On April 5, 2024, Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition Corp. (the
“Company” or “WTMA”) filed a Form 8-K announcing that the Company
has entered into a merger agreement (“Merger Agreement”) with
Evolution Metals LLC, a Delaware company (“EM”).
WTMA and EM aim to develop an alternative
secure, reliable global supply chain for critical minerals and
materials using proven technologies.
This supply chain includes beneficiation of
various oxides, carbonates and sulfates chemicals along with metals
and alloy powder refining, and manufacturing of both bonded and
sintered magnet products which are the essential ingredients for
both secondary cell batteries and rare earth permanent magnet value
chain that are critical for a greener, cleaner future, while
supporting the industrial base of the global economy. Additionally,
WTMA and EM also aims to establish a battery, e-scrap, and magnet
recycling in order to support the closed-loop economy.
WTMA and EM’s focus is on mid-stream and
down-stream to support the automotive, aerospace, and defense
industries while continuing to embrace a more sustainable future
through proven technologies, economical and efficient processing
integrated with state-of-the-art robotics and AI.
WTMA and EM’s business development objective is
to provide an alternative critical materials value chain while also
delivering AI-driven processing, manufacturing and customer
interfaces by converting traditional industry into an AI smart
factory and AI smart UI – all of which the incumbent critical
materials value chain lacks.
The capabilities of the combined company
represent a ten thousand ton plus, per annum, output material in
magnets and battery metals.
“The mid-stream and down-stream are critical
paths to supporting the automotive, aerospace and defense
industries, while continuing to embrace a more sustainable future”
says Frank Moon of EM. “We will continue to evolve proven
technologies for stable economic growth, supporting our
shareholders in a robust ever-developing technological world.”
The Transaction is intended to result in WTMAC’s
successor listed company owning 100% of the Target.
“We are confident and thrilled to be combining
WTMA with EM, and will be continuing to value our shareholders
interests first and foremost, which led us to a successful
agreement to proceed with EM,” says Daniel Mamadou, CEO of WTMAC.
“The world is full of minerals. Keeping the environment front
and center with economic and efficient processing is core to the
strategy of the surviving company. My partners and I are
excited to continue with the surviving company.”
"We are excited to join forces with WTMA to
revolutionize the critical materials value chain," says David
Wilcox, Managing Member of EM LLC. "Our combined expertise and
commitment to sustainable practices will drive the future of
critical minerals and materials supply, ensuring reliable and
efficient processing. This merger will not only benefit our
shareholders but also support the global push towards a greener,
cleaner future. We are dedicated to building an integrated critical
materials supply chain supported by advanced technologies,
including AI and robotics, to transform traditional industries into
smart, innovative solutions. Together, we will shape a more
sustainable and technologically advanced world."
Extension Proposal and Non-Redemption
Agreement
On May 29, 2024, the Company filed a definitive
proxy statement on Schedule 14A (“Proxy Statement”) for the
purposes of calling a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders
(the “Meeting”) to approve, among other proposals, an amendment to
the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to
extend the date by which it has to consummate an initial business
combination from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2025 (the “Extension,”
such proposal, the “Extension Proposal”).
In connection with the Meeting, the Company and
Welsbach Acquisition Holdings LLC (the “Sponsor”) intend to enter
into non-redemption agreements (“Non-Redemption Agreements”) with
one or more unaffiliated third-party stockholders of the Company in
exchange for such stockholders agreeing to not redeem a
to-be-determined number of shares of common stock (“Non-Redeemed
Shares”) at the Meeting.
J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, acting through its
Cohen & Company Capital Markets division (“CCM”) will act as
the Company’s financial advisor and lead capital markets
advisor.
In exchange for the foregoing commitment to the
Company to not redeem the Non-Redeemed Shares, WTMA and the Sponsor
will agree to cause the surviving entity of any future WTMA initial
business combination (“MergeCo”) to issue to such shareholders a
certain number of additional ordinary or common shares of MergeCo
immediately following the consummation of an initial business
combination, if they continue to hold such Non-Redeemed Shares
through the Special Stockholder Meeting. The Non-Redemption
Agreements, if entered into, are not expected to increase the
likelihood that the Extension Proposal is approved by the Company’s
stockholders, but are expected to increase the amount of funds that
remain in the Company’s trust account established in connection
with Company’s initial public offering following the Meeting. The
Company and the Sponsor may enter into additional, similar
non-redemption agreements in connection with the Meeting.
The Non-Redemption Agreements shall terminate on
the earlier of (i) the failure of the Company’s stockholders to
approve the Extension at the Meeting, (ii) the Company’s
determination not to proceed with the Extension, (iii) the
fulfillment of all obligations of parties to the Non-Redemption
Agreements, (iv) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (v)
the mutual written agreement of the parties or (vi) if the
applicable stockholder exercises its redemption rights with respect
to any Non-Redeemed Shares in connection with the Meeting and such
Non-Redeemed Shares are actually
redeemed. About
WTMACWTMAC is a blank check company formed for the purpose
of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition,
stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with
one or more businesses. While WTMAC may pursue an acquisition in
any business industry or sector, it intends to concentrate its
efforts on targets in the technology metals and energy transition
materials industry. WTMAC is led by Chief Executive Officer Daniel
Mamadou and Chief Operating Officer Christopher Clower.
About EM LLCEM LLC is a mining,
refining and specialty chemicals company that it is committed to
establishing a secure and reliable supply chain for critical
minerals. Its strategy is to acquire and develop mining assets and
processing facilities to produce essential materials for industrial
uses including electric vehicles, electronics, environmental
technologies and aerospace and defense applications. EM aims to
support the creation of jobs, industry and manufacturing to promote
a greener future by providing bespoke solutions to support its
clients globally. EM LLC is led by Managing Member David
Wilcox.
Important Information and Where to Find
ItIf a legally binding definitive agreement with respect
to the proposed Transaction is executed, the parties intend to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a
registration statement relating to the Transaction. In addition,
WTMAC has filed a definitive proxy statement to be used at its
special meeting of stockholders to approve an extension of the time
in which it must complete an initial business combination or
liquidate the trust account that holds the proceeds of WTMAC’s
initial public offering (the “Extension”), which was mailed to
stockholders of WTMAC as of the record date established for voting
on the Extension. WTMAC’s stockholders and other interested persons
are advised to read the definitive proxy statement filed by WTMAC
in connection with the Extension and, when available the
preliminary proxy statements and the amendments thereto and the
definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed Transaction, as
these materials will contain important information about WTMAC,
Target, the proposed Transaction and the Extension. When available,
the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials for the
proposed Transaction will be mailed to stockholders of WTMAC as of
a record date to be established for voting on the proposed
Transaction. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the
above referenced documents and other documents filed with the SEC
in connection with the Extension and the proposed business
combination, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s web site
at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Welsbach Technology
Metals Acquisition Corp., 4422 N. Ravenswood Ave #1025, Chicago,
Illinois 60640.
Participants in the
SolicitationWTMA and Target and each of their directors
and executive officers may be considered participants in the
solicitation of proxies with respect to the Extension and the
proposed Transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information about
the directors and executive officers of WTMAC and a description of
their interests in WTMAC and the Extension is contained in WTMA’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023,
which was filed with the SEC on April 16, 2024 (the “Annual
Report”) and the definitive proxy statement relating the
Extension.
Information about WTMAC’s directors and
executive officer’s interests in the Transaction, as well as
information about Target’s directors and executive officers and a
description of their interests in Target and the proposed
Transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement relating to
the proposed Transaction, when it is filed with the SEC. When
available, the above referenced documents can be obtained free of
charge from the sources indicated above.
No Offer or SolicitationThis
press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy,
consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in
respect of the Extension or the proposed Transaction. This press
release shall also not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such
offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by
means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.
Forward
Looking-StatementsCertain statements made in this press
release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the
“safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the
words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,”
“forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,”
“will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words
or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or
expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known
and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important
factors, many of which are outside WTMAC’s and Target’s control,
that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially
from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important
factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes
include: the ability of WTMAC to enter into a definitive agreement
with respect to a business combination with Target within the time
provided in WTMAC’s second amended and restated certificate of
incorporation; WTMAC’s ability to obtain the Extension; WTMAC’s
ability to obtain the financing necessary to consummate the
potential Transaction; the performance of Target’s business; the
timing, success and cost of Target’s development activities;
assuming the definitive agreement is executed, the ability to
consummate the proposed Transaction, including risk that WTMAC’s
stockholder approval is not obtained; failure to realize the
anticipated benefits of the proposed Transaction, including as a
result of a delay in consummating the proposed Transaction; the
amount of redemption requests made by WTMAC’s stockholders and the
amount of funds remaining in WTMAC’s trust account after the
Extension and the vote to approve the proposed Transaction; WTMAC’s
and Target’s ability to satisfy the conditions to closing the
proposed Transaction, once documented in a definitive agreement;
and those factors discussed in the Annual Report under the heading
“Risk Factors,” and the other documents filed, or to be filed, by
WTMAC with the SEC. Neither WTMAC or Target undertake any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by law.
Contact:
Daniel Mamadou, CEO, Welsbach Technology Metals Acquisition
Corp.daniel@welsbach.sg
David Wilcox, Managing Member, EM
LLCdavid.wilcox@evolution-metals.com
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