Harry Dobson's mining story

Harry Dobson is a low-profile mining financier with a net worth of close to US$1 billion. Born in 1947 in Lauder, Scotland, Harry Dobson, the offspring of a farmer and businessman,

Harry Dobson is a low-profile mining financier with a net worth of close to US$1 billion. Born in 1947 in Lauder, Scotland, Harry Dobson, the offspring of a farmer and businessman, departed the family farm in his twenties to work in the Solomon Islands. He started at the Department of Agriculture and eventually managed exploration crews for a Bauxite mining company.

Reflecting on his early experiences, Dobson recalls, "Dealing with soils, I was supposed to have some knowledge, but I probably didn’t." His professional journey then took him to Australia, where he gradually ascended the ranks in financing mining enterprises.

By age 30, Dobson relocated to Canada, partnering with Ronald Brimacombe at Yorkton Securities, turning the small investment bank into the 3rd largest in Canada with global offices. Notably, the partnership included the entry of
Frank Giustra, who, starting as a 21-year-old, would later become one of the most renowned mining financiers. Upon selling their stake, Dobson ventured into his own mining deals.

In 1986, Dobson, along with partner Brian Hinchcliffe, acquired American Pacific Mining for $10M, subsequently selling it for approximately $110M three years later. Although Dobson made his name in mining, in 2002 he got involved in the UK football club Manchester United. He acquired a 6% stake from Martin Edwards and later sold it in 2005 to Malcolm Glazer, yielding a £30M profit.

Subsequently, Dobson and Hinchcliffe played a pivotal role in the establishment of Jordex Resources, a company that successfully acquired the Loma de Hierro nickel deposit in Venezuela. Under their leadership, Jordex meticulously re-evaluated the reserves and assessed the overall economic feasibility of the project. Ultimately, 85 percent of the deposit was successfully sold to Anglo American for a notable sum of $65 million.

In 2001, Dobson and Hinchcliffe founded Kirkland Lake Gold, a prominent Ontario gold miner. Over the next decade, the stock price climbed from $1 to $21. Hinchcliffe left in 2014, followed by Dobson in the next year, and the company later merged with Newmarket Gold. Under the leadership of Tony Makuchand and key shareholder Eric Sprott, Kirkland Lake emerged as one of the most profitable gold miners globally, ultimately being sold to Agnico Eagle for $11B.

In 2004, Dobson and Hinchcliffe entered Rupert Resources, a $3.5M TSX-V company, raising funds and initiating Red Lake drilling. Known for patience, Dobson acquired the Pahtavaara gold mine property in Finland in 2016, joining Agnico Eagle, Rupert Resources &
Aurion Resources as Canadian companies with a strong position in the belt.

The strategic move paid off in 2020 when Rupert announced a major gold discovery at Ikkari. In recent years, the region's attractiveness has drawn the attention of major mining companies, hinting at future consolidation.

Currently calling Monaco home, Dobson describes it as a "strange place where everybody minds their own business." With hobbies like horse racing and shooting, he probably still spend his time between Monaco, Ireland, and the UK.

Reflecting on his roots, Dobson noted in an earlier interview: "The old expression holds true, particularly in Scotland - a prophet is not without honour save in his own land. In other words, you can do quite well abroad but they don’t like you to do well at home. Scotland can be a difficult place in that regard.