#SVML Sovereign Metals – Offtake & Marketing Alliance with Japanese Trader

RUTILE OFFTAKE AND MARKETING ALLIANCE WITH MAJOR JAPANESE TRADING HOUSE

Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM; AIM:SVML) (the Company or Sovereign) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsui & Co Ltd (Mitsui), one of the largest global trading and investment companies in Japan. The MoU establishes a marketing alliance and offtake for 30,000 tonnes of natural rutile per annum from the Company’s world-class Kasiya Rutile Project (Kasiya) in Malawi.

This MoU creates a marketing alliance between the two parties to jointly market Sovereign’s rutile across Asia and other markets. The alliance will allow Sovereign to leverage off Mitsui’s extensive network and their market-leading understanding of the titanium industry and global logistics.

Mitsui has shared samples of rutile product from Kasiya with Asian end-users that have confirmed its premium chemical specifications should be suitable for use in their titanium sponge and pigment processes, as a precursor for high-grade, high-specification titanium metal and pigment production.

Sovereign’s Managing Director, Dr Julian Stephens commented: “The Asia region is a key natural rutile market with all major end-use sectors well established and further strong growth forecast. We expect expanding technology developments and increasing environmental awareness to drive greater demand for natural rutile. This marketing alliance with a very high-calibre partner in Mitsui will assist Sovereign to penetrate these ever-growing markets.

The MoU is non-exclusive and non-binding with no pricing terms which remains subject to negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement. The MoU will expire on 31 December 2023 but can be extended by agreement by both parties should a definitive agreement not have been reached by that time.

ENQUIRIES