CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV: CTH; OTCQB: CTHCF) (“CoTec”) and Mkango
Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) (“Mkango”) are pleased to announce
that CoTec has converted its £2 million convertible loan note in
Mkango into additional shares of Mkango’s subsidiary Maginito Ltd.
(“Maginito”). As a result of the conversion, CoTec’s equity
position in Maginito has increased from 10 per cent to 20.6 per
cent. Maginito owns 100% of HyProMag Limited (“HyProMag”).
In February 2023, CoTec and Maginito entered
into a co-operation agreement in relation to rare earth element
(“REE”) opportunities in the United States. In early September
2023, CoTec and Mkango entered into a binding letter agreement
pursuant to which they have agreed to form a 50:50 joint venture
(the "Joint Venture") to pursue the roll-out of HyProMag's
innovative rare earth magnet recycling technology in the United
States. If the Joint Venture proceeds with the construction of the
US Project, CoTec will also be responsible for funding all the
development costs of the US Project, with a total expected funding
of £30 million to £50 million during the first three years post
completion of the Feasibility Study, subject to results of the
Feasibility Study. All funding provided by CoTec would be in the
form of shareholder loans. CoTec and Mkango also expect that the
Joint Venture will seek US government funding for the US
Project.
HyProMag’s patented Hydrogen Processing of
Magnet Scrap technology (“HPMS”) enables the recovery and recycling
of rare earth magnets embedded in scrap sources such as electronic
waste, electric motors and wind turbines using 88% less energy
versus primary mining to separation to metal alloy to magnet
production. HyProMag has the added capability to then remanufacture
the recovered material into rare earth magnets with a significantly
reduced carbon footprint. The HPMS technology, developed at the
University of Birmingham, UK and licensed by HyProMag, has
benefited from approximately $100 million in research and
development funding.
As announced on 14 September 2023, the roll-out
of the HyProMag technology in the US is continuing with ongoing
scoping studies ahead of the commencement of the feasibility study.
Discussions with the US Government, potential customers and
recycling partners have commenced and are ongoing. The US roll-out
will be completed in parallel with UK and German based developments
and is expected to benefit from operational experience and
production ramp-up in the UK and Germany. First production is
expected in the UK in 2023 and in Germany in 2024. Revenue from the
US operation is targeted for 2025/2026.
Julian Treger, CoTec CEO commented: “With the
Maginito conversion completed our focus will be the operational
roll out of the HyProMag technology in the United States. This
conversion simplifies our investment structure in the exciting and
revolutionary HyProMag technology to a 20.6% equity interest in
Maginito and a direct 50% interest in the US operations.”
“The Maginito investment is an example of the
CoTec business model of acquiring minority positions in disruptive
technology combined with joint venture participation at an
operational level. It also allows CoTec to commence, together with
its other operational opportunities, its transition from a
technology investment company to resource producer.”
Will Dawes, Mkango CEO commented; “We view the
completion of CoTec’s conversion as an endorsement of the implied
value inherent in Maginito and specifically the proprietary HPMS
technology that has potential to unlock a significant opportunity
in the US market. We look forward to working with CoTec and
HyProMag as we focus on the operational roll out of the technology
and move into the next phase of growth.”
About Maginito
Maginito is a UK based company owned, following
the conversion, as to 79.4 per cent by Mkango and 20.6 per cent by
CoTec. It is focused on developing green technology opportunities
in the rare earths supply chain, encompassing neodymium (NdFeB)
magnet recycling as well as innovative rare earth alloy, magnet,
and separation technologies.
Maginito holds a 100 per cent interest in
HyProMag and a 90 per cent direct and indirect interest (assuming
conversion of Maginito’s €2.5 million (approximately C$3.6 million)
convertible loan) in HyProMag GmbH, focused on short loop rare
earth magnet recycling in the UK and Germany, and a 100 per cent
interest in Mkango Rare Earths UK Ltd (“Mkango UK”), a company
focused on long loop rare earth magnet recycling in the UK via a
chemical route.
About Mkango Resources
Ltd.
Mkango's corporate strategy is to develop new
sustainable primary and secondary sources of neodymium,
praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand
from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technologies.
This integrated Mine, Refine, Recycle strategy differentiates
Mkango from its peers, uniquely positioning Mkango in the rare
earths sector. Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX Venture
Exchange (“TSX- V”).
Mkango is developing its flagship Songwe Hill
rare earths project (“Songwe”) in Malawi with a Definitive
Feasibility Study completed in July 2022 and an Environmental,
Social and Health Impact Assessment approved by the Government of
Malawi in January 2023.
In parallel, Mkango and Grupa Azoty PULAWY,
Poland's leading chemical producer have agreed to work together
towards development of a rare earth separation plant at Pulawy in
Poland (the “Pulawy Separation Plant”) to process the purified
mixed rare earth carbonate produced at Songwe Hill.
Mkango also has an extensive exploration
portfolio in Malawi, including the Mchinji rutile exploration
project, the Thambani uranium-tantalum-niobium-zircon project and
Chimimbe nickel-cobalt project.
For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca
About CoTec Holdings Corp.
CoTec is a publicly traded investment issuer
listed on the TSX- V and the OTCQB and trades under the symbol CTH
and CTHCF respectively. CoTec is an environment, social, and
governance (“ESG”)-focused company investing in innovative
technologies that have the potential to fundamentally change the
way metals and minerals can be extracted and processed for the
purpose of applying those technologies to undervalued operating
assets and recycling opportunities, as CoTec transitions into a
mid-tier mineral resource producer.
CoTec is committed to supporting the transition
to a lower carbon future for the extraction industry, a sector on
the cusp of a green revolution as it embraces technology and
innovation. CoTec has made four investments to date and is actively
pursuing operating opportunities where current technology
investments could be deployed.
For more information, please
visit www.cotec.ca.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR)
Disclosure
The information contained within this
announcement is deemed by CoTec and Mkango to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law
by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication
of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service, this
inside information is now considered to be in the public
domain.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking
statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable
securities laws) with respect to Mkango and CoTec, including their
expectations with respect to the timing and benefits of the Joint
Venture. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by
the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “is expected to”,
“scheduled”, “targeted for”, “estimates” “intends”, “anticipates”,
“believes”, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements
that certain actions, events or results “can”, “may”, “could”,
“would”, “should”, “might” or “will”, occur or be achieved, or the
negative connotations thereof. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no
assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which
they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking
statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks
and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to
the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and
other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause
actual performance and results in future periods to differ
materially from any estimates or projections of future performance
or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, the
availability of (or delays in obtaining) financing to develop
Songwe Hill, the Tyseley Recycling Plant, the HyProMag GmbH
Recycling Plant, the Mkango UK Pilot Plant, the Pulawy Separation
Plant, governmental action and other market effects on global
demand and pricing for the metals and associated downstream
products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing,
geological, technical and regulatory matters relating to the
development of Songwe Hill, the ability to scale the HPMS and
chemical recycling technologies to commercial scale, competitors
having greater financial capability and effective competing
technologies in the recycling and separation business of Maginito
and Mkango, availability of scrap supplies for Maginito’s recycling
activities, government regulation (including the impact of
environmental and other regulations) on and the economics in
relation to recycling and the development of the Tyseley Recycling
Plant, the HyProMag GmbH Recycling Plant, the Mkango UK Pilot
Plant, the Pulawy Separation Plant and future investments in the
United States pursuant to the proposed cooperation agreement
between Maginito and CoTec, the outcome and timing of the
completion of the feasibility studies, cost overruns, complexities
in building and operating the plants, the positive results of
feasibility studies on the various proposed aspects of Mkango’s,
Maginito’s and CoTec’s activities, and those risks set out in
CoTec’s and Mkango’s public documents filed on SEDARplus. The
forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made
as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law,
Mkango and CoTec disclaim any intention and assume no obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by applicable law. Additionally, Mkango and CoTec
undertake no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or
statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters
discussed above.
For further information on Mkango,
please contact:
Mkango Resources Limited
William DawesChief Executive
Officerwill@mkango.caAlexander LemonPresidentalex@mkango.caCanada:
+1 403 444 5979www.mkango.ca@MkangoResources
SP Angel Corporate Finance
LLPNominated Adviser and Joint BrokerJeff Keating, Kasia
BrzozowskaUK: +44 20 3470 0470
Alternative Resource
CapitalJoint BrokerAlex Wood, Keith DowsingUK: +44 20 7186
9004/5
Tavistock CommunicationsPR/IR
AdviserJos Simson, Cath DrummondUK: +44 (0) 20 7920
3150mkango@tavistock.co.uk
For further information on CoTec, please
contract:
CoTec Holdings Corp.Braam
JonkerChief Financial Officerbraam.jonker@cotec.caCanada: +1 604
992-5600
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither
approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer
to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other
securities of CoTec or Mkango in the United States. The securities
of CoTec and Mkango will not be registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and
may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the
account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities
Act.
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