Bushveld successfully defends Litigation

RNS Number : 8877D

Bushveld Minerals Limited

07 March 2022

 

Market Abuse Regulation ("MAR") Disclosure

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. 

07 March 2022

Bushveld Minerals Limited

("Bushveld Minerals" "Bushveld" or the "Company")

Bushveld successfully defends Litigation

Bushveld Minerals Limited (AIM: BMN), the AIM-quoted, integrated primary vanadium producer and energy storage solutions provider, with ownership of high-grade assets in South Africa, is pleased to report on the judgement outcome of the litigation as set out below.

As announced on 14 July 2021, Garnet Commerce Limited ("Garnet") issued a claim form in the English High court against VRFB Holdings Limited ("VRFB-H") and Enerox Holdings Limited ("EHL"). EHL owns a 100 per cent interest in Enerox GmbH ("Enerox"), a Vanadium Redox Flow Battery manufacturer, providing grid scale and micro-grid energy storage solutions.

Garnet's claim form sought declarations against VRFB-H concerning an alleged breach of the joint venture agreement in relation to EHL. The alleged breach was in respect of the indirect investment, announced on 27 April 2021, into EHL by Mustang Energy Plc through VRFB-H, in terms of which Mustang acquired a 22.1 percent shareholding in VRFB-H in return for an investment of US$7,5 million.  

The Company notes the judgment handed down earlier today in the High Court of Justice: Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (Chancery Division) in the matter between Garnet Commerce Limited (Claimant), VRFB Holdings Limited and Enerox Holdings Limited (Defendants) and 2289609 Alberta Limited (Third Party) [Claim No. BL-2021-001153].

The judgement outcome vindicates the position that the investment by VRFB Holdings Limited ("VRFB-H") into Enerox Holdings Limited ("EHL"), funded as it were partly from an investment by Mustang plc ("Mustang"), was entirely appropriate and not in violation of any agreements. Accordingly, the investment by Mustang into VRFB-H, and the investment by VRFB-H into EHL,continue to be in place. As previously announced, Mustang's investment into VRFB-H constitutes a reverse takeover according to the AIM Rules. As such, Mustang shares will remain suspended while it prepares a prospectus on its investment into VRFB-H.

Meanwhile, Bushveld and Mustang have agreed on the extension of the notice period for Mustang to issue notice in respect of the backstop as announced on 19 January 2022, by a further 72 hours to close of business on Thursday, 10 March 2022 to allow both parties to digest the judgment and its implications. The Company will provide further updates in due course.

ENDS

Enquiries: [e-mail]

Bushveld Minerals Limited		[phone]
Fortune Mojapelo, Chief Executive Officer
Andrew Mari, Investor Relations
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP	Nominated Adviser & Broker	[phone]
Richard Morrison / Charlie Bouverat
Grant Baker / Richard Parlons
Tavistock	Financial PR
Gareth Tredway / Tara Vivian-Neal/ Adam Baynes		[phone]

ABOUT BUSHVELD MINERALS LIMITED

Bushveld Minerals is a low-cost, vertically integrated primary vanadium producer. It is one of only three operating primary vanadium producers, owning 2 of the world's 4 operating primary vanadium processing facilities. In 2020, the Company produced more than 3,600 mtV, representing approximately three per cent of the global vanadium market. With a diversified vanadium product portfolio serving the needs of the steel, energy and chemical sectors, the Company participates in the entire vanadium value chain through its two main pillars: Bushveld Vanadium, which mines and processes vanadium ore; and Bushveld Energy, an energy storage solutions provider. Bushveld Vanadium is targeting to materially grow its vanadium production and achieve an annualised steady state production run rate of between 5,000 mtVp.a. and 5,400 mtVp.a by the end of 2022, from projects currently being implemented. Beyond that, pre-feasibility studies are in progress to determine the optimal path to increase production even further to a steady state production run rate of between 6,400 mtVp.a. and 6,800 mtVp.a. in the medium-term and to a steady state production run rate of 8,400 mtVp.a in the long term.

Bushveld Energy is focused on developing and promoting the role of vanadium in the growing global energy storage market through the advancement of vanadium-based energy storage systems, specifically Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries ("VRFBs").

Detailed information on the Company and progress to date can be accessed on the website www.bushveldminerals.com  

ABOUT BUSHVELD ENERGY LIMITED

Bushveld Energy is a leading energy storage solutions provider, focusing on the African market. Bushveld Energy recognises that the requirement for electricity in Africa touches on both the paramount potential for social transformation and an immense commercial opportunity.

Bushveld Energy is focused on developing and promoting the role of vanadium in the growing global energy storage market through application in vanadium redox flow batteries ("VRFB"). Its near-term strategy is to deploy several VRFB systems as part of its longer-term vision to become a significant electricity storage provider in Africa, meeting the demand for utility scale energy storage in Africa by leveraging South Africa-mined and beneficiated vanadium. Bushveld Energy's business model embraces a number of activities along the VRFB value chain, including electrolyte manufacturing, investment in VRFB manufacturing, battery deployment and project development. 

http://www.bushveldenergy.com

ABOUT MUSTANG ENERGY

Mustang Energy PLC is a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC), whose shares are listed on the Standard List of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, which intends to utilise its strong management experience and strategic relationship with Acacia Resources Limited, the Company's largest shareholder, to acquire interests in energy storage and stationary battery assets.

http://www.mustangplc.com/

 

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