Tantalum Growth & Funding Partnership, Rwanda
09/02/2026 07:00
RNS Number : 1092S
Aterian PLC
09 February 2026
9 February 2026
Aterian plc
("Aterian" or the "Company" or the "Group")
Tantalum Growth & Funding Partnership, Rwanda
Aterian plc (AIM: ATN), the Africa-focused critical metals exploration and development company, announces that it has agreed Heads of Terms ("HoT") for a transformational strategic commercial and funding partnership relating to the sale, marketing, and funding of its Rwandan-origin tantalum concentrates.
The arrangement will apply to 100% of the Company's saleable tantalum concentrate production consolidated through its subsidiary, Eastinco Ltd, in the Republic of Rwanda ("Rwanda"), and is expected to commence from February 2026, subject to the execution of definitive agreements and customary approvals.
This partnership represents the most significant commercial agreement in Aterian's history and marks a decisive step change in the Group's trading capability, liquidity profile, and ability to scale operations.
Key Highlights:
· 50/50 profit and loss share on international sales of tantalum concentrates, providing direct exposure to global pricing and margins
· Comprehensive working capital solution, removing all material funding bottlenecks across the trading cycle:
o Significantly reduced equity requirement for same-day facility funding;
o In-warehouse inventory financing in Kigali;
o Working capital facility funding material purchases
· Immediate acceleration of trading capacity, enabling higher volumes without an overly constrained balance sheet
· Centralised international marketing, sales, and logistical support to global end customers
· Replaces the existing sales and marketing arrangement for new material
Charles Bray, Executive Chairman of Aterian plc, commented:
"This is a landmark transaction for Aterian and the most significant commercial agreement the Company has entered into since listing on the LSE. It represents a step change in our ability to trade, scale, and generate cash, with a dramatically reduced equity capital contribution from Aterian.
The structure removes the single biggest impediment we have faced to date, that of working capital constraints with an undervalued share price, and allows us to materially accelerate trading volumes immediately without balance-sheet stress or shareholder dilution.
Beyond liquidity, this partnership embeds Aterian within the global tantalum supply chain, providing direct exposure to international pricing, margins and long-term commercial relationships. It transforms Aterian from a somewhat constrained trader into a scalable, cash-generative platform.
The Board believes this structure supports sustainable growth, enhances shareholder value and builds a stronger foundation for the Company's future development."
Strategic Impact
This agreement fully resolves Aterian's historical working capital constraints and fundamentally changes the economics, pace and scalability of the Group's trading operations.
The structure provides:
· Predictable, scalable liquidity aligned with volume growth;
· Significantly improved cash flow visibility and resilience;
· The ability to fund procurement and inventory without expensive equity dilution; and
· A materially reduced balance-sheet burden.
Crucially, the partnership enables Aterian to transition from opportunistic trading to a scaled, institutional-grade trading platform capable of rapidly growing volumes while maintaining disciplined risk management and full compliance.
Strategically, Aterian is now embedded directly within the global tantalum value chain, moving beyond a simple producer or aggregator model and into a long-term, integrated commercial role with direct access to international markets, pricing dynamics and downstream demand.
ESG and Responsible Sourcing
All material will continue to be sourced exclusively from Rwanda under internationally recognised responsible sourcing frameworks, including ITSCI, OECD and RMI standards, ensuring full traceability, ethical supply chains and regulatory compliance.
Next Steps
Definitive agreements are now being progressed, subject to due diligence, regulatory approvals and final board approvals. Further updates will be provided as work progresses.
- 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).
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