Landmark joint development agreement with Mineral Resources
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
7 August 2023
Lithium Australia signs landmark joint
development agreement with Mineral Resources
HIGHLIGHTS
◼
Lithium Australia signs joint development agreement with leading ASX-listed
mining company Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) (“MinRes”) related to disruptive
lithium extraction technology LieNA®
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MinRes has extensive operations in lithium and mining services across Western
Australia, with a market capitalisation of A$13.6bn1
◼
MinRes will solely fund the development and operation of a pilot plant up to the
total budgeted cost of A$4.5 million and provide raw materials for the pilot plant
at no cost to Lithium Australia, with Lithium Australia to contribute its LieNA®
technology
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Subject to the results of the pilot plant, MinRes and Lithium Australia will form a
50:50 joint venture to own and commercialise the LieNA® technology through a
licensing model
◼
MinRes can elect to sole fund, develop and operate a demonstration scale plant
under a license agreement with the joint venture
◼
This licence will apply to current and future projects of MinRes and is based on
a targeted headline gross product royalty rate of 8.0% with a first mover
discount applied
Background
Lithium Australia Limited (ASX:LIT) (‘Lithium Australia’, or ‘the Company’) is pleased to
announce that the Company has entered a joint development agreement (“Agreement”)
with leading ASX-listed mining company Mineral Resources Ltd (“MinRes”).
MinRes is a leading ASX-listed mining company, with a growing world-class portfolio of
mining operations across multiple commodities, including lithium and iron ore. MinRes
has a market capitalisation of ~A$13.6bn1 and in FY22, recorded revenue of A$3.4bn
and produced over 450k DMT of spodumene concentrate for lithium extraction2.
Under the Agreement, MinRes will solely fund the development and operation of a pilot
plant and an engineering study for a demonstration plant up to the total budgeted cost of
A$4.5 million, and will also supply the required raw materials to support the extraction
process at no cost to Lithium Australia. Lithium Australia will contribute its patented
1 As at 4 August 2023
2 MinRes Q4 Quarterly Exploration and Mining Activities Report released 28 July 2022
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LieNA® technology, which has the potential to enhance lithium extraction yields by up to
50%3 over current market performance, and will manage the pilot plant’s production
process.
Lithium Australia’s patented extraction technology is underpinned by recovering lithium
from fine and low-grade spodumene, which is usually disposed of as waste streams,
improving mining efficiency, sustainability and potential profitability.
On successful completion of the pilot plant operations and engineering study, MinRes’
convertible note will convert into equity in a new joint venture (“JV”) between MinRes and
Lithium Australia. Lithium Australia and MinRes will each have a 50% interest in the JV
entity, which will wholly own the LieNA® technology going forward.
The JV plans to license the LieNA® technology to third-parties at a target headline gross
product royalty rate of 8%4. The royalty model materially expands Lithium Australia’s
addressable market as it has the potential to capture a fee on all tonnage processed via
any mine utilising the LieNA® technology.
The JV will initially license the LieNA® technology to a larger demonstration plant which
MinRes can elect to independently fund, develop, and operate. The larger plant will aim to
extract lithium salt at a commercial scale under the licence. The licence will apply to
current and future projects of MinRes and the royalty payable by MinRes under the
licence is based on a discount to the headline royalty rate above in acknowledgement of
MinRes’ first mover position.
MinRes is an optimal strategic partner for Lithium Australia, as it mines substantial
quantities of lithium at its own operations. Early target jurisdictions for licencing include
Western Australia and North America, with potential for expansion into Europe and Africa
as well.
Comment from Lithium Australia Chief Executive Officer, Simon Linge
“We are thrilled by the formation of a new partnership with Mineral Resources, one of
Australia’s largest and most prominent mining companies. MinRes is the perfect partner
to complement our leading lithium extraction technology, given its extensive owned
operations and strategic movement downstream into the battery materials sector.
Securing a development partner is also noted as a significant step within Lithium
Australia’s recently released roadmap and serves as a powerful validation of our
patented technology. We are excited by the future opportunity to licence our proven highvalue technology to all existing and new lithium mines across Australia and the rest of the
world.”
The material terms of the joint development agreement are summarised above. The
funding arrangements are comprised of a convertible note in a special purpose vehicle
3 Assumes existing mine concentrator is 60%: 60% to 90% Li recovery increase assumes LieNA®
recovers 75% of lithium units going to tails
4 The Company cautions that although it considers this to be a reasonable expectation, there is no
guarantee that this rate will be achieved
ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS Lithium Australia
lithium-au.com
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incorporated by Lithium Australia for the purposes of the JV. MinRes has been issued the
convertible note with a purchase price of A$4.5 million, on an interest-free basis and an
18month term. If the Stage 1 Activities are completed successfully, MinRes’ convertible
note will convert to equity and the parties will form the 50:50 JV. If the Stage 1 Activities
are not completed successfully and MinRes elects not to convert to equity, then the JV
entity will pay MinRes 50% of the value of the LieNA® technology (as agreed or
otherwise determined by an expert) as repayment of the purchase price under the
convertible note.
Authorised for release by the Board.
Simon Linge
Chief Executive Officer
Mobile +61 (0) 438 721 280
simon.linge@lithium-au.com
Stuart Tarrant
Chief Financial Officer
Mobile +61 (0) 467 817 005
stuart.tarrant@lithium-au.com
Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that it is beyond the Company’s ability
to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially
from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.
About Lithium Australia
Lithium Australia is aiming to lead and enable the global transition to sustainable lithium
production. The Company operates Australia’s market leading lithium-ion battery
recycler, develops leading-edge processing technology to produce lithium ferro
phosphate (LFP), and develops patented lithium extraction technology. Lithium
Australia’s revenue-generating recycling business and technologies are well-placed to
capitalise on growing global lithium-ion battery demand and provides diversification
benefits to global supply chains.
ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS Lithium Australia
lithium-au.com
Page 3
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