Lifezone Metals and global PGM customer enter into Memorandum of Understanding for commercial-scale platinum group metals recycling facility
New York (United States), London (United Kingdom) – Lifezone Holdings Limited (“Lifezone Metals” or the “Company”) has previously announced the entry into a Business Combination Agreement with GoGreen Investments Corporation (“GoGreen”) (NYSE:GOGN), a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Today, Lifezone Metals is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Lifezone Limited (“Lifezone”), has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with a global PGM customer with regard to a proposed commercial collaboration to establish a commercial scale platinum group metal (“PGM”) recycling facility using Lifezone’s proprietary hydrometallurgical refining technology (the “Project” and the “Hydromet Technology”).
Lifezone Metals seeks to support the clean energy transition through licensing of the Hydromet Technology as an alternative to traditional smelting in metals production and becoming an emerging supplier of responsibly sourced, low-carbon and low-sulfur dioxide emission metals to the battery and EV markets. Lifezone Metals intends to operate across the metals extraction and metals refining industries, with their Hydromet Technology potentially also being used in the metals recycling industry.
In line with these ambitions, the Project aims to produce non-smelted refined PGMs from the recycling market, as well as to clean up the circular economy reducing likely the CO2 footprint.
The Project’s PGM recycling facility (the “Facility”) is expected to be situated in the US. The Facility will recover PGMs from catalytic converters from spent automotive vehicles with the end products being refined platinum, palladium, and rhodium sponge products.
Lifezone will provide technical expertise and license its Hydromet Technology to the affiliated Project entity, as well as capital necessary to fund the Facility.
The global PGM customer will provide market intelligence to enable the parties to develop a robust business model and will also facilitate arrangements with potential collectors to supply the Facility.
Chris Showalter, CEO of Lifezone Metals, said: “Our Hydromet Technology breaks the chain of smelting in the circular economy and has the potential to cleanly and economically recycle critical elements; with processing times in weeks, rather than the months that we see with traditional smelting processes. The technology also supports on-location production, eliminating the need for transport of material to smelters.
The MoU is an important step forward in the application of Lifezone Metals’ technology into recycling for autocatalytic converters, and our mission to replace smelting with a cleaner, lower cost metals processing solution. We also view this as a potential critical step into the US, as we work to build an operating presence in proximity to one of the largest auto manufacturing hubs globally. As OEMs continue to decarbonise their production, recycling using our Hydromet Technology has the potential to open new areas of growth and licensing revenue for Lifezone Metals. Our entry into recycling is backed by extensive metallurgical test work that our specialist teams started in 2014.”
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Contacts
Lifezone Metals
Natasha Liddell
Chief Sustainability & Communications Officer
info@lifezonemetals.com
Ingo Hofmaier
Chief Financial Officer
ingo.hofmaier@lifezonemetals.com
Investor Relations
ICR, Inc.
LifezoneMetalsIR@icrinc.com
US Media Enquiries
Bronwyn Wallace
H+K Strategies
+1 (713) 724 3627
Bronwyn.Wallace@hkstrategies.com
About Lifezone Metals
Lifezone Metals is a modern metals company creating value across the battery metals supply chain from resource to metals production and recycling. Our mission is to provide commercial access to proprietary technology and cleaner metals production through a scalable platform underpinned by our tailored hydromet technology. This technology has the potential to be a cleaner and lower cost alternative to smelting, allowing us to responsibly and cost-effectively provide cleaner metals.
By pairing Tanzania’s Kabanga nickel project (the “Kabanga Project”), which we believe is one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel sulphide deposits in the world, with our proprietary hydromet technology, we will work to unlock the value of a key new source of supply to global battery metals markets. We have a long-standing partnership with BHP on the Kabanga Project, with BHP having invested USD100 million over the last two years, as we aim to empower Tanzania to achieve full value creation in-country and become the next premier source of nickel.
Business Combination with GoGreen Investments Corporation
Lifezone Metals announced on December 13, 2022 a business combination agreement with GoGreen Investments Corporation (NYSE: GOGN). The business combination between Lifezone Metals and GoGreen Investments Corporation is subject to customary closing conditions.
About GoGreen Investments Corporation
GoGreen Investments Corporation is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. GoGreen is led by Chief Executive Officer John Dowd.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the proposed business combination between GoGreen and Lifezone Metals, the estimated or anticipated future results and benefits of the combined company following the business combination, including the likelihood and ability of the parties to successfully consummate the business combination, future opportunities for the combined company, including the efficacy of Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology and the development of, and processing of mineral resources at, the Kabanga project, and other statements that are not historical facts.
These statements are based on the current expectations of GoGreen’s and/or Lifezone Metals’ management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of GoGreen and Lifezone Metals. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Lifezone Metals’ business and the business combination, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions, including but not limited to the economic and operational disruptions and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the inability of the parties to consummate the business combination or the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the number of redemption requests made by GoGreen’s shareholders in connection with the business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the business combination; the risk that the approval of the shareholders of Lifezone Metals or GoGreen for the potential transaction is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, including as a result of a delay in consummating the potential transaction or difficulty in integrating the businesses of Lifezone Metals and GoGreen; the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; the risks related to the rollout of Lifezone Metals’ business, the efficacy of the Hydromet Technology, and the timing of expected business milestones; Lifezone Metals’ development of, and processing of mineral resources at, the Kabanga project; the effects of competition on Lifezone Metals’ business; the ability of the combined company to execute its growth strategy, manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the ability of Lifezone Metals Limited (“Holdings”) to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities on a U.S. national securities exchange following the business combination; costs related to the business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that Lifezone Metals presently does not know or that Lifezone Metals currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Lifezone Metals’ expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Lifezone Metals anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lifezone Metals’ assessments to change. However, while Lifezone Metals may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, Lifezone Metals specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lifezone Metals’ assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Certain statements made herein include references to “clean” or “green” metals, methods of production of such metals, energy or the future in general. Such references relate to environmental benefits such as lower green-house gas (“GHG”) emissions and energy consumption involved in the production of metals using the Hydromet Technology relative to the use of traditional methods of production and the use of metals such as nickel in the batteries used in electric vehicles. While studies by third parties (commissioned by Lifezone Metals) have shown that the Hydromet Technology, under certain conditions, results in lower GHG emissions and lower consumption of electricity compared to smelting with respect to refining platinum group metals, no active refinery currently licenses Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology. Accordingly, Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology and the resultant metals may not achieve the environmental benefits to the extent Lifezone Metals expects or at all. Any overstatement of the environmental benefits in this regard may have adverse implications for Lifezone Metals and its stakeholders.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the business combination, Holdings filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-271300) (as amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC, which has been supplemented by a definitive proxy statement/prospectus (the “definitive proxy statement/prospectus”). The Registration Statement has been declared effective and on June 12, 2023 GoGreen commenced the mailing of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders as of May 5, 2023 (the “Record Date”). GoGreen may also mail other relevant documents relating to the business combination to its shareholders. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that GoGreen will send to its shareholders in connection with the business combination.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at www.sec.gov. The definitive proxy statement/final prospectus has been mailed to shareholders of GoGreen as of the Record Date. Shareholders of GoGreen will also be able to obtain copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: GoGreen Investments Corporation, One City Centre, 1021 Main Street, Suite 1960, Houston, TX 77002.
Participants in the Solicitation
Holdings, Lifezone Metals, GoGreen and their respective directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of GoGreen’s shareholders in connection with the business combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the business combination of the directors and officers of Holdings, Lifezone Metals, GoGreen in the Registration Statement. Information about GoGreen’s directors and executive officers is also available in GoGreen’s filings with the SEC.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the business combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.