Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I would like your advice on First Uranium.

Article Excerpt

First Uranium, $1.26, symbol FIU on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 166.8 million: Market cap: $210.2 million), produces uranium in South Africa. In the three months ended December 31, 2009, higher uranium prices pushed up First Uranium’s revenue by 94.3%, to $32 million from $16.5 million. Cash flow was negative $0.05 a share, compared to negative $0.08 a year earlier. First Uranium has been forced to significantly lower the estimated value of its South African operations in light of cost overruns and permitting issues. The company has cut the value of its Ezulwini mine and its Mine Waste Solutions tailings-recovery operation by half. First Uranium has agreed to raise $150 million by issuing senior convertible notes. It hopes these funds will help it out of its financial difficulties. However, converting all of the notes from the offering, plus other debt payments and penalties, would result in the issuing of nearly 146.8 million shares — about 88% of the current 166.8 million shares outstanding. First Uranium’s…