#SVML Sovereign Metals Ltd – ASX Trading Halt Update

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML) (“Sovereign” or the “Company”) announced on 27 January 2023 that following movements in its share price on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”)and a price query from ASX, the Company’s ordinary shares were placed in a trading halt on the ASX.  The ASX has informed Sovereign that the trading halt has been lifted and trading of the Company’s ordinary shares has resumed on the ASX.

The trading halt did not affect trading in the Company’s shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange plc, where normal trade continued.

In response to the ASX price query dated 27 January 2023 regarding an increase in the Company’s share price and in the volume of trading securities, the Company noted that it is not aware of any information that has not been announced which, if known, could be an explanation for recent trading in the securities of the Company, however it does note that:

(a)      On 26 January 2023, Mkango Resources Limited (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) (“Mkango”) announced the receipt of Environmental Social Health Impact Assessment (“ESHIA”) approval from the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority (“MEPA”) for their Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project.  The approval of the ESHIA is a significant milestone in the Mining Development Agreement (“MDA”) approvals process as it is fundamental requirement for obtaining a mining licence in Malawi.

(b)      On 7 December 2022, the Company announced that the Company is to demerge its standalone Graphite Projects (being the Nanzeka, Malingunde, Duwi and Mabuwa Projects) into a wholly owned subsidiary, NGX Limited (“Demerger”). The Company expects to publish a Notice of Meeting for the Demerger in the coming weeks.

(c)        In September 2022, the Company completed a 6,865 metre, 438-hole air-core and push-tube infill mineral resource drilling program at Kasiya Rutile Project (“Kasiya”). The infill drilling results from this program are consistent with previous announced drilling results (refer to announcements dated 08/09/2022 and 26/10/2022) and are confirmatory of these previous infill results released to the market. An updated Kasiya Mineral Resource Estimate is targeted for completion in Q1 2023.

The final infill drill hole was completed on 16/09/2022. The final batch of infill drill hole samples was sent to Australian laboratories on 9/11/2022. The final batch of assay results was received by the Company on 8/12/2022 but as stated above the results from the program are consistent with previous announced drilling results.

In any event, the Company has released the infill assay results following a request from ASX (see announcement entitled ‘Kasiya Resource Infill Drilling Results’ dated 30 January 2023).

The Company has strict procedures to maintain confidentiality of assay results with two directors and two senior management employees only having access to drill results prior to announcement drafting and circulation to the board for final approval.

The Company expects that its shares will trade as normal on ASX from opening of trade on 31 January 2023. Trading will continue as normal on the AIM market.

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