5E Advanced Materials Reports Positive Progress, Unveils Strengthened Project Economics and Timeline to Final Investment Decision

Rhea-AI Summary

5E Advanced Materials (NASDAQ:FEAM) has reported enhanced project economics for its Phase 1 boron mining project in California. The company's updated analysis reveals stronger financial prospects, with production targets of 77,000 short tons of B2O3. Key financial metrics include:

- Targeted Capital Expenditure: $390-430 million
- Phase I Pre-tax Project IRR (Unlevered): 18-22%
- Project NPV7: $650-715 million

The company plans to release a pre-feasibility report in May 2025, incorporating recent improvements including higher head grade wellfield data and optimized plot planning. The project timeline indicates vendor equipment testing completion by late April 2025, followed by Front End Engineering Design (FEED), targeting Final Investment Decision in early 2026. Additionally, following meetings with the Export-Import Bank, 5E plans to formally apply for a loan package of up to $285 million after completing the first phase of commercial engineering.

Positive

• Strong Phase 1 production capacity of 77,000 short tons B2O3
• Attractive IRR of 18-22% and NPV7 of $650-715M
• Potential $285M loan guarantee from Export-Import Bank
• Higher head grade from wellfield data
• Strategic location with U.S. government Critical Infrastructure designation

Negative

• High capital expenditure requirement of $390-430M
• Project still pending final vendor equipment testing
• FID not expected until early 2026
• Loan guarantee from Export-Import Bank is non-binding

Insights

Mining Engineer

5E Advanced Materials has released highly promising pre-feasibility data for its Fort Cady boron project, showcasing strengthened Phase 1 economics with an attractive 18-22% pre-tax IRR and project NPV of $650-715 million. These improved metrics stem from tangible operational advancements including higher head grades from wellfield testing, Small-Scale Facility operational learnings, and plot plan optimization.

The projected $390-430 million capital requirement appears well-positioned for partial coverage through the company's $285 million potential Export-Import Bank financing package, though additional funding will clearly be required. The production target of 77,000 short tons of B2O3 establishes a significant scale operation in the domestic critical minerals space.

The timeline shows methodical progression with vendor equipment testing (the critical path element) expected by April 2025, followed by the pre-feasibility report in May 2025, and Final Investment Decision targeted for early 2026. This indicates construction likely beginning mid-2026 with production potentially online by late 2027 or early 2028.

What's particularly compelling is the project's designation as Critical Infrastructure, reflecting its strategic importance to U.S. industrial supply chains. With few competing domestic boron projects of this scale and advancement stage, FEAM's position as a potential significant U.S.-based producer of these critical materials adds substantial strategic value beyond the already attractive financial metrics.

Financial Analyst

The updated project economics for 5E Advanced Materials represent a meaningful positive development that deserves investor attention. The pre-tax IRR range of 18-22% exceeds typical mining project hurdle rates of 15%, indicating robust potential returns despite the capital-intensive nature of the project.

Most striking is the project NPV7 of $650-715 million against the company's current market capitalization of approximately $12.2 million, suggesting significant potential upside if the project advances successfully. While this valuation gap reflects remaining execution risks, the improved economics strengthen the investment thesis substantially.

The financing pathway is becoming more concrete, with Export-Import Bank discussions progressing toward a potential $285 million loan guarantee. This would cover approximately 70% of the $390-430 million capital expenditure, leaving a manageable funding gap. The strategic designation as Critical Infrastructure enhances the probability of securing this government-backed financing.

The timeline to Final Investment Decision in early 2026 remains a key consideration for investors, as significant capital may still be required before revenue generation begins. However, the stepwise approach through pre-feasibility, FEED, and vendor testing demonstrates methodical de-risking of the project.

These improved economics, combined with the strategic importance of domestic boron production, position 5E favorably compared to many other critical minerals projects currently seeking funding in North America.

Company provides comprehensive update on positive developments in operational scope and engineering, driving enhanced project economics

Company further details insights and potential funding pathway from recent meeting with the EXIM Bank in Washington, D.C.

HESPERIA, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:FEAM)(ASX:5EA) ("5E" or the "Company"), a boron and lithium company with U.S. government Critical Infrastructure designation for its 5E Boron Americas (Fort Cady) Complex is pleased to provide preliminary economic ranges of its permitted, in-situ boron mining project in California. As the Company nears the completion of its first phase of commercial engineering, updated analysis indicates that the project is now expected to deliver stronger Phase 1 economics than previously forecasted while maintaining additional optionality for advanced materials production.

Forecasted Project Economic Highlights:

• Phase 1 Production: 77,000 short tons of B₂O₃ (136,500 tons of H₃BO₃)^[1]

• Targeted Capital Expenditure: USD $390 - $430 million

• Phase I Pre-tax Project IRR (Unlevered): 18% - 22%

• Project NPV₇: $650 - $715 million

Engineering Progress and Capital Assessments

Over the past two months, the Company has received initial capital estimates from its EPC firm, incorporated additional learnings and opportunities from operation of the Company's Small-Scale Facility, delivered wellfield data that translates to a higher head grade, and optimized its plot plan. The Company believes these updates now support the view that the associated economic highlights can be incorporated to deliver a pre-feasibility report with a robust final economic analysis in May 2025.

Paul Weibel, Chief Executive Officer of 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. commented, "Our analysis and results underscore what we believe is one of the most compelling domestic critical material projects in the United States - a strategically located operation that targets stable long-term demand, with a defined pathway to production and a low-cost, high margin and profitable financial profile. The output of our work over the last two months points to a strong and clearer pathway whereby we believe few domestic critical material projects can match 5E's combination of attractive financial returns, high-value production diversification, and strategic importance to the U.S. industrial base." Weibel continued, "With a strengthened economic profile, combined with our strategic location and upside to modularly expand production capacity in future phases, we believe this project is uniquely positioned to deliver long-term value. We are building an operation that with the proper funding, we believe will not only deliver exceptional shareholder value but also serves crucial domestic needs as it will further strengthen the U.S. supply chains for vital advanced materials."

Project Timeline and Path to Final Investment Decision (FID)

Completion of vendor equipment testing remains the critical step on the path to completing the first phase of commercial engineering. The Company has made meaningful progress on this endeavor thus far and is now targeting completion of vendor testing by late April 2025. Upon completion of the vendor equipment testing and subsequent release of its pre-feasibility report, the Company expects to stage-gate to a streamlined Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase, keeping the project on track for FID in early 2026.

Export-Import Bank Meetings

In late January, the Company's executive management held productive meetings with representatives of the Export-Import Bank of the United States in Washington, D.C. Through these meetings, 5E gained deeper insights into the funding process requirements and expected timetables, while providing deeper education on the Company's project. Having previously received a non-binding letter of intent for a loan-backed guarantee on project debt financing of up to $285 million for 5E's commercial production facility, the Company now expects to formally apply for the loan package once the first phase of commercial engineering is complete with diligence on-going during the FEED engineering phase.

About 5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:FEAM)(ASX:5EA) is focused on becoming a vertically integrated global leader and supplier of boron specialty and advanced materials, complemented by lithium co-product production. The Company's mission is to become a supplier of these critical materials to industries addressing global decarbonization, food and domestic security. Boron and lithium products will target applications in the fields of electric transportation, clean energy infrastructure, such as solar and wind power, fertilizers, and domestic security. The business strategy and objectives are to develop capabilities ranging from upstream extraction and product sales of boric acid, lithium carbonate and potentially other co-products, to downstream boron advanced material processing and development. The business is based on our large domestic boron and lithium resource, which is located in Southern California and designated as Critical Infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Forward Looking Statements and Disclosure

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release regarding the Company's business strategy, plans, goals, and objectives, including regarding the forecasted financial profile of the Fort Cady Project, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words "believe," "project," "expect," "forecast," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "budget," "target," "aim," "strategy," "plan," "guidance," "outlook," "intent," "may," "should," "could," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the extraction of the critical materials we intend to produce and advanced materials production and development. These risks include, but are not limited to: our limited operating history in the borates and lithium industries and no revenue from our proposed extraction operations at our properties; our need for substantial additional financing to continue as a going concern and to execute our business plan and our ability to access capital and the financial markets; our status as an exploration stage company dependent on a single project with no known Regulation S-K 1300 mineral reserves and the inherent uncertainty in estimates of mineral resources; our lack of history in mineral production and the significant risks associated with achieving our business strategies, including our downstream processing ambitions; our incurrence of significant net operating losses to date and plans to incur continued losses for the foreseeable future; risks and uncertainties relating to the development of the Fort Cady project, including our ability to timely and successfully complete our proposed Commercial Scale Boron Facility; our ability to obtain, maintain and renew required governmental permits for our development activities, including satisfying all mandated conditions to any such permits; the implementation of and expected benefits from certain reduced spending measures, the delisting of our securities from Nasdaq, which could limit investors' ability to transact in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our filings with the SEC from time to time. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, including projections, estimates, targets, and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions, or misstatements contained herein. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as to the date of this press release.

For additional information regarding these and other risks, you should carefully review the risk factors and other disclosures in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on September 9, 2024 and subsequent filings with the SEC throughout the year, as well as in its filings under the Australian Securities Exchange. Any forward-looking statements are given only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, 5E expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. Additionally, 5E undertakes no obligation to comment on third party analyses or statements regarding 5E's actual or expected financial or operating results or its securities.

For further information contact:

Nathan Skown or Joseph Caminiti Alpha IR Group FEAM@alpha-ir.com Ph: +1 (312) 445-2864

---

[1]Refer to the Company's announcement dated May 11, 2023. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the resource estimates, production targets or forecast financial information derived from the production targets, and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the resource estimates, production forecasts and forecast financial information derived from the production targets continue to apply and have not materially changed.

SOURCE: 5E Advanced Materials, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What are the projected Phase 1 production targets for FEAM's boron mining project?

The Phase 1 production target is 77,000 short tons of B2O3 (equivalent to 136,500 tons of H3BO3).

What is the expected IRR and NPV for FEAM's boron mining project?

The Phase I Pre-tax Project IRR is 18-22% (unlevered), with a Project NPV7 of $650-715 million.

When is FEAM expected to reach Final Investment Decision (FID)?

FEAM is targeting Final Investment Decision (FID) in early 2026.

How much funding is FEAM seeking from the Export-Import Bank?

FEAM has received a non-binding letter of intent for loan-backed guarantee of up to $285 million for its commercial production facility.

What is the timeline for FEAM's pre-feasibility report release?

FEAM plans to release its pre-feasibility report with final economic analysis in May 2025.