Communicators

Highlights

-          Strategic engagement with Talaxis, a global leader in EV technology metals project development

-          Talaxis to support with completing the DFS for the Wolfsberg Lithium Project

-          European Lithium Board to be strengthened with the appointment of Talaxis MD Daniel Mamdou-Blanco as a Strategic Advisor.  Mr Mamadou-Blanco is a highly experienced mining and finance executive who has previously held senior executive positions with Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Nomura International.

-          Talaxis to provide services to European Lithium including managing and establishing commercial relationships, contract negotiations and strategic market research

27 May 2020 - European Lithium Limited (ASX:EUR, FRA:PF8, NEX:EUR, VSE:ELI) (“EUR” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic engagement agreement with Talaxis Limited (“Talaxis”) which includes the appointment of Talaxis and Noble Group Holdings Limited (“Noble Holdings”) executive Daniel Mamadou-Blanco as a strategic advisor to EUR. Talaxis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Holdings, is a global leader in EV technology metals project development.  Talaxis invests and develops projects that are related to nickel, cobalt, lithium, rare earths and other metals and materials that are key to the energy transition.

Tony Sage EUR Non-Executive Chairman commented: “Given the unprecedented times we live in, it is a huge coup for EUR to have secured the engagement with Talaxis and above all the vast knowledge and experience of Daniel. The appointment will expedite the DFS for the Company’s Wolfsburg’s lithium project as the world starts to move out of the pandemic and into an EV future, especially in Europe.”

Daniel Mamadou-Blanco Managing Director and the Global Head of Technology Metals and Materials at Noble Holdings commented: “We are pleased to have secured a long term strategic engagement with European Lithium. Having followed the Wolfsberg Lithium Project for a number of years, we believe the asset is uniquely placed to drive growth in the European battery industry given its strategic location, metallurgically friendly lithium ore and expected production timeline. Despite a challenging macro-economic environment in light of COVID-19, we believe the industry's long-term fundamentals remain resilient as the transition towards electric vehicles and renewable energy continues to accelerate. We are proud to be partnering with European Lithium to support the energy transition and drive long-term growth."

Key Terms of Strategic Engagement

Key terms of the strategic engagement are as follows:

a)     Talaxis will assist EUR in managing and establishing commercial relationships and contract negotiations including:

1. Establishing, liaising and maintaining relationships with strategic partners, such as debt and equity financiers, government / EU grant providers / financing programs, offtake partners, logistics partners, and EPCM partners; and
2. Management assistance with contract negotiations on key transactions and continued support post transaction / relevant agreement .

b)     Talaxis will provide strategic market research and insight to EUR covering the lithium industry, including (but not limited to) beneficiation, processing and refining methods, product grades and specifications, pricing metrics and methodology, competition landscape, market supply and demand, environmental protection, purchasing and storage activities and industry trends;

c)     Talaxis’ services will be provided by Noble Holdings executive, Mr Daniel Mamadou-Blanco as a Strategic Advisor. Mr Daniel Mamadou-Blanco is currently the Managing Director and the Global Head of Technology Metals and Materials at Noble Holdings, one of the world’s largest EV technology commodities groups, who has over 20 years of expertise in the financial services and resource sectors in Asia;

d)     Remuneration Terms:

1. Capital Introduction fees of 5% is payable on successful debt or equity raising.

2. Subject to ASX approval in accordance with LR 6.1 and shareholder approval, the Company has agreed to grant Talaxis (or its nominee) 36,000,000 performance rights in several tranches, which may convert into fully paid ordinary shares of the Company based on the vesting and conversion conditions set out below occurring within 5 years:

-          6,000,000 – on completion of full Definitive Feasibility funding for the Wolfsberg Lithium Project;

-          6,000,000 – On completion of project development funding for the Wolfsberg Lithium Project;

-          6,000,000 – On completion of commercial production at the Wolfsberg Lithium Project;

-          6,000,000 – If the volume-weighted average share price (“VWAP”) of the Company’s shares traded on the ASX or FRA equals or exceeds A$0.10/share for 20 business days;

-          6,000,000 – If the VWAP of the Company’s shares traded on the ASX or FRA equals or exceeds A$0.20/share for 20 business days; and

-          6,000,000 – If the VWAP of the Company’s shares traded on the ASX or FRA equals or exceeds A$0.30/share for 20 business days.

e)     Both parties agree to a one year minimum engagement period on a non-exclusive basis.  Talaxis must act in the best interests of EUR in providing services.

f)       The agreement will continue until terminated. At the end of the initial one year period, either party may terminate the agreement by providing 30 days written notice to the other party.  In addition, either party may terminate the agreement in the event of a material breach of the agreement.

g)     The engagement letter is subject to EUR board approval.  This board approval was received on 25 May 2020.

The strategic engagement agreement was introduced and managed by corporate advisory firm, Empire Capital Partners (Empire Capital). The Company has executed a mandate with Empire Capital for the provision of services (Mandate).  Under the terms of the Mandate, the Company has agreed to issue Empire Capital 2 million fully paid ordinary shares (Mandate Shares) and 2 million unlisted options with an exercise price of 5c expiring on 31 July 2022 (Mandate Options).  The Mandate Shares and Mandate Options are issued under the Company’s LR 7.1 capacity and without shareholder approval.

EUR is developing its Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria (100% interest) where it aims to be the first local supplier of lithium into an integrated European battery supply chain. In April 2018, the Company completed its PFS

This announcement has been authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of the Company.

Tony Sage

Non-Executive Chairman

European Lithium Limited

- END –

Visit the Company’s website (www.europeanlithium.com) to find out more about the advanced Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Austria.

For further information please contact:

European Lithium Ltd

+61 861 819 792

Tony Sage ir@europeanlithium.com

NEX Corporate Adviser

+44 207 220 1666

James Joyce

James Sinclair-Ford

Notes to editors:

Daniel Mamadou-Blanco biography

Mr Daniel Mamadou-Blanco is currently the Managing Director and the Global Head of Technology Metals and Materials at Noble Holdings, one of the world’s largest EV Technology commodities groups, with over 20 years of expertise in the financial services sector in Asia.

From 1997 until 2014, Mr Mamadou-Blanco developed his professional career at various investment banks, including at Deutsche Bank in London, where he ran the fixed income derivatives structuring desk for Spain and Portugal as Director in the Relative Value Group.

In 1999, Mr Mamadou-Blanco joined Goldman Sachs as a Director in the Corporate Coverage group within the FICC division in London. Daniel re-joined the ranks of Deutsche Bank in Asia in 2003, where he was appointed Managing Director and co-head of the Corporate Markets and Treasury Solutions team, with the responsibility of covering Asia-Pacific. In 2011, Daniel moved over to Nomura Securities, as Managing Director and Head of the Corporate Solutions and Financing Group for the Asia-Pacific region.

Daniel holds an MSc in Investment Banking and International Securities from the University of Reading, and a Bachelor in Marketing and Business Management from the Escuela Superior de Gestion ESIC, Valencia.

About Talaxis

Talaxis is a wholly owned subsidiary of Noble Group Holdings Limited, Asia’s leading independent energy products and industrial raw materials supply chain manager. It invests and participates in the development of projects in the technology metals sector, leveraging Noble’s resources through access to logistics and supply chain management, and assists with the design and structure of project financing solutions. Talaxis prioritises ventures that contribute to the decarbonization of the economy and that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.