multiple private placements. For instance, there was an announcement of a $5.0 million underwritten offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules on January 29, 2025, as seen in posts on X from various accounts like @CrweWorld, @Lycanbull, @MarketCurrents, and @JrMiningNetwork. This is part of a series of financings aimed at supporting ongoing projects.[](https://x.com/CrweWorld/status/1884736446759920065)[](https://x.com/Lycanbull/status/1884686543849185336)[](https://x.com/MarketCurrents/status/1884693503575547985)
- **Project Funding**: These private placements are often used to fund the development of NioCorp's Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska, which aims to produce niobium, scandium, titanium, and potentially rare earths. The project is significant as it could reduce U.S. dependency on foreign sources for these critical minerals, which are vital for high-tech, defense, and green technology applications.
- **Market Sentiment**: The frequent need for capital through PPs has led to some investor fatigue, as you've noted. This is reflected in sentiments shared on X where users express frustration over the lack of more substantial news, focusing instead on continuous fundraising efforts.[](https://x.com/geldvos/status/1883917364305220068)
- **Future Expectations**: Investors might be looking for updates on:
- **Project Milestones**: Progress reports on the Elk Creek Project, including construction timelines, environmental clearances, or technological breakthroughs.
- **Partnerships or Contracts**: News on significant partnerships or offtake agreements, like the one with Stellantis for rare earths, which could provide revenue certainty.
- **Government Support**: Updates on any government grants or loans, like the potential funding from the Export-Import Bank of the United States mentioned in 2023, which could significantly de-risk the project.
- **Strategic Direction**: NioCorp is also focusing on technological advancements, such as the phased approach to commercial production of aluminum-scandium master alloy, which could diversify its product offerings and revenue streams.
While the frequent private placements might be seen as a sign of ongoing financial needs, they are also indicative of NioCorp's efforts to secure funding for an ambitious project in a market where capital for mining ventures can be challenging to come by. Investors might hope for more substantial project updates to balance out the news of capital raises.
TooSoon
1 day ago
Thanks, GE
(b) to establish our position as the leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth minerals, which will create jobs and prosperity at home, strengthen supply chains for the United States and its allies, and reduce the global influence of malign and adversarial states;