REG - Aterian PLC - Strategic Financing and Trade Facility

AterianAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 0289H  Aterian PLC  01 May 2025

01 May 2025

 

Aterian Plc

("Aterian" or the "Company")

 

Strategic Financing and Trade Facility to Accelerate Growth Across Africa

Aterian Plc (LSE: ATN), the Africa-focused critical minerals exploration and
development company, is pleased to announce it has successfully secured signed
subscriptions for GBP 468,000 of equity capital targeted through the issue of
Convertible Bonds (the "Bonds") to both new and existing investors.  It is
intended that additional bonds may be issued to interested qualified investors
up until 16 May 2025.  This financing round follows the recently secured
US$4.5 million Trade Finance Facility (announced on 23 April 2025), which will
facilitate Aterian's rapidly expanding, revenue-generating mineral trading
operations in Rwanda.

Revenue Growth from Rwanda: Trading at the Core

Aterian's Rwandan trading division is delivering early-stage revenue,
leveraging deep in-country expertise and local partnerships to source,
process, and export tin, tantalum and niobium concentrates. The Trade Facility
provides immediate working capital to:

·      Expand sourcing and trading volumes across Rwanda and the
surrounding region;

·      Enhance infrastructure and logistics to boost operational
efficiency; and

·      Strengthen margins and cash flow to support group-wide
exploration activities.

This business is expected to contribute significantly to covering operational
expenditure in 2025, creating a self-sustaining platform that underpins
Aterian's wider asset development strategy.

Other Operational Highlights

·      Successful Convertible Bond raise supported by existing
shareholder participation to advance exploration assets and further identify
drill targets.

·      Field programs initiated across Botswana and Morocco, advancing
high-priority exploration targets.

·      Active joint venture with Rio Tinto progressing lithium
exploration in Rwanda.

·      Raised funds utilised to cover operating expenses while trading
volumes increase.

Charles Bray, Executive Chairman of Aterian, commented:

"This funding marks an inflection point for Aterian. We are building a hybrid
business model, one that combines scalable exploration across critical mineral
jurisdictions with active, revenue-generating operations.

Our mineral trading business in Rwanda is gaining traction, demonstrating the
strength of our operational platform and allowing for the company to remove
its past dependency on equity capital dilution. Further, this foundation will
allow us to aggressively advance high-potential copper and lithium projects in
Botswana and Morocco, two regions globally recognised for their strategic
importance in battery metal supply.

In Botswana, fieldwork has commenced in the Kalahari Copperbelt, one of the
most prospective copper provinces worldwide, while lithium brine exploration
has launched in the Makgadikgadi basin, an emerging frontier for battery raw
materials. In Morocco, mobilisation has begun at our four flagship
copper-silver-gold projects: Tata, Azrar, Agdz, and Jebilet Est. Geophysical
surveys and trenching are underway to define drill targets.

We're grateful for the support of our shareholders and partners. With this
capital in place, we are funded to execute, deliver results, and grow both
asset value and trading revenues."

Convertible Bonds

The convertible bonds have a three-year maturity and expire on 28 April 2028.
The bonds carry an 8% annual coupon, payable-in kind (PIK) annually from 11
months after issuance. The conversion price is fixed at £0.50 per share and
can adjust downwards only at maturity or if the company issues equity below
the conversion price.  A subsequent issuance of equity below the conversion
price will adjust the conversion terms downwards to that lower prevailing
equity issue price, subject to a 30 pence per share minimum conversion price.

The bonds also allow for the Company to oblige conversion at the Maturity
Equity Price, which is a 60-day average market representative share price at
the bond's maturity. Aterian may repay the bonds at a 105% premium in cash
before the maturity window or at par thereafter, either in cash (to further
reduce the dilutive impact) or shares at the Maturity Equity Price.
Additionally, Aterian holds a call option to redeem the bonds at par if its
shares trade above £1.00 for 10 consecutive trading days, subject to notice.
In no circumstance can the bonds ever convert at an exercise price below 30
pence per share.

The capital raised will be directed towards fieldwork across priority copper
and lithium assets in Botswana and Morocco, including geophysical surveys,
trenching, and drill targeting. In parallel, capital will be used to fund
technical studies, licence maintenance, and project development planning. The
remainder will be applied to general corporate overheads, ensuring the Company
maintains operational momentum while continuing to operate with financial
discipline and cost efficiency.

Financial intermediaries interested in participating in the bond issuance
should contact Novum Securities Limited on +44 (0)20 7399 9400.

Outlook - Strengthening Foundations for Growth

Aterian's strategy is to develop and monetise critical mineral assets across
Rwanda, Morocco, and Botswana, with a particular focus on copper and lithium.
The Company's exploration and development activities are complemented by a
revenue-generating trading business, enabling Aterian to balance near-term
cash flow with long-term project value.

The Company's partnership-driven model is exemplified by its joint venture
with Rio Tinto, which began in late 2023 to explore lithium, tantalum, and tin
at the HCK Project in Rwanda. This collaborative approach continues to drive
capital efficiency and de-risk project execution across the portfolio.

Community and Environmental Responsibility

Aterian remains committed to responsible and transparent operations, aligned
with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of
Minerals. The Company implements traceability practices consistent with the
Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) and ensures full visibility across its
sourcing and trading activities. Aterian plc, through its subsidiary Eastinco
Ltd, is a registered member of the ITSCi Programme (International Tin Supply
Chain Initiative), a globally recognised traceability and due diligence scheme
for 3T minerals (tin, tantalum, and tungsten). Membership in ITSCi underscores
Eastinco's commitment to responsible sourcing and compliance with
international standards, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk
areas. By adhering to the ITSCi framework, Eastinco ensures that its mineral
trading activities meet the expectations of downstream customers, regulators,
and auditors, while promoting transparency, traceability, and ethical conduct
throughout the supply chain. Community engagement and environmental
stewardship are central to Aterian's approach, with ongoing investment in
local education and infrastructure, and strict adherence to health, safety,
and environmental standards.

- ENDS -

This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was
inside information as stipulated under Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse
(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310 (as amended).

 

For further information, please visit the Company's website:
www.aterianplc.com (http://www.aterianplc.com) or contact:

 

Aterian Plc:

Charles Bray, Executive Chairman - charles.bray@aterianplc.com
(mailto:charles.bray@aterianplc.com)

Simon Rollason, Director - simon.rollason@aterianplc.com
(mailto:simon.rollason@aterianplc.com)

 

Financial Adviser and Joint Broker:

Novum Securities Limited

David Coffman

Colin Rowbury

Tel: +44 (0)207 399 9400

 

Joint Broker:

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

Ewan Leggat / Adam Cowl

Tel: +44 20 3470 0470

 

Financial PR:

Bald Voodoo - ben@baldvoodoo.com (mailto:ben@baldvoodoo.com)

Ben Kilbey

Tel: +44 (0)7811 209 344

Notes to Editors:

About Aterian plc

www.aterianplc.com (http://www.aterianplc.com)

 

Aterian plc is an LSE-listed exploration and development company with a
diversified African portfolio of critical metals projects.

Aterian plc is actively seeking to acquire and develop new critical metal
resources to strengthen its existing asset base while supporting ethical and
sustainable supply chains as the world transitions to a sustainable, renewable
future. The supply of these metals is vital for developing the renewable
energy, automotive, and electronic manufacturing sectors, which are
increasingly important in reducing carbon emissions and meeting global climate
ambitions.

 

The Company has entered into a joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto Mining
and Exploration Limited. Rio Tinto will earn into the HCK project in
southern Rwanda, exploring and developing a lithium-tantalum-niobium-tin
mining operation. The Company also holds an exploration licence in Rwanda.
Aterian has a portfolio of multiple copper-silver (+ gold) and base metal
projects in Morocco. Aterian holds a 90% interest in Atlantis Metals, a
private Botswana-registered company holding seven mineral prospecting licences
for copper-silver in the world-renowned Kalahari Copperbelt and three for
lithium brine exploration in the Makgadikgadi Pans region.

 

The Company's strategy is to seek new exploration and production opportunities
across the African continent and to develop new sources of critical mineral
assets for exploration, development, and trading.

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