Bradda Head Lithium Ltd Announces Open Letter to Shareholders
*Open Letter to Shareholders*
*BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / August 9, 2023 / *Bradda Head Limited (AIM:BHL)(TSXV:BHLI)(OTCQB:BHLIF), the North America-focused lithium development group, this morning published an Open Letter to Shareholders from the Company's Board of Directors outlining the ongoing positive indicators from the Company's operational drilling, fieldwork, permitting efforts and strategic discussions in the US and Canada associated with all our US-based Projects.
The full text of the letter is included below and is also available on the Company's website at https://www.braddaheadltd.com/media
*For further information, please contact:*
*Bradda Head Lithium Limited*
+44 (0) 1624 639 396
Charlie FitzRoy, CEO
Denham Eke, Finance Director
*Beaumont Cornish (Nomad)*
James Biddle/Roland Cornish
+44 20 7628 3396
*Panmure Gordon (Joint Broker)*
+44 20 7886 2500
John Prior
Hugh Rich
*Shard Capital (Joint Broker)*
+44 207 186 9927
Damon Heath
Isabella Pierre
*Red Cloud (North American Broker)*
+1 416 803 3562
Joe Fars
*Tavistock (PR)*
+ 44 20 7920 3150
Nick Elwes
Adam Baynes
braddahead@tavistock.co.uk
*Open Letter to Shareholders from Board of Directors of Bradda Head Lithium*
It has been a productive few months for Bradda Head, with ongoing positive indicators from our operational drilling, fieldwork, permitting efforts and strategic discussions in the US and Canada associated with all our US-based Projects. This is not reflected in the valuation of our Company in the opinion of the Board.
In this letter, the Board wants to address the recent decline in our share price and provide an update on the status of our highly prospective Projects and emphasise why we believe our current share price level, which is significantly below our actual listing price, is undervalued and offers an extremely attractive entry level into Bradda Head.
First, let us consider the underlying fundamentals of our value for investors:
*Investment Recap*
*Positive forecast for healthy lithium demand*
· Electric vehicles and energy storage systems drive demand as supply growth remains challenged.
*Continued and growing economic support*
· The US, through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is investing US$369 billion into its electric vehicle future, aiming to increase investment in critical minerals and develop the supply chains for these minerals in the US.
*LRC Royalty*
· The Company aims to receive the second royalty payment (US$2.5 million) after the next resource upgrade at Basin, which is forecast to be announced in H2 of this year.
*Quality projects in top jurisdictions*
· Reduced investment risk as a consequence of having all main recognised lithium mineralisation styles identified in our Projects, each with the potential to be a Company-maker.
· Our Projects, in Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, are within the top mining jurisdictions globally. Arizona is the US state with the highest annual revenue from mining.
· There is strong National and State Government support for a range of Strategic Minerals to be supplied from within the USA itself. Lithium is identified as one of these strategically important minerals. Bradda Head is well placed, not only to attract attention from end users in the USA but to capitalise on this funding at the right time.
· Bradda Head has a strategic land package of 23kms^2 for hard rock lithium exploration and development in Arizona. There is the potential scale to deliver a sizeable potential resource opportunity. Panmure Gordon's initiation note (9th May 2023) independently indicates the potential for nearly 8Mt of LCE, as well as highlighting the proximity to genuinely world class infrastructure (roads and inexpensive, 100% renewable energy) found in very few other areas worldwide.
· Bradda Head has a large strategic land package of lithium-in-clay, (46kms^2) also in Arizona. Drilling currently underway is expected to expand this resource. SRK has identified a JORC-compliant exploration target of 1Mt to 6Mt LCE.
· Our Lithium Brine projects in Nevada, namely Eureka and Wilson, are prospective opportunities. Both projects have clear geophysical anomalies, showing the presence of reservoirs with conductive fluids, indicating the potential presence of brine at both. We also see potential for a clay signature at Wilson.
· Bradda Head also has strategic land packages that have the potential to contain lithium-bearing brines associated with oilfield brines in Pennsylvania.
· The extraction of lithium from old oil brines has seen significant investment recently with the acquisition of lithium rights in the Arkansas portion of the Smackover formation for US$100M in May this year by Exxon Mobil which is now entering this space.
*Bradda Head is funded for 2023.*
· All projects are 100%-owned. Experienced Board and Management with a wide array of knowledge across the metals & mining space. Strategic positioning in the US for lithium end-users Our lithium projects are strategically located to supply the rapidly growing US domestic
market, with the benefit of:
a. US-produced low carbon footprint lithium
b. Strategic positioning in the US for lithium end-user
· All projects are 100%-owned.
*News to look out for*
*San Domingo: proving up the district scale potential*
Follow-up drill programme planned to start this quarter:
· This next drilling campaign is building on the successful initial maiden drilling programme from earlier in the year
· Our primary aim of this programme is delineating a Resource
*Basin: resource growth on the way in H2*
· Drilling underway at Basin East Extension and Basin North
· 2023 drilling targeting resource of over 1Mt, an expansion which would trigger the contractually agreed payment by LRC of a further $2.5 million.
· JORC Exploration target of up to 6Mt LCE at 17km^2 Basin Project
*Brine assets*
Wilson and Eureka
· Bradda Head intends to demonstrate the potential value in our Nevada brine assets. The Company is interested in developing these projects itself or via JV investments, whilst naturally focussed on our most progressed projects (Basin and San Domingo) which we believe are most likely to increase value for shareholders in the short-term.
*Share price performance (January to June)*
Bradda Head's share price was 8.8p on January 3, 2023. Since then, the share price has closed to a low of +/- 3.7p, a fall of close to 60%.
What are the market headwinds that have stalled the Company's share price growth? Which are the factors that are external to the Company (i.e., things we cannot change) versus factors that are internal and under the control of the Company? Key factors highlighted to us by investors include:
· Spot lithium pricing weakness until mid-May 2023
· Mixed analyst outlook for lithium price
· Hard Rock Spodumene vs Li-bearing Brines
· Cash position
· Communication on the recently announced change of auditor.
Each of these is covered in more detail below.
*Lithium pricing*
*Spot lithium pricing weakness until mid-May*
Spot Lithium prices in China declined from a high of around US$85,000/t in November 2022 to a low of near US$21,000t in May this year. Since then, the price has rebounded and is around the US$39,000/t mark. The price seems to have defined a new floor of US$22,000/t, the level below which a significant amount of lithium supply from non-integrated Chinese operations becomes uneconomic.
Lithium price outlook remains strong and recently, at the Fastmarkets conference, the chart to the left was presented by William Adams, Head of Base Metals & Battery Research at Fastmarkets, showing that the low in 2023 is considerably higher than the low in 2020 after the first lithium wave of high spot prices in 2018 (See Figure 1).
During the 2018 lithium price rise, the projects that rose to fill the supply gap were hard rock projects in Australia, while the brine producers in South America struggled to scale up production.
This is why Bradda Head has its targeted approach of all 3 main recognised types of lithium, with the focus now on resource delineation at its pegmatite district in Arizona where we see huge potential for value creation and resource expansion over 1Mt LCE at its Basin clay project demonstrating the scale potential.
Figure 1: Lithium Hydroxide high/low price 2018 to 2023
*Analyst outlook for lithium price*
Bradda Head uses the long-term mean consensus price for its view on the market, which has increased from c.US$8,000/t back when forecast in early 2021 to now c.US$18,000/t as of consensus forecast May 2023, see Figure 4. What is clear to all lithium market watchers is the level of demand in lithium and also the supply needed, which historically has taken longer to get on stream (brines in South America) and been harder to scale up than other forms of lithium mining (hard rock projects in Australia)
Bradda's projects are strategically positioned to fill the near, medium and long-term demand for lithium. Allowing the Company to move quickly in comparative valuation growth terms in the near-term as a consequence of it's hard-rock project, which would use industry standard equipment and production flow sheets.
Figure 2: Lithium price consensus forecasts from May 2021 to April 2023
*Hardrock spodumene vs. Li-bearing brines*
DLE technology is developing but it is not yet proven on a wide commercial scale, but hard-rock mining is! Bradda Head is focussed on its second drill programme at its 23km^2 pegmatite district in Arizona, due to start this month. This will, we believe allow us to report our first 43-101 compliant resource and push this Project forward towards production with pace. Bradda Head has already reported some significant Li20 interceptions at its San Domingo Project as highlighted in Figures 3^[1] and 4^[2] below from Q1 of this year:
Figure 3: Miner Deck analysis of Q1 lithium drilling intercepts with market caps added
Note: Red Dirt Metals name changed to Delta Lithium in April 2023
Figure 4: Bubble chart comparing Q1 assay intercept, grade and market caps. Bubble size is related to market cap.
The recent approval of Thacker Pass has added positive sentiment in the US and confidence is growing. Bradda Head is confident in the long-term market in clays, and we see Basin as a major part of the Company's mid-term strategy whilst we develop San Domingo, the simpler and more cost effective hard-rock project.
*Cash position*
Bradda Head has sufficient cash reserves to carry out its planned 2023 drill programmes and we also expect that Bradda Head this year will receive its second royalty payment from LRC of US$2.5 million once we release our updated resource at Basin following the initial results from the current drill programme there.
*Communication on change of auditor*
Bradda Head released a premature RNS on June 28 relating to the delay in filing of its accounts, which in turn led to confusion in the market. Steps have been taken to ensure this does not happen again and Bradda Head released a clearing RNS on the 30 June adding detail to why the auditor change was required (due to the requirement for a CPAB registered firm, as we are now at TSX-V listed Company) and the request by Bradda Head for permission to file its TSX-V accounts late. These announcements are no reflection of the Company's financial position and Bradda Head will be announcing its results in accordance with the AIM rules.
*Summary*
Bradda Head has strategically located critical mineral projects in the US, located in the middle of the burgeoning US battery supply chain that the government is funding growth of with nearly US$370bn of grants and low-cost loans.
Bradda's asset mix gives the Company and its shareholders exposure to three different types of lithium projects, as all types have their advantages. The Company has near, medium and long-term exposure, and most importantly has work underway on its two flagship projects (hard rock and clay).
2023 will be a big year for Bradda as we aim to push our resources at Basin over the 1Mt LCE mark, which should trigger the next royalty payment and also kick-off the PEA. We are also shortly starting our second drill programme at San Domingo with the main aim to delineate a resource, which would dramatically change the Company's valuation overnight.
This is the time to invest in Bradda before the 3rd wave of lithium investing hits the market.
*Contact for enquiries.*
Charles FitzRoy, CEO
info@braddaheadltd.com
*About Bradda Head Lithium Ltd.*
Bradda Head Lithium Ltd. is a North America-focused lithium development group. The Company currently has interests in a variety of projects, the most advanced of which are in Central and Western Arizona: The Basin Project (Basin East Project, and the Basin West Project) and the Wikieup Project.
The Basin East Project has an Indicated Mineral Resource of 21.2 Mt at an average grade of 891 ppm Li and 3.5% K for a total of 100 kt LCE and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 73.3 Mt at an average grade of 694 ppm Li and 3.2% K for a total of 271 kt LCE. In the rest of the Basin Project SRK has estimated an Exploration Target of between 300 to 1,300 Mt of material grading between 600 to 850 ppm Li which is equivalent to a range of between 1 to 6 Mt LCE. The Group intends to continue to develop its three phase one projects in Arizona, whilst endeavouring to unlock value at its other prospective pegmatite and brine assets in Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. All of Bradda Head's licences are held on a 100% equity basis and are in close proximity to the required infrastructure.
Bradda Head is quoted on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker of BHL, on the TSX Ventures exchange with a ticker of BHLI, and on the US OTCQB market with a ticker of BHLIF.
*Forward-Looking Statements*
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "intends to", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, following: The Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory, governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; future operating and capital costs, timelines, permit timelines, the market and future price of and demand for lithium, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the local levels of government; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
^[1] Source: Miner Deck and Bloomberg. Market Caps as of 04 August 2023
^[2] Source: Miner Deck and Bloomberg. Market Caps as of 04 August 2023
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*SOURCE:* Bradda Head Lithium Limited
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