After spending years developing his craft as a pianist, Mark Zerat of Spartan Fund Management decided to bring his talents to the stock market. He started taking investing seriously in the late 90s, mostly investing in junior stocks. Growing up, the foundation was always there.
Zerat said, "It was something that ran through the family, my grandparents and my father. There was a history of investing in the sector. And so some of that had been planted at a very early age, but I didn't really follow up on it in any very serious manner. And then, when I had some equity in a house, I actually did what no one should do. And that is like, I took advantage of that through arranging a line of credit, feeling that it was my opportunity to create some, some wealth in a different way."
In his earliest years in the stock market, Zerat came across John Kaiser of Kaiser Research Online. At the time, Kaiser was publishing his "Bottom Fishing" report in which he detailed stocks to buy that was unpopular within the market, which sparked Zerat's interest in the junior sector as a whole.
Then in 2011, Spartan Fund Management sought help within its microcaps, and the company grabbed Mark Zerat.
Alternative Investments
Founded in 2006, Spartan Fund Management is an investment management company that offers hedge fund strategies, risk management and compliance, and financial planning. It is headed by Gary Ostoich and specializes in providing, through pooled funds, a broad selection of alternative investment solutions that meet various investment needs. It likes to walk to the beat of its own drum, as it says on its website that Spartan believes "that alternative investment strategies provide better risk-return opportunities for investors than do conventional strategies."
Spartan currently manages over US$1 Billion in funds worldwide. You can see its performance recap of all funds here.
They saw him as a good fit due to his history of investing in the space. Zerat is not a registered portfolio manager. He is officially touted as the chief strategist for microcap funds.
Still, while not registered, Zerat holds over a decade of experience and a wealth of knowledge in the industry that we thought our readers would benefit from, which is why we at Streetwise sat down to speak with him about Spartan and what stocks have him excited.
Fox River Resources
The first company Zerat spoke about was Fox River Resources Corp. (FOX:CNSX). Fox River Resources is a Canadian-based resource exploration and development company that focuses on the discovery and development of high-quality mineral deposits. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.
One of the company's flagship projects is the Martison project, which is located in the Abitibi greenstone belt in Ontario. The project is a joint venture between Fox River and Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. According to a press release from Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd., the project has significant potential for gold and silver deposits.
In addition to its exploration projects, Fox River Resources Corporation also has a royalty portfolio that includes interests in several mining projects in Canada and the United States. According to a press release from the company, its royalty portfolio includes interests in the Hemlo gold mine in Ontario and the Golden Sunlight mine in Montana.
*Insert quote from Mark*
*ownership and share structure*
Data Communications Management
Next, Zerat touched on Data Communications Management Corp. (DCM:TSX; DCMDF:OTCQX).
Data Communications Management is a leading marketing and business communication solution provider to companies across North America. The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. DCM specializes in helping businesses simplify their communication and operations, allowing them to accomplish more with fewer steps and less effort.
DCM offers a wide range of communication solutions, including marketing and advertising services, direct mail, printing, and digital communications. The company's services help businesses connect with customers and improve communication strategies.
*Insert quote from Mark*
*ownership and share structure*
Aurion Resources
Zerat moved back to the resources sector to talk about Aurion Resources Ltd. (AU:TSX.V). Aurion Resources is a Canadian exploration company that aims to generate or acquire early-stage precious metals properties and advance them through exploration to discovery. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.
One of the significant focuses of the company is gold exploration, and it has a strong presence in Finland, where it operates several projects. The company's flagship project is the Risti Gold Project, located along the Sirkka Shear Zone in Northern Finland. The Risti Gold Project includes the Aamurusko target, which is the primary focus of the company's exploration program.
*Insert quote from Mark*
*ownership and share structure*
Grounded Lithium
Last but not least, Zerat touched on Grounded Lithium Corp. (GRD:TSX.V; GRDAF:OTCQB). Grounded Lithium is a publicly traded lithium resource company based in Alberta, Canada. The company is focused on supplying lithium to the rapidly developing electricity-powered economy and is involved in all levels of lithium extraction through subsurface brine production.
GLC controls approximately 3.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent of inferred and indicated lithium resources, as well as an additional 2.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources. The company has recently expanded its land holdings in the region to meet the growing demand for lithium.
*Insert quote from Mark*
*ownership and share structure*
