Quarterly Activities Report to 30 December 2021

The Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) Quarterly Activities Report to 30 December 2021 has been released.

Highlights for the Quarter included:

  • Released the Dubbo Project Optimisation Study
    – A capital cost estimate of AUD 1,678 million with pre-tax NPV of AUD 2,361 million, pre-tax IRR of 23.5%, and annual free cash flow (full ramp-up) of AUD 425 million
  • Commenced hot commissioning of ASM’s Korean Metals Plant
  • Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea, Mr Hong Nam-ki, visited ASM’s Korean Metals Plant
  • Signed a Joint Statement of Cooperation with the Korean Mine Rehabilitation and Resource Corporation (KOMIR) to enable the supply of critical minerals and metals into Korea
  • Appointed Australian and New Zealand Banking Group Limited ( ANZ) as financial advisor for the debt financing of the Dubbo Project
  • Hosted the NSW Deputy Premier, The Hon Paul Toole MP, at ASM’s Toongi deposit for the launch of the NSW Critical Minerals and High-tech Metals Strategy
  • Attended a roundtable meeting on the Critical Minerals Supply Chain with the President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr Moon Jae in

Korean Consortium successfully completes due diligence on the Dubbo Project

Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASM) is pleased to advise that the consortium of South Korean Investors, comprising Cerritos Holdings Co., Ltd, Kamur Partners LLC and ACE Equity Partners LLC, (the Investing Partnership) has successfully completed due diligence on the Company’s flagship Dubbo Project. This represents a key milestone in progressing the consortium fund’s proposed conditional investment under the Framework Agreement. (see ASX Announcement: 21 July 2021)

After a delay due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, ASM recently hosted an extensive Australian due diligence visit by the Investing Partnership. This included visiting the Company’s Dubbo Project and discussing ASM’s research partnerships and business activities in Australia.

ASM’s Managing Director, David Woodall, said the completion of due diligence to the satisfaction of the Investing Partnership had taken place in parallel with continued progress on the remaining formal binding terms of the consortium’s investment.

“We are very pleased to have successfully concluded the due diligence process. Together we are now focused on securing a significant South Korean strategic investor to partner with ASM on its Dubbo Project, and to completing the terms for a formal binding agreement.”

“Our relationship with our Korean partners continues to go from strength to strength,” Mr Woodall said.

Spokesperson for the Investing Partnership, CEO and Founder of Cerritos Holdings Co., Ltd, Pumsoo Ra said the Investing Partnership was committed to working with ASM to finalise an investment in relation to the Company.

“It is clear that ASM has the resources and technical capacity to partner with us to support the supply chain of critical metals needed for the production of clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy generation capacity, as well as advanced electronics,” Mr Ra said.

“We need that supply chain to be secure and reliable, and we look forward to continuing our discussions with ASM and our partners in Korea.”

ASM will continue to update the market as further milestones are reached.

Read ASX Announcement

Kerry Gleeson appointed non-executive Board director

Ms Kerry Gleeson

Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASM) is pleased to advise the appointment of Kerry Gleeson as Non-Executive Director to the Board effective 1 February 2022.

Ms Gleeson is an experienced independent Non-Executive Director, chair and committee member with over two decades of experience as a director, senior executive and board advisor of various ASX listed companies. She has worked nationally and internationally across broad and complex industry sectors, including mining and resources, industrial and agri-chemicals, manufacturing, transport and distribution and international education.

Ms Gleeson is a qualified lawyer in both the UK and Australia, and spent 15 years in private practice, including as a partner of an English law firm, before emigrating to Melbourne and joining Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst). Ms Gleeson’s other current roles include Non-Executive Director of St Barbara Limited, New Century Resources Ltd and Chrysos Corporation Ltd. She is also the Chair of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne.

Commenting on her appointment Ms Gleeson said:

ASM is entering an exciting stage of the Company’s development and I am thrilled to be joining as ASM enters its next phase. I am looking forward to working with the Board and management to build on the impressive momentum ASM has already created.

ASM Chair Mr Ian Gandel said:

“I am delighted to welcome Kerry to the ASM Board. Kerry’s strong leadership skills, technical capability and commercial expertise will help drive us forward through the next phase of our development.

This exciting phase includes the production of critical metals in South Korea, progressing the development of the Dubbo Project and looking for opportunities to grow our global ’mine to metals’ business.”

ASM