BRISBANE, Australia, April 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sayona Mining Limited ("Sayona" or "Company") (ASX:SYA; OTCQB:SYAXF) provides an update on the proposed transaction with Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont Lithium") (NASDAQ:PLL, ASX:PLL) (see announcement on 19 November 2024) (the "Transaction") that will combine the two companies to create a leading lithium business.
Subject to Sayona shareholder approval, the name of the Company will be changed to Elevra Lithium Limited ("Elevra Lithium") upon completion of the Transaction. The Transaction will result in an approximate 50% / 50% equity holding of shareholders of Sayona and Piedmont Lithium (on a fully diluted basis) in Elevra Lithium immediately following the closing of the Transaction.
Since the Transaction announcement, significant progress has been made in preparing for the shareholder vote for both Sayona and Piedmont Lithium. Most recently, Investment Canada Act (ICA) approval has effectively been obtained (with the national security review period expiring without any comments), Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act approval has effectively been obtained (with the U.S. competition review period expiring without objection) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has completed its review and advised that it will take no further action with respect to the Transaction.
Completion of the Transaction remains subject to shareholder approval for both companies and other customary conditions for a transaction of this nature and is targeted to close mid-CY2025. An Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") of Sayona shareholders is expected to be held in the first half of CY2025 to seek, amongst other things, approval of:
- The Transaction;
- The conditional placement of Sayona shares to Resource Capital Fund VIII, L.P. to raise approximately A$69 million (~US$45M, before costs) at A$0.032 per Sayona share (subject to completion of the Transaction);
- The consolidation of Sayona shares through the conversion of every 150 Sayona shares held by a Sayona shareholder into 1 Sayona share; and
- The change of name of the Company to Elevra Lithium.
As previously announced, Sayona has undertaken a review of its issued capital (ASX release 19 November, 2024) and now intends to seek shareholder approval to consolidate its shares at a ratio of 150:1. Additionally, the proposed listing of American Depositary Shares representing Sayona shares ("ADS") on the Nasdaq will be issued at a ratio of 10:1 post the initial consolidation of Sayona shares (and subject to both Sayona and Piedmont shareholders approving the Transaction).
This will result in a reduced number of shares on issue and a proportionally higher share price that we believe is in line with investor expectations and that we expect will be attractive to a broader set of investors. Based on the Sayona share price (A$0.017) and AUD:USD exchange rate (0.64) on 22 April 2025, this would result in a Sayona share price of approximately A$2.55 and an indicative ADS price (post completion of the Transaction) of approximately US$16.32.
Please note that:
- Sayona intends to proceed with the proposed share consolidation (subject to shareholder approval) irrespective of whether the Transaction completes; and
- This proposed share consolidation in and of itself should NOT affect the value of your holding. Please see the worked example of the proposed share consolidation at the end of this release.
