REG - Tirupati Graphite - Investor Presentation, CLN Issuance, and Update

Tirupati GraphiteAnnouncement

04/03/2025 07:15

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RNS Number : 1858Z  Tirupati Graphite PLC  04 March 2025

The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.
596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement, this information is
considered to be in the public domain.

 

 

4 March 2025

Tirupati Graphite plc

 

('Tirupati', or the 'Company' and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group")

 

Investor Presentation, Convertible Note Issuance, and Update

 

 

Tirupati Graphite plc (TGR.L), the specialist flake graphite company and
producer of this critical mineral for the global energy transition, is pleased
to make available an updated Investor Presentation on its website accessible
at www.tirupatigraphite.co.uk. The Investor Presentation is prepared in
connection with the Company's ongoing fund-raising activities, currently
focused on the placing and issuance of zero-coupon Convertible Notes ("2025
Notes") as previously announced. In addition, the Company is pleased to
provide certain updates following its first month of restarted operations in
Madagascar.

 

Convertible Loan Note ("CLN") Offering

 

To date, the Company has received commitments of £1.74m for the issue of
Convertible Loan Notes (the "2025 Notes") and proceeds from those of £1.2m to
date. The terms of the 2025 Notes are detailed in the Company's announcement
dated 5(th) February 2025. The 2025 Notes are expected to convert to ordinary
shares of £0.025 par value each in the capital of the Company at a conversion
price of £0.05 per share ("2025 Conversion Shares") by notice from a holder
of the 2025 Notes or from the Company, provided that the Company is able to
admit the 2025 Conversion Shares to listing.  This is expected to require,
inter alia, the approval of a prospectus, to be prepared in due course. Issue
of the 2025 Conversion Shares will also be conditional on approval by
shareholders in general meeting of the required authorities to allot new
shares for this purpose.  The proceeds of the 2025 Notes may be used for
general corporate purposes and working capital.

 

A planned placing of ordinary shares is now likely to take place after the
close of the CLN Offering.

Operational Progress

 

During the month of February 2025, production achieved from the Vatomina
project was 375 MTs of flake graphite concentrate of various grades, up to 96%
purity, in line with the expected production rate subject to the Madagascar
rainy season and expected debottlenecking upon restart. This represents the
Company's highest month of production achieved in at least 14 months. The
Company shipped 100 MTs of finished product to customers and as at 28 February
had 280 MTs awaiting shipment in early March to end-customers, from the port
of Tamatave.

 

Following a second site visit during February by CEO, James Nieuwenhuys, the
ground team has commenced work for the relocation of 2 Pre-Concentration Units
("PCU") from the Sahamamy project to Vatomina. This will support the further
ramp up of production from the Vatomina project and the installation of the
PCU's; expected to complete over the next 2 months. The Company has also
secured the use of two additional articulated dump trucks ("ADTs") to optimise
the efficient transportation of ore and waste material.

 

Operational Outlook

 

The Company maintains its overall guidance from its 5 February 2025 RNS for
achieving a production rate of 600 MT per month by the end of April 2025,
1,000 MT per month by 31 July 2025, and 1,500 MT per month by December 2025
from the Vatomina project.

 

The Company advises that it has secured new orders for deliveries in the
period from April 2025 to March 2026 with a current order book standing at
5,780 MT at an average sales price of $940/ MT and continues work to grow its
sales pipeline and optimise average sales prices. The Company is receiving
strong inbound interest from multiple potential long term, strategic buyers
for its products.

 

A new quality control process is being implemented that will enhance the
Company's production process and improve its reliability as a preferred source
of graphite for existing and future customers.

The Company currently anticipates completing all shipments which were pre-paid
for by customers in 2024 in April. From that point, all sales will benefit
current cashflows.

 

Financial condition and Accounts

 

The Company has made good progress in previously reported negotiations with
certain key creditors, including in respect of amounts arising from historical
prepayments for sales.

 

Having been denied access to its accounting systems by the previous CEO, as
previously reported, the Company is in the process of re-constructing its
accounting records, with a new accounting system now implemented. This process
will allow the Company to complete and publish its 31 March 2024 financial
statements ("Accounts") and interim financial statements for the period to 30
September 2024. The current target date for completion of the audited March
2024 Accounts is by late April 2025. This means the Company will be seeking a
short further extension to the official filing deadline for the Accounts from
Companies House. The listing of the Company's shares on the LSE (transitional
standard sector) remains suspended pending completion of the Accounts and the
related audit, but the Company will seek to return the listing of its shares
to permit daily trading as soon as possible now that progress with the
Accounts preparation is under its own control, again targeting late April for
the resumption of the Listing of its shares on the LSE for trading.

 

 

Mark Rollins, Executive Chairman of Tirupati Graphite commented:

 

"The Board is very pleased with the Company's rapid progress since January,
and especially since the production restart on 1 February 2025 which has
demonstrated the potential of the Vatomina project with the continued
implementation of enhanced operating practices under the new management.

 

While the financial position is not yet secure, we are building a firmer
footing to move forward towards the goal of becoming a globally significant
graphite company, and to capitalise on quickly evolving graphite market
dynamics and demand growth from industrial and energy transition market
segments. We look forward to keeping investors updated with our continued
progress in Madagascar and the Company's other business activities elsewhere".

 

 

Forward looking statements and disclaimers

 

The information contained in this document and others attached to or referred
to here (together "this document") have been prepared by Tirupati Graphite plc
(the "Company") solely for informational purposes. It has not been fully
verified and is subject to material updating, completion, revision,
verification and further amendment.

While the information contained herein has been prepared in good faith,
neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or
advisers give, have given or have authority to give, any representations or
warranties (express or implied) as to, or in relation to, the accuracy,
reliability or completeness of the information, or any revision thereof and
any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed. Information contained herein
does not purport to be complete and is subject to certain qualifications and
assumptions and should not be relied upon for the purposes of making an
investment in the Company's securities or entering into any transaction. The
information and opinions contained in this document are provided as at the
date of this document and are subject to change without notice and, in
furnishing the document, the Company does not undertake or agree to any
obligation to update or correct this document. This document has not been
approved by an authorised person in accordance with Section 21 of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended ("FSMA"). This document
does not constitute, or form part of, an offer or invitation to issue, sell or
acquire, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe or purchase, any
securities in the Company. This document may contain certain "forward looking
statements". Forward looking statements often use words such as "believe",
"expect", "estimate", "intend", "anticipate", "aim" and words of a similar
meaning. There are important factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual outcomes and results to be materially different. Except as required by
law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. No statement in this document is intended as a profit
forecast or profit estimate nor the company undertakes any responsibility
towards any such information provided in this document.

 

ENDS

 

For further information, please
visit https://www.tirupatigraphite.co.uk/ or contact:

 

 Tirupati Graphite Plc                          

 Mark Rollins - Executive Chairman             info@tirupati.co.uk

 Alastair Bath - Investor Relations            IR@tirupati.co.uk

                                               +44 7356 057 265
 CMC Markets UK Plc (Broker)

 Douglas Crippen                               +44 (0)20 3003 8632
 FTI Consulting (Financial PR)                 +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

 Ben Brewerton / Nick Hennis / Lucy Wigney     tirupati@fticonsulting.com

 

About Tirupati Graphite Plc

 

Tirupati Graphite is a specialist Graphite producer and a supplier of the
critical mineral for a decarbonised economy and the energy transition, with
leading low development capital and operating costs. The Company places a
special emphasis on green applications including renewable energy, e-mobility,
energy storage and thermal management, and is committed to ensuring its
operations are sustainable.

 

The Group's operations include primary mining and processing in Madagascar
where the Group operates two key projects, Sahamamy and Vatomina with a
combined installed final production nameplate capacity of 30,000tpa, subject
to minor capex additions. The Madagascar operations produce high-quality flake
graphite concentrate with up to 97% purity and selling to customers
globally.

 

The Group also holds two advanced stage, world class, natural graphite
projects in Mozambique. Work has already commenced to optimise the economics
for development of the Montepuez graphite project, which is permitted for
100,000tpa production and where substantial construction work has already been
undertaken by the predecessor. A table of the Group's projects is provided
below:

 

 Country       Project           Stage
 Madagascar    Sahamamy          Production paused: 18,000tpa final production plant nameplate capacity
 Madagascar    Vatomina          In current production ramp-up to 18,000tpa capacity by December 2025.
 Mozambique    Montepuez         100,000tpa permitted, construction-initiated
 Mozambique    Balama Central    58,000tpa permitted, development-ready

 

 

 

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