Charger Metals

Lithium Australia Signs Binding Agreement For A$2.0M Sale of the Lake Johnston Lithium Project

Lithium Australia Ltd. (ASX:LIT) (“Lithium Australia” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement with Charger Metals NL (ASX:CHR) (“Charger”) for the sale of the Company’s remaining 30% interest in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project (“Acquisition Agreement”). Completion of the sale reinforces the Company’s continued focus on its core operations, while also strengthening its balance sheet.


HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lithium Australia have signed a binding agreement with Charger Metals NL (ASX:CHR) for the sale of Lithium Australia’s remaining interest in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project
  • Charger Metals will pay a A$2.0m cash consideration for Lithium Australia’s remaining 30% holding in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project, which includes a non-refundable exclusivity payment of A$0.15m
  • Completion of the acquisition of the Lake Johnston Lithium Project will be subject to approval from Charger Metals’ shareholders at an upcoming general meeting
  • Lithium Australia retains a first right of refusal for offtake for up to 30% of lithium produced by the Lake Johnston Lithium Project as part of the binding agreement for future commercial production of lithium ferro phosphate (LFP)
  • The transaction supports Lithium Australia’s transition away from non-core assets, while also strengthening the Company’s balance sheet
  • Lithium Australia maintains a holding of 9.6m ordinary shares in Charger Metals
Under the Acquisition Agreement, Lithium Australia has agreed to sell, and Charger has agreed to acquire:

(a) the Company’s remaining 30% interest in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project tenements; and

(b) the Company’s remaining 30% interest in the contractual rights to the lithium in the tenements comprising the Lake Johnston Lithium Project.

In consideration for the sale of the remaining 30% interest in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project, Charger will pay Lithium Australia A$2.0m in cash. The payment will be structured with a A$0.15m non-refundable exclusivity payment paid within two business days of signing the Acquisition Agreement, and A$1.85m on completion.

Completion of the Acquisition Agreement, which must be satisfied on or before 28 February 2024, will be subject to, amongst other items, the approval of Charger’s shareholders at its upcoming meeting pursuant to Item 7 of Section 611 of the Corporations Act 2011 (Cth) and ASX Listing Rule 10.1, and a New Investor entering into an agreement with Charger to become an investor in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project with such agreement remaining in full force and effect at Completion. This New Investor was announced by Charger today as Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO).

Comment from Lithium Australia CEO & Managing Director, Simon Linge

“We are excited by the opportunity to engage with Charger Metals regarding the sale of Lithium Australia’s remaining holding in the Lake Johnston Lithium Project. As a significant shareholder of Charger, we are excited by the partnership between Rio Tinto Limited and Charger and believe this provides a win-win outcome for all.

The transaction reaffirms our commitment to focusing on our core operations, while aligning the Company to its ESG ambitions. Lithium Australia also retains optionality to secure any future lithium offtake from successful resource development to support our battery materials business. I am excited by our future prospects and believe this transaction will help us to lead and enable the global transition to sustainable electrification.”

As part of the Acquisition Agreement, Lithium Australia will also receive a conditional first right of refusal over the lithium product produced from the tenements. The first right of refusal covers lithium product equal to the lower of:

  • 30% of the lithium product produced on the relevant tenements for the term of the agreement reached for offtake, should a binding agreement be reached; and
  • The lithium product required by Lithium Australia to produce lithium metal phosphate product through a commercial facility(s) in which Lithium Australia has an ownership interest of 25% of more.

To qualify for the first right of refusal, Lithium Australia must make a financial investment decision announcement prior to 31 December 2030 to construct a commercial facility to produce lithium metal phosphate cathode powders, such as LFP.

The first right of refusal provides a path to future lithium access to be applied in the commercial production of LFP and enhances third party discussions related to the development of this technology.

The sale of the Lake Johnston Lithium project underscores the Company’s greater focus on core operations of lithium chemicals, battery materials, and battery recycling. This transaction represents Lithium Australia’s ongoing commitment to decarbonise lithium production. The cash proceeds of the transaction, coupled with the Company’s 9.6m shares held in Charger, strengthen Lithium Australia’s balance sheet, placing it in a stronger position to meet its growth objectives.


Click here for the full ASX Release

This article includes content from Charger Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.

CHR:AU
The Conversation (0)
Electric vehicle charging with blue background.

Market Pain, Strategic Gain: Pilbara Minerals' Dale Henderson on Today's Lithium Paradox

“(Lithium) is not for the faint-hearted. It demands resilience, foresight and leadership,” said Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF) Managing Director and CEO Dale Henderson.

He was speaking at Fastmarkets’ Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials Conference, held this week in Las Vegas.

Henderson touched on three main points: current lithium market dynamics, how Pilbara Minerals is navigating the lithium landscape and his recommendations for the global lithium industry.

Keep reading...Show less
Glowing battery with green zigzag on a futuristic circuit board background.

Fastmarkets’ 2025 Lithium Conference to Tackle EV Growth, Battery Supply Chains and Market Outlook

Fastmarkets is set to host its 17th Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference.

Scheduled to run from June 23 to 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the event will bring together global industry leaders to explore key topics shaping the future of the battery supply chain.

Discussions will cover lithium extraction technologies, including direct lithium extraction, as well as advances in processing, refining and recycling. More broadly, market outlooks, pricing trends and investment strategies will be analyzed alongside evolving ESG standards, policy impacts and risk management approaches.

Keep reading...Show less
Gina Rinehart, executive chair of Hancock Prospecting, stands in front of cherry blossom trees.

Inside Billionaire Gina Rinehart's Key Mining Investments

Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart has become a formidable force in the global mining industry.

After taking the helm of her father’s iron ore firm Hancock Prospecting in 1993, she embarked upon a diversification strategy that has vastly expanded her resource empire. Now Australia’s richest person, Rinehart has investments in many of the world’s most strategic commodities such as lithium, rare earths, copper, potash and natural gas.

One of those investments is Arafura Rare Earths (ASX:ARU,OTC Pink:ARAFF), which even in a low price environment for rare earths managed to secure nearly AU$1.5 billion in debt financing in mid-2024 to advance its Nolans project in the Northern Territory. With a 10 percent equity stake, Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting is Arafura's largest shareholder.

Keep reading...Show less
Lithium Africa CEO Tyron Breytenbach.

Lithium Africa CEO Makes Case for Lithium Investing Amid Bear Market

The CEO of Lithium Africa is making a case for investing in lithium during the current bear market, saying recent moves by major players such as Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) indicate confidence in the market's longer-term potential.

“(Rio Tinto) is the second biggest miner of commodities on the planet. And late last year, they did the Arcadium Lithium transaction, which is the second largest transaction in corporate history, and they've picked lithium," Tyron Breytenbach said during an interview with the Investing News Network.

"Shortly after that, they followed on with a big, multibillion-dollar investment in Chile. Again, the commodity they picked was lithium."

Keep reading...Show less
Truck with drill rig at sunset in a dry, grassy landscape.

Rock Bottom: Strategic Window for Ground-level Lithium Investment in 2025

When lithium prices hit bottom, savvy investors know that’s exactly where the next big discovery begins — literally. Beneath the surface of global markets and remote exploration grounds, new opportunities are forming in the wake of a sharp price reset and renewed geopolitical urgency.

Macroeconomic and policy shifts in 2025 are creating ideal conditions for those willing to look past the headlines. While volatility in lithium prices has tempered short-term sentiment, the underlying demand trajectory remains strong. With governments reshaping supply chains to reduce reliance on China and accelerate the energy transition, lithium is emerging not only as a critical resource, but as a strategic investment theme with long-term upside.

For investors, this reset isn’t a retreat; it’s a rare chance to get in early, at ground level.

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×