Core Exploration Limited (ASX:CXO) (“Core” or “Company”) is...

Core Exploration Limited (ASX:CXO) (“Core” or “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding Subscription Agreement and Framework Agreement with Ya Hua International Investment and Development Co. Ltd (“Yahua”) which is wholly owned by Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Co. Ltd (“Yahua Group”), one of China’s largest lithium hydroxide and carbonate producers, for a placement of $2 million to Yahua (“Placement”). The Framework Agreement forms a strategic alliance between Yahua and Core and provides for the future negotiation of an offtake and cooperation agreement. The aim of the strategic alliance is to establish a lithium mining operation at Core’s Finniss Lithium Project located near Darwin, in the Northern Territory.
The Placement to Yahua will be conducted in two tranches:

• Core will initially receive A$1 million and issue Yahua with 16.7 million fully paid Core shares at 6 cents per share (Tranche 1 Placement). The Tranche 1 Placement is not conditional on shareholder approval and has been completed – an Appendix 3B follows this announcement.

• Core will receive a further A$1 million and issue Yahua with a further 16.7 million fully paid shares in Core at 6 cents per share, subject to receipt of customary Australian and Chinese regulatory approvals by 31 October 2017 (Tranche 2 Placement).

In addition to the Placement, Yahua and Core have agreed to negotiate in good faith to establish binding co-operation and offtake agreements, which will provide for Yahua to acquire DSO lithium production from Core’s exploration licence EL 29698 which is part of the Finniss Lithium Project and may include Yahua assisting Core in sourcing commercial debt financing for development of the Finniss Lithium Project.
The parties will seek to document the cooperation and offtake agreements by 31 October 2017, or a later date by mutual agreement (Sunset Date). The Framework Agreement will terminate if the cooperation and offtake agreements are not executed by the Sunset Date. Also, Yahua is not required to proceed with the Tranche 2 Placement if the relevant Chinese and Australian regulatory approvals for the Tranche 2 Placement have not been granted by the Sunset Date.
Yahua Group is already one of China’s largest lithium producers, and has significant expansion plans. Yahua Group’s existing operations includes a 12,000tpa lithium hydroxide refinery and a 6,000tpa lithium carbonate refinery, and it has plans to expand its production to 50,000tpa of lithium salt production. As a major supplier of lithium salts in China, Yahua Group has long term stable relationships with a number of the large downstream customers of lithium batteries, and has broad marketing and distribution channels. Yahua Group already has significant business interests in Australia, including operations in Darwin, where it manufactures explosives for industrial use.
The fundamental objective of both Core and Yahua is to develop the Finniss Lithium Project as rapidly as possible so that Core can commence generating cashflow from its Finniss Project and take advantage of the current strong offtake pricing available, and Yahua can take delivery of high grade DSO material to utilise in its lithium refineries in China.
Stephen Biggins, Core’s Managing Director commented:
“The commencement of a strategic relationship with Yahua represents a landmark transaction for Core as we embark on a plan to rapidly transition into lithium DSO production, with the view to generating early cashflow that can fund our ultimate goal of becoming a long-term supplier of spodumene concentrate to the growing lithium battery market.
We are very pleased to partner with a credible partner such as Yahua, and look forward to working with them as major shareholder and eventually, offtake customer for Core.
Yahua has many years of experience in lithium production and we expect this will be of great benefit to Core as we embark on the development of our own lithium production at the Finniss Project.”

Yahua’s investment provides for $2 million in new equity funding at a substantial premium to Core’s recent share price, and will allow Core to expedite its plans to establish a DSO lithium mining business initially at its Grants deposit, whilst ensuring Core remains well funded to continue its broader exploration efforts at the Finniss Project, with the objective to discover larger lithium resources to build a long life spodumene concentrate operation.
Yahua has agreed to a Standstill period in which it will not, and will procure that each of its related body corporates do not acquire additional Core securities for a period of 12 months from the last date that Placement shares are issued, or enter into any arrangement conferring rights on any third party the economic effect of which is equivalent or substantially the same as acquiring or holding securities in Core, unless it has received the prior written consent of Core.