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Temu slashes U.S. ad spending, plummets in App Store rankings after Trump China tariffs

Business 4 Mins Read

Chinese online retailer Temu, whose “Shop like a billionaire” marketing campaign made its way to last year’s Super Bowl, has dramatically slashed its online ad spending in the U.S. and seen its ranking in Apple’s App Store plunge following President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on trade partners.

Temu, which is owned by Chinese e-commerce giant PDD Holdings, had been on an online advertising blitz in recent years in a bid to attract deal-hungry American shoppers to its site. With hefty spending on TV ads as well across Facebook, the company promoted clothing, jewelry, home goods and electronics at bargain basement prices.

The strategy was so effective that Temu topped Apple’s list of the most downloaded free apps in the U.S. for the past two years. Downloads of Temu on Apple’s App Store have fallen 62% in recent days, according to data from SimilarWeb, a digital data and analytics company. Ads for 50-cent eyebrow trimmers and $5 t-shirts that used to blanket Google search results and Facebook feeds have all but disappeared.

President Trump’s tariffs have upended Temu’s business model, along with its advertising strategy. Packages shipped from China are now subject to a tariff rate of 145%, while the de minimis provision, which allows shipments worth less than $800 to enter the country duty-free, is set to go away on May 2.

Temu and Shein, a fast-fashion marketplace with ties to China, plan to raise their prices in response to the tariffs. Both companies posted notices to their websites in recent days that warned they’ll be raising prices late next week.

“Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up,” Temu said on its site. “To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments starting April 25, 2025.”

Sellers on Amazon’s third-party marketplace, many of whom source their products from China, have said they’re considering raising prices as they reckon with higher costs from the tariffs. Many businesses on TikTok Shop, the social media app’s marketplace, also count on Chinese manufacturers for their items.

Amazon launched a competitor to Temu last November, called Amazon Haul, which features items under $20 that are largely from China.

The Temu app is now No. 69 in a list of the top free apps in the U.S., after consistently ranking in the top 10, according to data from Sensor Tower. Shein is currently at 42, down from 15 last month. PDD’s shares that trade in the U.S. have plummeted 22% this month, compared to the Nasdaq’s 6% drop. Shein is privately held.

Rival Chinese retailers have subsequently risen to the top of the app store ranks, including Beijing-based wholesaler DHgate, which surged to the No. 2 top free iPhone app in the U.S., and Alibaba’s Taobao, which ranked No. 7. Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that viral videos promoting their cheap products have spurred the download frenzy.

A separate analysis by SimilarWeb showed Temu’s paid traffic, or search, display and social media advertising that drove visits to its website, has dropped 77% since April 11. Temu’s paid traffic previously outpaced nonpaid traffic to its website by 2 1/2 times, Ben Parkes, a consumer goods and retail analyst at Similarweb, said in an interview.

Marketing firm Tinuiti found that 20% of U.S. Google Shopping ad impressions were bought by Temu on April 5. A week later, that number had fallen to zero. By comparison, Shein’s impressions remained at 17% on April 12, while 60% of impressions were bought by Amazon.

Representatives from Temu and Shein didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Temu was previously one of Meta’s largest advertisers, but it appears to have dramatically scaled back its spending on the platform. As of Wednesday, Temu is running six ads across Meta platforms in the U.S., a review of Meta’s ad library shows. Temu is running approximately 27,000 ads across Meta sites and apps globally, particularly in Europe and the U.K.

That could be troublesome for Meta’s advertising business, which has gotten a significant boost from the discount retailer. Advertising analyst Brian Wieser at Madison and Wall estimated that more than $7 billion of Meta’s $132 billion in ad revenue in 2023 came from China. Meta is scheduled to report first-quarter results on April 30.

E-commerce analyst Juozas Kaziukenas said he expects Temu to turn its ads back on in the U.S. at some point, but that the company appears to be shifting its dollars to other markets in the interim.

“It doesn’t mean Temu usage has dropped as significantly as the app did,” Kaziukenas said in an email. “But it means that new user acquisition is gone.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Business

OpenAI in talks to pay about $3 billion to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf

Business 2 Mins Read

OpenAI is in talks to pay about $3 billion to acquire Windsurf, an artificial intelligence tool for coding help, CNBC has confirmed.

Windsurf, formerly known as Codeium, competes with Cursor, another popular AI coding tool, as well as existing AI coding features from companies like Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI itself.

Bloomberg was first to report on the potential deal, which CNBC confirmed with a person familiar with the matter who asked to remain anonymous since the talks are ongoing.

OpenAI is rushing to stay ahead in the generative AI race, where competitors including Google, Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI are investing heavily and regularly rolling out new products. Late last month, OpenAI closed a $40 billion funding round, the largest on record for a private tech company, at a $300 billion valuation.

OpenAI on Wednesday released its latest AI models, o3 and o4-mini, which it said are capable of “thinking with images,” meaning they can understand and analyze a user’s sketches and diagrams, even if they’re low quality.

Should a deal take place with Windsurf, it would be by far OpenAI’s biggest acquisition. The company has made several smaller deals in the past, including the purchase last June of analytics database provider Rockset and video collaboration platform Multi. In 2023, OpenAI bought Global Illumination, which had been “leveraging AI to build creative tools, infrastructure, and digital experiences,” according to a blog post when the deal was announced. Terms weren’t disclosed for any of those transactions.

Windsurf is among the tools, alongside Cursor and Replit, that developers have flocked to in recent months to “vibe code,” a term that refers to having AI models quickly assemble code for new software. Andrej Karpathy, a former OpenAI co-founder, coined the term in a post on X in February. Earlier this month Microsoft, whose Visual Studio Code text editor is widely used among programmers, announced an Agent Mode feature with similar capability.

The startup’s investors include Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Greenoaks and Kleiner Perkins. TechCrunch reported in February that Windsurf was raising a funding round at a $2.85 billion valuation.

— CNBC’s Jordan Novet contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Stock

Is This the Confidence Trap That Could Wreck Your Retirement Portfolio?

Stock 4 Mins Read

If last weekend’s tech tariff exemptions teach us anything, it’s this: trying to make near-term market forecasts based on tariff assumptions is a fool’s errand.

But that leaves a big question for active investors near or in retirement: How do you make smart decisions when the market’s running on chaos?

On Monday morning, when all three broader U.S. stock market indexes were in the green, I pulled up the new StockCharts Market Summary page and glanced at the Keller Market Models panel to check the S&P 500’s short-term, medium-term, and long-term trend positions. According to this model’s forecast, the S&P 500, despite its short- and medium-term declines, still has its uptrend intact. If this reading of the market environment remains as is, then perhaps it’s time to look for signs of a major reversal to the upside.

But what if the bullish reversal isn’t broad-based? What if it moves by sectors instead?

One way to check is by looking at the Bullish Percent Indexes (BPIs) within the Market Summary. Here’s what it showed on Monday:

FIGURE 1. BULLISH PERCENT INDEXES.  Looking at the sectors—gold miners isn’t a sector—Consumer Staples and Utilities were the two that showed signs of hope.

The BPI is a breadth indicator that tells you the percentage of stocks (within a given index) generating Point & Figure Buy Signals.

An early warning bullish alert is triggered when the BPI is below 30% and then forms a new column of X’s (rises). On Monday, the only two sectors flashing these alerts were Consumer Staples (42.11%) and Utilities (45.16%). However, there’s a less obvious issue here. If the S&P 500’s long-term uptrend holds and eventually pulls the short- and medium-term trends higher, the leadership matters.

Defensive sectors don’t typically drive or sustain bull markets. These sectors are where investors go when they’re playing it safe, not when they are betting on growth. In contrast, sectors like Technology or Consumer Discretionary usually take the lead in a true risk-on environment.

Take a look at the Consumer Staples BPI chart.

FIGURE 2. CONSUMER STAPLES BPI. Watch how price reacts to the support (magenta lines) and resistance ranges (blue-shaded area).

Using the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) as a sector proxy, watch how its price reacts to key near-term resistance levels (marked by magenta lines) and the support zone (blue-shaded area). The ZigZag overlay highlights swing highs and lows, helping you spot the near-term trend: higher highs and higher lows (HH + HL) signal an uptrend, while lower highs and lower lows (LH + LL) indicate a downtrend. While the BPI for staples is flashing a bull alert, it is price action that ultimately defines the trend and provides the setup for whether to act or sit tight.

Now, switch over to the Utilities sector BPI chart, using the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) as a proxy.

FIGURE 3. UTILITIES SECTOR BPI. Pay attention to the lower side of the price channel.

While XLU faces a sideways range scenario similar to XLP, utilities are managing to make lower lows. This is why I used Price Channels here, whereas, in the Consumer Staples example, I overlaid a ZigZag line—the channels can better illustrate this subtle detail.

Does this indicate relative weakness in XLU vs. XLP? Possibly, but it depends on whether XLU’s price swings can penetrate the upper channel (resistance) while staying above the lower channel (support), which it previously failed to do.

But to answer the question of relative performance, this PerfCharts shows that XLU has been outperforming XLP—and both have outpaced the S&P 500—over the last year.

FIGURE 4. COMPARING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE S&P 500, XLU, & XLP. Is the Utilities sector overbought or taking a breather?

Whether Utilities have room for further upside is largely dependent on the broader market environment, which, for now, remains unpredictable. So keep an eye on the technical levels instead.

What to Do Now

Defensive sectors don’t lead bull markets; they are the sectors where investors hide out during turbulence. Right now, the market feels less like a cycle and more like a geopolitical chess match, where the moves are unpredictable, unorthodox, and hard to price in. If you decide to go “defensive,” Consumer Staples and Utilities may make sense, but only if the price action supports your goals, and likely only as a short-term play.

That said, if you’re nearing retirement, it’s just as important to keep capital on the sidelines—ready to go on “offense” when the broader bull market kicks back in.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Investing

Opawica Explorations Intersects Visible Gold at its Bazooka Property in the Abitibi Gold Belt

Investing 5 Mins Read

(TheNewswire)

April 15th, 2025 TheNewswire – Vancouver, B.C. Opawica Explorations Inc . (TSXV: OPW) (FSE: A2PEAD) (OTC: OPWEF) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Opawica’), a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on precious and base metals in the Abitibi Gold Belt is providing an update on its 2025 exploration campaign at the Bazooka Property (‘Bazooka’).

Opawica has intersected a broad 76-meter mineralized zone , starting at a depth of 285 meters and extending to 361 meters, at the contact with a graphitic horizon. The interval includes visible gold, with consistent occurrences of arsenopyrite, fuchsite, and quartz veining throughout.

Visible gold was observed in drill hole OP-25-33 at a depth of 348.5 metres. (see below).

The Company has completed ten diamond drill holes for a total of 2000 meters of drilling and submitted 610 core samples for assays. Of the ten drill holes completed, our team successfully intersected the Cadillac-Larder Fault multiple times, revealing promising mineralization that enhances our understanding of local mineralization patterns. The Cadillac-Larder Lake fault is a major structural element in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, known for its rich and its historical significance in mining.

Blake Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of Opawica, stated: ‘To date, the drilling has progressed extremely well. It is encouraging to encounter visible gold at such an early stage of our program. Over 2,000 metres of core have now been sent for assays, with multiple thick intercepts up to 76 meters in length. The Opawica team anticipates providing further updates soon and looks forward to receiving the final assay results.’

The Bazooka property occurs along one of the most prolific auriferous structures in the world, the Cadillac-Larder Lake break/fault. The Cadillac-Larder Lake break/fault, in part, marks the boundary between the Archean Abitibi subprovince in the north and the predominantly metasedimentary Pontiac subprovince south of the fault.

Gold mineralization on the property is hosted within the Main Zone, a mixed sequence of strongly altered quartz-carbonate-sericite and talc-chlorite schists derived from sedimentary and ultramafic to mafic volcanic protoliths, with an estimated true width of up to 60 metres.

The break/fault zone lies at the base and is marked by a strongly graphitic fault with an estimated true width of up to two metres. The graphitic fault generally marks the contact between the sedimentary and ultramafic metavolcanic rocks.

Structures and hydrothermal pathways were interpreted using the co-occurrence of selected exploration criteria in drill hole data. Interpreted prospective panels trend generally east-west with a steep dip to the north. They are constrained within the northern and southern borders of the Cadillac shear zone, a 150-metre-wide corridor of highly carbonate-chlorite-talc altered and schistosed ultramafic units, which form a Z-shape asymmetric drag fold in the area of the Bazooka historic mine.

Mr.Yvan Bussieres, P.Eng.,Opawica’s geologist is the qualified person for Opawica Explorations and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Opawica Explorations Inc.

Opawica Explorations Inc. is a junior Canadian exploration company with a strong portfolio of precious and base metal properties within the Rouyn-Noranda region of the Abitibi Gold Belt in Québec. The Company’s management has a great track record in discovering and developing successful exploration projects. The Company’s objective is to increase shareholder value through the development of exploration properties using cost effective exploration practices, acquiring further exploration properties, and seeking partnerships by either joint venture or sale with industry leaders.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Blake Morgan

President and Chief Executive Officer

Opawica Explorations Inc.

Telephone: 236-878-4938

Fax: 604-681-3552

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company’s exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances as required by applicable law.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Investing

Mali Shuts Barrick Gold’s Office in Bamako Amid Ongoing Tax Dispute

Investing 3 Mins Read

Mali’s government has shut down Barrick Gold’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) office in the capital, Bamako, as part of an escalating dispute over alleged non-payment of taxes, sources familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters.

The closure marks a significant development in a long-running standoff between the Canadian mining giant and the West African country, which has seen tensions rise over mining revenues and the implementation of Mali’s new mining code.

The latest development, which saw staff in Bamako locked out of the company’s offices, is linked to a separate tax dispute that has been brewing since 2023.

Barrick signed an agreement with Mali’s government in February to end the nearly two-year-long conflict. This agreement, however, still awaits official approval from Malian authorities.

One source close to the situation noted that the closure of Barrick’s Bamako office did not affect Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, located in the western part of Mali.

Barrick suspended operations at Loulo-Gounkoto after the Malian government seized around 3 metric tons of gold in January, as the government accused the company of failing to meet its tax obligations.

This move was part of an ongoing battle between Barrick and the Malian government, which has been blocking the company’s gold exports since November 2024.

The company released a statement addressing the office closure, and stated that the Malian government is also ‘threatening to place the Loulo-Gounkoto mine under provisional administration unless the mine was reopened and tax payments were made.’

The company said is prepared to honor the agreement and restart production once the government finalizes it. ‘Its conclusion now appears to be obstructed by a small group of individuals placing personal or political interests above the long-term interests of Mali and its people,’ Barrick wrote in the release.

Barrick has transferred nearly 40 Malian staff members from the Loulo-Gounkoto mine to the company’s Kibali mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with plans to transfer up to 100 employees.

This move suggests that the resumption of operations at Loulo-Gounkoto may not happen in the immediate future, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the mine’s future.

The closure of Barrick’s Bamako office is only the latest chapter in the tense relationship between the mining giant and the military-led government in Mali, which took power following coups in 2020 and 2021.

Since then, Mali has taken a more assertive stance in its dealings with foreign companies, especially in the mining sector, and the country is one of Africa’s leading producers of gold.

The suspension of operations at the Loulo-Gounkoto complex, which produces a significant portion of Mali’s gold, has raised concerns about the country’s future output.

Mali’s mines ministry has already forecast a slight recovery in industrial gold output in 2025, with an expected rise to 54.7 metric tons of gold from the 51.7 metric tons produced in 2024. However, the ministry included Loulo-Gounkoto production in its calculations.

In February, Barrick’s CEO, Mark Bristow, said that the company’s operations would be able to resume once it could export its gold again. However, in its annual report released in mid-March, Barrick acknowledged that the timeline for a resolution remained uncertain, and as such did not include the mine in its production guidance for 2025.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Lode Gold Closes Financing – $790,186 to Advance California and Yukon Projects

Investing 8 Mins Read

Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) (‘Lode Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has closed on its first tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering. The Company has raised $790,186 through the issuance of 4,389,922 Units at a price of $0.18 per Unit. The cash raised will be used for the execution of the 2025 business plan and general working capital. In Yukon, the Company will conduct field work, including geological mapping, soil sampling, and channel sampling to advance drill target development. In California, the funds will support the completion of a 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment( PEA) focused on bulk mining, underground channel sampling to upgrade resources, and moving towards the pre-feasibility study (PFS) at the Fremont project.

Each $0.18 Unit shall consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.35 per common share for a period of three years following the date of closing. The Company may accelerate the expiry date if the shares trade at $0.65 or more for a period of 10 days, including days where no trading occurs.

Lode Gold is extending the closing date of its private placement to April 30, 2025, for the second tranche. The Company may sell additional Units in the offering in one or more subsequent closings, on or before this date. Closing of the offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including acceptance by the TSX-V.

The Units were offered by way of private placement pursuant to exemptions from prospectus requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106, Prospectus Exemptions. All securities issued in this closing are subject to a four month hold period, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Lode Gold

Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States. In Canada, its Golden Culvert and WIN Projects in Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high grade gold mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. A total of four RIRGS targets have been confirmed on the property. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in May 2024.

In New Brunswick, Lode Gold has created one of the largest land packages with its Acadian Gold JV Co; consisting of an area that spans 445 km2 and a 44 km strike. McIntyre Brook covers 111 km2 and a 17-km strike in the emerging Appalachian/Iapetus Gold Belt; it is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold’s Queensway Project. Riley Brook is a 335 km2 package covering a 26 km strike of Wapske formation with its numerous felsic units. A NI 43-101 technical report has been completed in August 2024.

In the United States, the Company is advancing its Fremont Gold project. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled and 23 km of underground workings. It was previously mined at 10.7 g/t Au in the 1930’s. Mining was halted in 1942 due the gold mining prohibition in World War Two (WWII) just as it was ramping up production. Unlike typical brownfield projects that are mined out; only 8% of the veins have been exploited. The Company is the first owner to investigate an underground high grade mine potential at Fremont. The project is located on 3,351 acres of private and patented land in Mariposa County. The asset is a 4 km strike on the prolific 190 km Mother Lode Gold Belt, California that produced over 50,000,000 oz of gold and is instrumental in creating the towns, businesses and infrastructure in the 1800s gold rush. It is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. An NI 43-101 MRE has been reported on March 5, 2025. A complete technical report will be filed 45 days later on SEDAR+.

Previously, in March 2023, the company completed an NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’) for the Fremont Gold project. A sensitivity to the March 31, 2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz gold gives an after-tax NPV of USD $370M and a 31% IRR over an 11-year LOM. At $1,750 /oz gold, NPV (5%) is $217M. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike of Fremont property. Three step-out holes at depth (up to 1200 m) hit structure and were mineralized. All NI 43-101 technical reports are available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company’s website (www.lode-gold.com)

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

Wendy T. Chan
CEO & Director

Information Contact

Winfield Ding
CFO
info@lode-gold.com
+1-(604)-977-GOLD (4653)

Kevin Shum
Investor Relations
kevin@lode-gold.com
+1 (604) -977-GOLD (4653)

Cautionary Note Related to this News Release and Figures

This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company’s properties.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the completion of the transaction and the timing thereof, the expected benefits of the transaction to shareholders of the Company, the structure, terms and conditions of the transaction and the execution of a definitive agreement, the timing of submission to the CSE and TSXV, Gold Orogen raising an additional $1,500,000 and the anticipated use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: that the Company and GRM will be able to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the time frame expected, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, that the Company and GRM will be able to obtain necessary third party and regulatory approvals required for the transaction, if completed, that the transaction will provide the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include adverse market conditions, general economic, market or business risks, unanticipated costs, the failure of the Company and GRM to negotiate the definitive agreement on the terms and conditions and within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to make submissions to the CSE and TSXV within the timeframe expected, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain shareholder approval for the transaction, the failure of the Company and GRM to obtain all necessary approvals for the transaction, and r other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading ‘Risks and Uncertainties’ in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/248662

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Jindalee Lithium

Investing 11 Mins Read

Investor Insight

With compelling economic metrics demonstrated through its new prefeasibility study, Jindalee Lithium’s McDermitt Project presents a strong case for investors to gain exposure to this critical mineral and participate in the global clean energy transition.

Overview

Jindalee Lithium (ASX:JLL,OTCQX:JNDAF) is an Australia-based pure-play US lithium company focused exclusively on its 100-percent-owned McDermitt Lithium Project, currently one of the largest lithium deposits in the US, boasting a resource of 21.5 million tons (Mt) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

Backed by a newly released (November 2024) prefeasibility study (PFS) demonstrating very compelling economics, the McDermitt Project is poised to play a crucial role in meeting North America’s growing lithium demand for the lucrative battery value chain.

As the US continues to transition to energy independence, demand for lithium is expected to exponentially increase. Jindalee’s McDermitt Project, located in southeast Oregon, is a game-changer for North American lithium supply, critical for meeting the demands of the fast-growing electric vehicle, energy storage and defense sectors.

McDermitt also stands to significantly benefit from the US government’s policies and incentives to boost domestic supply of critical resources. In fact, in a move that signifies the US government’s support of the McDermitt Lithium Project, the US Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Jindalee’s subsidiary HiTech Minerals to develop cutting-edge extraction methods for the McDermitt Project. The Ames National Laboratory spearheads the DOE’s Critical Materials Innovation Hub.

Key milestones in the US lithium resource space also provide significant insights into the future prospects for Jindalee’s project. Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC), for instance, has received a total of US$945 million investment from General Motors, which will fund the development, construction and operation of the Thacker Pass project in Humboldt County, Nevada. In October 2024 LAC closed a $2.3 billion loan from the US Department of Energy and in April 2025 announced the Final Investment Decision for Thacker Pass following a $250 million investment from Orion Resource Partners.

Another lithium resource developer in Nevada, Australia-based Ioneer (ASX:INR) has closed a US$996 million loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy to finance the development of its flagship Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project.

The US government has taken further action to bolster domestic critical mineral production. On 20 March 2025, President Trump issued a significant executive order titled ‘Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production’, underscoring the urgency and strategic imperative of increasing domestic supply chains for critical minerals. This order builds on previous initiatives by fast-tracking the permitting processes, prioritizing access to mineral-rich federal lands, clarifying regulatory frameworks, and mobilizing substantial financial resources – including Defense Production Act (DPA) funds – towards domestic mineral projects.

As one of the largest lithium resources in the US and situated on federal lands, Jindalee’s McDermitt Lithium Project stands to potentially benefit from these accelerated permitting processes and enhanced government support mechanisms. The clear commitment demonstrated by the US administration highlights the critical strategic advantage of domestically located mineral assets such as McDermitt, reinforcing its importance in securing robust domestic supply chains, essential for energy security

These are just a few examples of current market dynamics that point to a rapidly accelerating lithium resource development in the US.

An experienced management team, with the right blend of experience and expertise in geology, corporate administration and international finance, leads Jindalee to fully capitalize on the potential of its assets.

Company Highlights

  • Jindalee Lithium is focused on its wholly owned flagship McDermitt Lithium Project, one of the largest lithium deposits in the US.
  • McDermitt’s new prefeasibility study shows strong project economics, including a US$3.23 post-tax NPV8 based on the first 40 years of a 63 year-year mine life.
  • Jindalee is committed to strengthening the North American critical minerals supply chain by reducing US reliance on foreign lithium, thereby enhancing energy security.
  • The company’s wholly owned US subsidiary HiTech Minerals Inc, has executed a strategic Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Ames National Laboratory, which leads the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Critical Materials Innovation (CMI) Hub.
  • The company’s McDermitt deposit is sediment-hosted, an emerging style of lithium deposit with the potential to be a large scale, long-life, low-cost source of lithium.
  • Ideally positioned to benefit from US administration’s push to increased domestic mineral production via permitting reformed increased funding.
  • An experienced management team leads Jindalee towards capitalizing on the potential of its assets.

Key Project

McDermitt Lithium Project Economics

The economic metrics revealed in the PFS paint a compelling picture of the McDermitt Lithium Project’s potential:

Production Capacity: The Project is set to produce 1.8 Mt of battery-grade lithium carbonate over its first 40 years, with an annual output forecast of 47,500 tons per annum (tpa) in the initial 10 years, tapering to 44,300 tpa over the first 40 years.

Financial Metrics: The Project boasts a net present value (NPV) of US$3.23 billion at an 8 percent discount rate, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17.9 percent. These figures underscore the Project’s strong economic viability.

Payback Period: Investors can expect a payback period of less than five years, a relatively short timeframe for a project of this magnitude.

Break-even Price: The break-even NPV price is approximately US$14,600/t of lithium carbonate, providing a buffer against market fluctuations.

The PFS estimates a total project cost of US$3.02 billion, which includes a prudent 21 percent contingency margin. This substantial investment is balanced by impressive profitability projections, including an EBITDA margin of 66 percent generating post-tax free cash flow of US$6.6 billion during the first decade of operations. With a pre-tax net operating cashflow margin of 17 percent at current spot prices, McDermitt shows strong cash generation potential.

These financial indicators suggest that McDermitt is not only economically viable but potentially highly profitable, positioning it as an attractive prospect for investors and strategic partners alike.

Project Overview

The McDermitt Project is located in Malheur County on the Oregon-Nevada border and is approximately 35 kilometres west of the town of McDermitt. The 100-percent-owned asset covers 54.6 square kilometres of claims at the northern end of the McDermitt volcanic caldera.

The Project is characterized by its unique sedimentary lithium deposits, primarily composed of lithium-bearing clays, a geological formation that sets McDermitt apart from many other lithium projects worldwide. This sedimentary nature of the deposit offers several advantages:

  • Consistent grade distribution throughout the ore body
  • Potential for large-scale, low-cost mining operations
  • Amenability to environmentally friendly extraction methods

The lithium-rich clays at McDermitt are part of a broader geological context that includes volcanic tuffs and sedimentary rocks. This geological setting is indicative of a complex depositional history, which has resulted in the concentration of lithium in economically viable quantities.

The 2023 mineral resources estimate (MRE) for the McDermitt Project contains a combined indicated and inferred mineral resource inventory of 3 billion tons at 1,340 parts per million (ppm) lithium for a total of 21.5 Mt LCE at 1,000 ppm cut-off grade.

Project Highlights:

  • Rare Sediment-hosted Lithium Deposits: The McDermitt asset supports low-cost mining operations due to its flat-lying sediments. This type of lithium deposit is amenable to low-cost mining operations, while still producing excellent metallurgical results.
  • A 62 percent resource increase in early 2023: Compilation of the 2022 drilling results saw the estimated indicated and inferred resources at McDermitt increase to 3 billion tons at 1,340 ppm lithium, a 62 percent increase in contained lithium.
  • Fluor recommended processing route: In March 2023, US engineering group Fluor reviewed all testwork undertaken at McDermitt and recommended beneficiation and acid leaching as the optimal processing route.
  • Completion of the PFS outlines large scale, long life and low cost source of American made battery grade lithium chemicals (November 2024)

Management Team

Ian Rodger – Chief Executive Officer

Ian Rodger is a qualified mining business executive with almost 15 years of experience in various roles including as a mining engineer for Rio Tinto across two large greenfield mine developments, before successfully transitioning into mining corporate finance where he held Executive and Director positions at RFC Ambrian overseeing origination and management of numerous mandates across a range of corporate advisory roles. Rodger was the project director for Oz Minerals (ASX:OZL) where he made significant contributions to successfully define the value potential of the West Musgrave nickel/copper province through the delivery of a portfolio of growth studies. Most notably, he led technical, market and partnership development workstreams, successfully confirming value potential for producing an intermediate Nickel product for the battery value chain.

Rodger holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland, a Masters of Mineral Economics from Curtin University and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Lindsay Dudfield – Executive Director

Lindsay Dudfield is a geologist with over 40 years of experience in multi-commodity exploration, primarily within Australia. He held senior positions with the mineral divisions of Amoco and Exxon. In 1987, he became a founding director of Dalrymple Resources NL and spent the following eight years helping acquire and explore Dalrymple’s properties, leading to several greenfield discoveries. In late 1994, Lindsay joined the board of Horizon Mining NL (Jindalee Lithium’s predecessor) and has been responsible for managing Jindalee Lithium since inception. Lindsay is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Geological Society of Australia and the Society of Economic Geologists. He is also a non-executive director of Jindalee spin-out companies Energy Metals (ASX:EME), Dynamic Metals (ASX:DYM) and Alchemy Resources (ASX:ALY).

Wayne Zekulich – Non-executive Chair

Wayne Zekulich was appointed to the board as Chair on 1 February 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Business and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Zekulich is a consultant and non-executive director who has substantial experience in advising, structuring and financing transactions in the infrastructure and resources sectors. He was previously the head of Rothschild in Perth, chief financial officer of Gindalbie Metals Limited, chief development officer of Oakajee Port and Rail and a consultant to a global investment bank. Currently, he is chair of Pantoro (ASX:PNR) and non-executive director of the Western Australian Treasury Corporation. In the not-for-profit sector, he is the past chair of the Lester Prize and is a mentor in the Kilfinan program.

Darren Wates – Non-executive Director

Darren Wates is a corporate lawyer with over 23 years of experience in equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, resources, project acquisitions/divestments and corporate governance gained through private practice and in-house roles in Western Australia. Wates is the founder and principal of Corpex Legal, a Perth-based legal practice providing corporate, commercial and resources related legal services, primarily to small and mid-cap ASX listed companies. In this role, he has provided consulting general counsel services to ASX listed company Neometals (ASX:NMT), having previously been employed as legal counsel of Neometals. Wates holds Bachelor’s degrees in Law and Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.

Paul Brown – Non-executive Director

Paul Brown has over 23 years of experience in the mining industry, most recently with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) where he was chief executive – lithium, and chief executive – commodities. Brown has held senior operating roles with Leighton, HWE and Fortescue (ASX:FMG) and has a strong track record in technical leadership, project/studies management, and mine planning and management. Brown is currently CEO of Core Lithium (ASX:CXO). He holds a Master in Mine Engineering.

Brett Marsh – VP Geology and Development (US)

Brett Marsh is an AIPG certified professional geologist and a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) with over 25 years of diverse mining and geological experience. He has worked for and held senior leadership roles for Kastan Mining, Luna Gold, Kiska Metals, Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Phelps Dodge, ASARCO and consulted to deliver numerous NI 43-101 technical reports. Marsh has demonstrated the ability to deliver results in culturally diverse and geographically difficult environments, such as Brazil, Peru, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, Indonesia, Australia, and has also worked in remote areas of Alaska. He has managed all phases of the mining lifecycle including greenfield and brownfield exploration, project development (including preliminary economic assessments, pre-feasibility and feasibility), project construction, mine operations, and environmental. He successfully led multi-cultural teams to develop business processes and implementation plans for many mine development and operational projects.

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