Bradda Head Lithium Ltd announces MD&A for the 3 months ended May 31 2023
*BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS / ACCESSWIRE / August 31, 2023 /* This management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") reports on the operating results and financial condition of the Company for the three-month ended May 31, 2023, and is prepared as of August 31, 2023. The MD&A should be read in conjunction with Bradda Head Lithium Limited's (the "Company" or "Bradda Head") audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2023, and the notes thereto which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").
All dollar amounts referred to in this MD&A are expressed in United States dollars except where indicated otherwise.
*Overview*
Bradda Head Lithium Limited was incorporated on October 28, 2009, in the British Virgin Islands under the British Virgin Islands Companies Act with registered number 1553975 with the name Copper Development Corporation. On October 5, 2015, the Company changed its name from Copper Development Corporation to Life Science Developments Limited, and on April 18, 2018, the Company changed its name to Bradda Head Holdings Limited. On September 15, 2021, the Company changed its name to Bradda Head Lithium Limited.
The Company has one business segment, being mineral exploration. The Company is focused on appraising and developing lithium mining projects within North America and currently has interests in a variety of projects in the United States.
*Corporate and Exploration Highlights*
Exploration Highlights
Set forth in this section is a description of the Company's material mineral projects. All scientific and technical data contained in this MD&A has been reviewed and approved by Joey Wilkins,B.Sc., P.Geo., who is Chief Operating Officer at Bradda Head and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
*Arizona Sedimentary Hosted Lithium Projects*
*Basin Project*
On 16 March 2023, the Company commenced sonic drilling at the Basin project. As part of the 2023 Basin drill programme, the Company expects to drill up to 25 holes in the coming months at Basin East Extension ("BEE"), Basin East ("BE") and Basin North ("BN"). The goal of the 2023 Basin drill programme is to increase coverage over as much of the Project's 17km^ 2 area as possible. To date, approximately 1.4km^ 2 of the area has been drilled, leading to a Mineral Resource of 371kt of LCE, as noted below.
During the drilling programme the Company will continue to guarantee that all efforts are focused on ensuring that work is carried out in these areas with as little disturbance as possible. Bradda Head is using sonic drilling, which is more environmentally sensitive as it uses very little water compared to diamond core or reverse circulation drilling.
During May 2023, the assay results from the first five drill holes were received. This set of results delivered the highest grade assays from all four drill programmes to date, and confirms that lithium bearing clay continues and thickens to the west, northwest and north into its BEE lease.
Highlights from the first set of assay results includes:
· 63.12m @ 954ppm Li in BES-23-03 with 24.32m @ 1,327ppm
· 66.92m @ 1,077ppm Li in BES-23-04, with 18.30m @ 1,602 ppm
· 63.71m @ 944ppm Li in BES-23-05, with 32.93m @ 1,029ppm
The highest-grade assay received to date of 2,676ppm Li over 1.8m was recorded in hole BES-23-05 at a depth of 109.32m.
The first four drill holes (south of the creek) located in BEE and BE have continued to demonstrate that the upper clay unit is significantly higher grade than the lower clay unit, and thickens to the North and North-west direction into BEE. Drill holes 05, 06 and 07 (the first on the north side of the Creek) confirm this, have a similar upper clay thickness to drill holes 03 and 04, and also demonstrate the upper clay thickens to the north, northwest, and west as well towards Basin West ("BW"). Drill hole 07, on the western border of BEE and BW, confirms the upper clay unit continues to thicken to the west, which is very positive for resource expansion potential into BW. The total upper clay unit is 78m, 67m, 69m, and 79m, thick for an average of 73m, in drill holes 03, 04, 05, and 06 respectively. To put that in context, the average thickness of the upper clay unit is 34m in all the previous 34 holes that intercepted upper clay in the last 3 drill programmes (2018, 2021 and 2022).
The Company expects to provide the geological results of the remaining drill holes and assays when received, and a revised resource estimate will follow once the drill programme is completed.
Positive progress is also being made on the metallurgical testing side of our lithium-bearing clays at Basin. New and existing technologies are being trialled, which may qualify for funding grants under the Biden administration's recent clean energy initiatives.
Basin East 2023 Mineral Resource Estimate
Classification
Domain
Tonnes
Mean Grade
Contained Metal
Mt
Li (ppm)
K (%)
LCE (kt)
K (Mt)
Indicated
Upper Clay
16.0
738
3.6
63
0.6
Upper Clay HG
5.2
1,354
3.0
38
0.2
Lower Clay
-
-
-
-
-
Sub Total
21.2
891
3.5
100
0.7
Inferred
Upper Clay
31.7
767
3.6
129
1.2
Upper Clay HG
2.3
1,448
3.5
18
0.1
Lower Clay
39.3
592
2.9
124
1.1
Sub Total
73.3
694
3.2
271
2.4
Total
94.5
738
3.3
371
3.1
· Mineral Resource statement has an effective date of 13 October 2022.
· A Mineral Resource is reported using a cut-off grade of 300 ppm Li and constraining the model to an optimised open pit shell, which was generated using the following assumptions: lithium carbonate metal prices of 18,000 USD/tLCE; State of Arizona royalty (selling cost) of 6%; operating costs of 5,000 USD/ tLCE or 27 USD/ tore; Li recovery of 75%; mining dilution and recovery of 5% and 95%; and pit slope angle of 45°.
· Tonnages are reported in metric units.
· Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content.
· Conversion factor of Li metal to lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) = 5.323
*Wikieup Project*
On March 1, 2023, the Company announced the conclusion of a claims dispute mediation with Arizona Lithium Limited ("AZL"). The mediation process was initiated by Bradda Head during 2021 (as disclosed in the AIM Admission document and the Company's Listing Application for purposes of its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange). A final binding confidential settlement agreement and mutual release has been executed. Bradda Head and AZL reached a mutually agreeable claim exchange, allowing both parties to proceed with the development of each of their respective lithium projects in the area.
Following the settlement, AZL will transfer 66 federal lode unpatented mining claims to Bradda Head, and Bradda Head will transfer 55 federal lode unpatented mining claims to AZL. The transfer of the 55 claims to AZL will not have any material effect on the development of the Company's Wikieup lithium project, with the Company holding a total land package in Wikieup area of approximately 46km^ 2 . As of May 31, 2023, the process of transfering the claim ownership is still in progress.
The updated claims map can be found on the Company website here: https://www.braddaheadltd.com/media
*Arizona Pegmatite District*
*San Domingo Project*
The second and third (being the final) assay results were received during March and May 2023 from the maiden drill programme, which was completed on March 10, 2023, at the Company's San Domingo pegmatite project. Further significant intercepts of high grade lithium bearing minerals have been identified at multiple locations from the second set of assay results. Lithium bearing minerals (spodumene and some lepidolite) have been identified in c.60% of the total holes completed, and importantly the programme has only tested just over 1% of the 23km^ 2 that Bradda Head holds at the San Domingo project.
Out of the planned 7,000m, 7,300m (47 holes completed) have been drilled with positive results demonstrating high-grade intersections.
Highlights from second and third/final set of assays include:
Central Claims
· 9.54m @ 1.85% Li[ 2] O, 3.02m @1.49% Li[ 2] O, and 2.90m @ 3.03% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-037
· 7.35m @ 0.68% Li[ 2] O, 4.79m @ 0.87% Li[ 2] O, 3.20m @ 1.22% Li[ 2] O, and 3.21m @ 0.75% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-036
· 9.85m @ 0.86% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-034
· 4.02m @ 1.27% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-035
· 5.94m @ 1.22% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-046
· 4.72m @ 0.67% Li2O in SD-DH23-038a
Northern Claims
· 3.75m @ 2.37% Li2O, 0.85m @ 2.44% Li2O, 1.10m @ 0.82% Li2O, and 0.67m @ 1.77% Li2O in SD-DH22-025
· 6.52m @ 1.24% Li2O in SD-DH23-041
· 2.74m @ 2.12% Li2O in SD-DH23-042
· 1.77m @ 1.10% Li2O in SD-DH23-040
Large spodumene crystals with scattered lepidolite are observed in all six holes drilled on the Jumbo target. Results from Jumbo include 9.54m @ 1.85% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-037 and 4.02m @ 1.27% Li[ 2] O in SD-DH23-035, both at shallow depths.
Based on the success of Phase 1 at the Northern Claim block, as detailed above, Phase 2 commenced at the Central Claim block, which included a detailed soil survey over the 23km^ 2 San Domingo land package. The wider soil survey programme was completed in late February 2023. The soil sampling assay results received during May 2023 are very promising, showing priority targets along the complete 9km mineralised trend. Bradda Head's geologists have begun ground-truthing the identified soil anomalies, finding new spodumene bearing outcrops not previously recorded, and further strengthening the district scale potential at San Domingo.
In order to further strengthen the land package held at the San Domingo project, the Company acquired 100% of three inlier lode claims in the middle of its Central San Domingo claim block, for a total increase in land area owned by 60 acres. No royalties are associated with the lode claims or any of Bradda's San Domingo claims and leases.
The lode claim owners granted written permission for Bradda Head to drill on their claims prior to acquisition, upon which the final hole, SD-DH23-046, was drilled into a pegmatite (Lower Jumbo Target) and encountered abundant visible spodumene, with assays pending.
The Lower Jumbo mine (which is located on the border of one of the inlier lode claims) has a 1.5m long spodumene cast in outcrop and historic mining that reportedly produced c.155 tonnes at a grade of 5.3% Li[ 2] O in the 1950's. The acquisition of the inlier claims allows Bradda Head to fully explore the whole 9km trend without encumbrance.
*Nevada Lithium Brine Projects*
*Wilson Project*
A gravity survey was undertaken over the project with lines run East-West. The data and depth of basin is consistent with the MT (magnetotellurics). A decision to drill for brine mineralization is pending.
*Eureka Project*
No significant work has been undertaken on this project during the 3-month period.
Corporate Highlights
On April 26, 2023, the Company announced the appointment of Panmure Gordon (UK) as joint broker. Panmure have a wealth of expertise in mining and the lithium space, and the Company looks forward to working with them as we progress our work programmes across our portfolio of assets.
Issuance of Stock Options and director share dealings
On April 6, 2023, the Company announced that it awarded a total of 4,800,000 options to acquire ordinary shares (the "Options") at an exercise price of £0.06 to management and certain Board members. Options for management and directors, are subject to the following conditions:
· Options vest immediately;
· The options have no performance or non-performance conditions attached to them;
· Are exercisable for a period of five years from date of issue; and
· The options issued to each participant should lapse upon any participant no longer being an employee or connected person remunerated by the Company.
Directors included in the award are detailed in the table below:
*Director* *Total options awarded*
*Total options held at May 31, 2023*
*Total shares held at May 31, 2023*
*Total diluted percentage holding at May 31, 2023*
Ian Stalker 1,000,000
18,250,000
3,870,140
5.66%
Charlies FitzRoy 1,000,000
11,000,000
13,265
2.82%
Joey Wilkins 1,500,000
1,500,000
-
0.38%
Piotr Schabik 250,000
1,000,000
-
0.26%
*Total* *3,750,000*
*31,750,000*
*3,883,765*
*9.12%*
On April 14, 2023, James Mellon, a director and shareholder of the Company, acquired 8,000,000 ordinary shares on the open market. The shares were acquired by Galloway Limited, which is indirectly wholly owned by James Mellon and of which Denham Eke is a director.
*Director* *Holding of Existing Ordinary Shares*
*Number of Shares Purchased*
*Number of Ordinary Shares held following Purchase*
*Total diluted percentage holding at May 31, 2023*
James Mellon 65,097,004
8,000,000
73,097,004
18.71%
*Selected Financial Information*
The following table sets forth selected financial information with respect to the Company for the 3-month period ended May 31, 2023 and the year ended February 28, 2023. The selected financial information has been derived from the audited financial statements for the period indicated. The following should be read in conjunction with the said financial statements and related notes that are available on the Company's website - www.braddaheadltd.com.
*The annual financial statements and interim financial statements are presented in US dollars and are prepared in accordance with IFRS, See "* *Summary Financial Data* *" and "* *Currency Information* *".*
*Period ended May 31, 2023*
*Year ended February 28, 2023*
*(Audited)*
*(US$)*
*(Audited)*
*(US$)*
*Statement of Operations:*
Total Operating Expenses (net of other income) *(1,143,294)*
(3,899,858)
Net Finance income *59,102*
12,270
Net Loss *(1,084,192)*
(3,887,588)
Loss per Share (cents) *(0.278)*
(1.018)
*Balance Sheet Data:*
Cash & cash equivalents, including cash deposits *4,998,440*
7,746,519
Total Assets *16,630,429*
18,198,559
Total Liabilities *549,059*
1,213,619
Accumulated Deficit *(14,535,003)*
(13,631,433)
*Total Shareholder's Equity* *16,081,370*
16,984,940
*MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS: QUARTER ENDED MAY 31, 2023*
*Introduction*
This interim Management Discussion and Analysis (the "interim MD&A") should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended February 28, 2023, and related notes. This MD&A is made as of August 31, 2023.
*Results of Operations for the three-months ended May 31, 2023*
The Company's net loss after tax for the three-month period to May 31, 2023 was US$ 1,084,192, compared to a profit of US$ 120,089 for the comparative period ended May 31, 2022. The major expenses for the three-month period ended May 31, 2023 were operational expenses incurred on the Company's exploration projects, and are broken down in the respective projects as follows:
*Project*
*Expensed Exploration Expenditure*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2023*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2022*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
Basin Project 249,399
367,757
San Domingo Project 286,782
56,758
Wikieup Project 12,274
65,542
Other projects 3,413
75,769
*TOTAL* *551,868*
*565,826*
During this time period, the Company incurred and capitalised exploration expenditures of US$1,228,739, compared to US$ 607,185* *for the comparative three-month period to May 31, 2022.
The capitalied exploration costs for the three-month period ended May 31, 2023 have been allocated amongst the Company's exploration projects in approximately the following amounts:
*Project*
*Capitalised exploration costs*
*Capitalised expenditures for licences and permits*
*Capitalised exploration costs*
*Capitalised expenditires for licences and permits*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2023*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2023*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2022*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2022*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
Basin Project 421,013
-
187,714
9,740
San Domingo Project 527,432
250,000
42,130
13,062
Wikieup Project -
-
69,722
-
Other Project -
30,294
13,195
271,622
*TOTAL* *948,445*
*280,294*
*312,761*
*294,424*
The exploration expenditures have been primarily costs associated with drilling, assaying, resource and mining consultants, metallurgical testing, environmental studies, project team fees, acquisition of new leases, and annual renewal of existing leases.
General and administrative expenses for the three-month period to May 31, 2023 totalled US$ 1,258,841, compared to US$ 1,205,529 for the comparative three-month period to May 31, 2022. General and administrative expenses are broken down as follows:
*Project*
*General and administrative expenditures*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2023*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2022*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
Auditors' fees *19,600*
81,841
Directors and management fees and salaries *137,541*
132,674
Legal and accounting *83,613*
100,306
Contractor costs *551,868*
565,826
Professional and marketing costs *204,203*
307,328
Other administrative costs *262,016*
17,554
*TOTAL* *1,258,841*
1,205,529
During the three-month period to May 31, 2023, there have been no changes in financial performance or other elements that relate to non-core business activities and operations.
*Cash flows*
During the three-month period ended May 31, 2023, the Company had net cash outflows of US$ 6,790,136, compared to inflows of US$ 9,154,462 during the comparative three-month period to May 31, 2022. Net cash outflows for the current 3-month period ended May 31, 2023, include placing cash amounts on short term deposits, totalling US$ 3,905,582. The cashflows for the two periods are shown below:
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2023*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Three-Month Period Ended May 31, 2022*
*(Unaudited)*
*US$*
*Statement of cashflows*
Cash flows from operating activities *(1,581,692)*
(1,935,866)
Cash flows from investing activities *(1,225,489)*
(665,856)
Cash flows from financing activities * *(3,846,480)*
11,756,184
*Net cash flows during the period* *(6,653,661)*
9,154,462
Cash balances at beginning of the period *7,746,519*
7,327,303
Effect of foreign exchange on cash balances *-*
(316,171)
*Cash balances at the end of the period* *1,092,858*
16,165,594
* includes US$ 3,905,582 placed on short term deposit.
*Liquidity and Capital Resources*
As at May 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents (including short term cash deposits) of US$ 4,998,440, and a working capital surplus of US$ 5,003,874. As of February 28, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$ 7,746,519, and a working capital surplus of US$ 7,135,119.
*Outstanding Share Data*
As of May 31, 2023, the following securities were outstanding:
Shares 390,609,439
Warrants 81,698,305
Stock options 37,831,304
Fully diluted shares outstanding 510,139,048
The Company's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders, benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.
The capital structure of the Company includes cash and cash equivalents, equity attributable to equity holders comprised of contributed equity, reserves and accumulated losses. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may issue new shares, sell assets or adjust the level of activities undertaken by the Company.
The Company monitors capital based on cash flow requirements for operational, exploration and evaluation expenditures. The Company has no debt or other borrowings as at the date of this Application. The Company will continue to use capital market issuances to satisfy anticipated funding requirements.
The availability of equity capital, and the price at which additional equity could be issued, is dependent upon the success of the Company's exploration activities, and upon the state of the capital markets generally. Additional financing may not be available on terms favourable to the Company or at all. If the Company does not receive future financing, it may not be possible for the Company to advance the exploration and development of its mineral exploration properties. If the Company is not able to fund these minimum expenditures, it may not be able to maintain part or all of its mineral exploration property interests. See "Risk Factors" .
*Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements*
The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
*Transactions with Related Parties*
The Company has conducted transactions with officers, directors and persons or companies related to directors or officers and paid or accrued amounts as follows:
Edgewater Associates Limited ("Edgewater")
During the three-month period ended May 31, 2023, Directors' and Officers' insurance was obtained on an arms-length basis through Edgewater, which is a 100% subsidiary of Manx Financial Group ("MFG"). James Mellon and Denham Eke are Directors of both the Company and MFG.
During the period, the premium payable on the policy was US$ Nil (year ended February 28, 2023: US$ 49,318). A total of US$ 1,699 was prepaid as at the period end (February 28, 2023: US$ 14,497).
*Critical Accounting Estimates*
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates and assumptions affect the carrying value of assets, and impact decisions as to when exploration and development costs should be capitalized or expensed.
As at May 31, 2023, the Company had incurred capitalised exploration expenditures, including capitalised licence and permit costs, of US$ 10,803,005. Changes in management's judgment as to the prospective nature, assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable reserves, technical feasibility and/or commercial viability of the relevant tenements and the Company's intentions with respect to the relevant tenements, could affect the assessment of the recoverable amount.
The Company regularly reviews its estimates and assumptions: however, actual results could differ from these estimates and these differences could be material.
*Forward-Looking Statements*
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, following: The Company's objectives, goals or future plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: failure to identify mineral resources; failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory, governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; future operating and capital costs, timelines, permit timelines, the market and future price of and demand for lithium, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including the local levels of government; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDARplus. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com .
*SOURCE:* Bradda Head Lithium Limited
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