(By Balachander) CIBC World Markets Inc. revised its rating on shares of North American miner Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (TSE:TCM) to "Sector Outperformer - Speculative" from "Sector Outperformer", saying the agreement with Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) still leaves potential liquidity risk on the table.
On Thursday, the Denver, Colorado-based Thompson Creek (NYSE:TC) amended its agreement to sell Royal Gold an additional 12.25 percent of the refined gold production from its Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine for $200 million, plus $435 per ounce, or the prevailing market rate, if lower than $435 per ounce, when the gold is delivered.
The brokerage, which reduced price target on the stock to $6.50 from $9.40, said the amended Royal Gold agreement for an additional $200 million should alleviate some of the funding shortfall at Mt.Milligan.
However, the transaction is based on revising the company's senior secured credit facility covenants, for which TCM is currently in discussion with its lenders.
"The risk of not obtaining the amended financial covenants remains a possibility, which could lead to a ripple effect with the company's current facilities," CIBC wrote in a note.
To incorporate the recent weakness in moly prices, CIBC revised its near and medium-term moly price forecast. The brokerage's 2012 price forecast drops to $13/lb from $14/lb and 2013 forecast drops to $14/lb from $15/lb. However, CIBC maintained its long-term price of $14/lb.
Thompson Creek has two large operating molybdenum mines, a large copper-gold mine under construction, a stand-alone metals roasting facility, and a number of additional metals properties in various stages of development.
On the Toronto Stock Exchange, shares fell 2.58 percent to $2.64 on Friday. On the NYSE, the stock lost 2.57 percent.