Company Registration No: 10829496 (England and Wales)
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
COMPANY INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Directors
Jeremy Martin
Anton du Plessis
Cherif Rifaat
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
Secretary
Cherif Rifaat
Company Number
10829496
Registered Office
29-31 Castle Street
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire, HP13 6RU
Business Address
Independent Auditor
Nominated Adviser
UK Co-Broker
UK Co-Broker
Solicitors
Registrars
Public Relations
The Clubhouse
8 St James's Square
London, SW1Y 4JU
PKF Littlejohn LLP
15 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London, E14 4HD
Allenby Capital Ltd
5th Floor
5 St Helen's Place
London, EC3A 6AB
Oberon Capital Limited
Nightingale House
65 Curzon Street
London, W1J 8PE
Tamesis Partners LLP
125 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1AR
DWF LLP
Bridgewater Place
Water Lane
Leeds, LS11 5DY
Share Registrars Ltd
The Courtyard
17 West Street
Farnham
Surrey, GU9 7DR
St Brides Partners Ltd
Warnford Court
29 Throgmorton Street
London, EC2N 2AT
United Kingdom
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Chairman’s Statement
The Zinnwald Lithium Project
Strategic Report
Page
1 - 2
3 – 6
7 – 21
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
22
Directors’ Report
23 - 25
Corporate Governance Statement
26 – 29
Audit Committee Statement
30 – 31
Remuneration Committee Statement
32 – 35
Sustainability Committee Statement
36 – 38
Independent Auditor’s Report
39 – 42
Group Statement of Comprehensive Income
Group Statement of Financial Position
Company Statement of Financial Position
Group Statement of Changes in Equity
Company Statement of Changes in Equity
Group Statement of Cash Flows
Company Statement of Cash Flows
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
Notes to the Financial Statements
50 – 70
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
As the largest provider of climate financing in the world, the EU, together with its member states, is focused on
facilitating a green transition and tackling the adverse effects of climate change. However, its planned reforms are
simply not possible without the rapid transition to electric vehicles and a large scale build out of energy storage
capacity. Central to this is an order of magnitude increase in the supply of batteries.
The need to source a supply of critical materials that support green energy technologies from within the continent is
clear. This was highlighted by European Commission president Ursula von Leyden who said in her October 2022
State of the Union address, “lithium and rare earths are already replacing gas and oil at the heart of our economy”.
Accordingly, a new Critical Raw Material Act (the “CRMA”) was introduced on 16 March 2023 to address risks to
supply and advance new domestic mining projects. The CRMA proposes a comprehensive set of actions to ensure
the European Union's access to a secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials,
including lithium. The CRMA also sets clear benchmarks for domestic capacities along the strategic raw material
supply chain and to diversify EU supply including at least 10% of the EU's annual consumption for extraction and
40% for processing.
This bodes well for Zinnwald as it develops its 100% owned integrated lithium hydroxide (‘LiOH’) project in Germany
positioned to support the European battery storage and EV manufacturing sectors from the end of 2026.
Having proved the viability of LiOH production in March 2022, as well as the potential to produce economically
significant amounts of commercially saleable by-products, our focus then turned to the re-design of the Project that
culminated in the publishing of a PEA that fully described the new technical plan for the Project in September. This
reported positive economics: pre-tax NPV8 of US$1,605m, IRR of 39.0%, $192m EBITDA and a payback of just 3.3
years.
The PEA emphasised other positive attributes of the Project including its location in a mining district at an historic
underground mine with existing infrastructure, availability of skilled labour, and support of the Saxony authorities
and local community. Furthermore, it highlighted the Project’s strong ESG credentials with the potential to be a
zero-waste project with high-demand by-products including fertiliser, limited water use, and low-cost sustainable
mining strategy focused on minimising C02 emissions.
We are now seeking to further optimise the Project’s economics by evaluating the potential to increase the mining
rate resulting in higher lithium product output. During 2022, the relevant approvals required to commence two
drilling campaigns were sought and subsequently granted enabling the start of an infill drill campaign at the key
Zinnwald Lithium Deposit in July, and an exploration drill campaign at one of our satellite deposits, Falkenhain, in
September. Initial results from these programmes indicate the potential for an increased resource at Zinnwald and
the potential for significant lithium resources at Falkenhain which could represent possible feed material for the core
project. The data acquired will be collated to optimise the mining plan and fed into the Bankable Feasibility Study
(‘BFS’), which we currently anticipate publishing towards the end of the year.
In tandem, other sizeable work programmes are underway to refine and optimise our plans including the
development of processing technologies, continued Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) and other permit
application processes, the evaluation of options for the construction strategy and further work/negotiations on
infrastructure aspects of the Project.
Corporate
Today we have announced a major milestone in the development of the Company in the securing of our first
industrial cornerstone investor, AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group (“AMG”). As part of a wider placing, to be done
at a material premium to our current share price, we will raise a minimum of £14m and AMG will acquire a 25%
stake in Zinnwald. This is a significant endorsement of our strategy to have AMG as a partner, which is one of the
most advanced Lithium companies in both Germany and the wider EU. We are also pleased that our existing
substantial shareholders, Henry Maxey and Mark Tindall have all elected to subscribe to maintain their
shareholdings.
At the start of 2023 we appointed Tamesis Partners as joint corporate broker and financial adviser. Tamesis has
initiated research coverage of the Company. We look forward to working with Tamesis to broaden our interaction
with institutional investors focused on the mining space.
In addition, we were pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Ocean Partners Ltd for it to
acquire our subsidiary Erris Zinc Ltd, which owns the Abbeytown Project, in return for a royalty and future cash
payment once Abbeytown goes into production. As we previously stated, our core focus is on the Zinnwald Lithium
Project and we believe that Abbeytown will be better advanced as part of a business focused on the commodity and
the region. As such we are confident that Ocean Partners will be excellent stewards of the project and that the
transaction will deliver value to Zinnwald from this asset.
1
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Financial Overview
The Group maintains a disciplined approach to expenditure and has a €2.1m cash position as at 21 March 2023,
which excludes the expected minimum €16m proceeds from the fund raise announced today.
Outlook
As the leading battery technology in use today, lithium-ion batteries are destined to be an enduring technology and
whilst the record levels of lithium pricing reached during 2022 may not be repeated demand is expected to remain
high. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence suggests that we need to increase production of lithium-ion batteries from
0.6TWh a year to 20TWh by 2050, which will require a 20-fold increase in lithium supply, while the IAE says 50 new
average sized lithium mines are needed by 2030 to fill the projected supply gap. Zinnwald expects to deliver one of
those mines.
In line with this, we are pushing forward as hard as possible on multiple work streams including advancing the BFS
towards completion by the end of the year. I look forward to providing updates on our progress as we focus on
ensuring the underlying value of our asset is more fully reflected in our share price.
Finally, the progress made during the year is testament to our team, which we continue to strengthen as the Project
advances towards construction. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their continued hard work
and I look forward to working with them in the year ahead as we focus on delivering on our overriding objective,
which remains to generate value for all our shareholders.
Jeremy Martin
Non-Executive Chairman
22 March 2023
2
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
THE ZINNWALD LITHIUM PROJECT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The Zinnwald Lithium project (the “Project”) is located in southeast Germany, some 35 km from Dresden and
adjacent to the border of the Czech Republic. The Project concept is for an underground mine and associated, on
site, mineral and chemical processing to produce a battery grade lithium hydroxide.
The Companies business model is predicated around utilising its inherent advantages to enable it to become a
sustainable project serving the European lithium market:
•
•
•
Location: German project in the heart of the European automotive and chemical industries and within close
proximity of several major battery “Gigafactories” currently in production or planned. It is one of the few lithium
projects that will provide domestic European primary lithium supply. Security of supply and shorter supply
chains are becoming increasingly important. Europe does not currently have a domestic source of lithium
supply and there are relatively few projects within the EU
Established mining region: The Project is located in an established mining area that has been mined
historically for 400 years and as recently as the early 1990s. Mining is well understood by local communities
and authorities and the State of Saxony, in which the project is located, recently published a raw materials
strategy highlighting the role that mining for critical raw materials can play.
Low impact: The Project is based around an existing underground mine, thereby minimising surface impact.
Existing infrastructure in the area will be utilised to access and exploit the ore body which will further minimise
the impact on the environment and communities. In addition, the Project has been designed with the potential
to be a low or “zero-waste” operation as the majority of both its mined product and co-products have their own
large-scale end-markets:
o
o
o
o
Its initial mined waste product, quartz sand, is benign and can be used in the construction industry.
The leach residue from the chemical process can be used as back-fill in the mine
Its primary co-product is high grade Potassium Sulphate, which is primarily used as a fertiliser and for
which the market is large.
Its secondary co-product is Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (“PCC”) typically used as a filler in the
paper making process.
• High Regulatory standards: The Project will be permitted under EU environmental rules, which are some of
the strictest globally. OEMs will be able rely on the production being in compliance with EU Battery Chain
directives. Furthermore, the Board and management are committed to maintaining the highest levels of
transparency and corporate governance consistent with being a UK listed Plc.
Sustainable: The Project incorporates several key elements that are advantageous in terms of sustainability
relative to competing global sources of lithium supply
•
o
o
The process has limited water use relative, in particular, to brine producers.
The process flowsheet is less energy intensive than traditional spodumene-based production as it
involves a single pyrometallurgical step at a lower temperature than is required in a spodumene-based
process.
o Overall transport costs and emissions are reduced by being an integrated operation located close to
end markets especially when compared to Australian sourced spodumene concentrate processed in
China.
o German energy sources currently include a higher overall “low carbon” component than some regions
that are currently important suppliers of lithium.
•
Leading Partners: The Company is committed to working with highly credible partners that can help to ensure
the delivery of a landmark Project. International technical partners currently include SRK, Metso:Outotec, K-
Utec, Epiroc and GLU/GICON.
Geology and License Areas
The Project is in a granite hosted Sn/W/Li belt that has been mined historically for tin, tungsten, and lithium at
different times over the past 400 years. Lithium is contained in lithium-bearing mica, which is called “zinnwaldite”, a
member of the siderophyllite-polylithionite series, which contains up to 1.9 wt.% lithium. It is enriched in 10 parallel
to subparallel zones below the historic tin mineralization. Individual lithium- bearing greisen beds show vertical
thicknesses of more than 40m. The mineral assemblage consists of quartz, Li-F-mica (zinnwaldite), topaz, fluorite
and associated cassiterite, wolframite and minor scheelite and sulfides.
3
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
THE ZINNWALD LITHIUM PROJECT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The Project comprises four license areas, as follows:
The advanced Zinnwald core project area
The Zinnwald core project area covers 256.5 ha and already has a 30-year mining licence to 31 December 2047. In
May 2019, our now 100% owned subsidiary, Deutsche Lithium GmbH (“Deutsche Lithium” or “DL”) first announced
an identified resource at this license area as follows:
• Measured plus Indicated Mineral Resource estimate containing 35.51 Mt at a grade of 3,519 ppm containing
124,974 t Li at cut-off grade of 2,500 ppm Li. This represents approximately 665,000 tonnes of lithium
carbonate equivalent (‘LCE’), comprising approximately 357,500 tonnes of LCE in Measured Resources and
approximately 307,500 tonnes of LCE in Indicated Resources
Estimated Inferred Mineral Resources of 4.87 Mt at a grade of 3,549 ppm containing 17,266 t Li metal
(approximately 92,000 tonnes LCE)
•
Falkenhain, Altenberg and Sadisdorf satellite areas
•
Falkenhain – the license covers an area of 2,957,000 m² and, in 2022, the license was extended for a further
three years to 31 December 2025. DL commenced a 10 drill-hole exploration programme in September 2022
with the results from the first drill hole published in January 2023.
• Altenberg DL – the license covers an area of 42,252,700 m² and is valid to 15 February 2024. DL is currently
•
evaluating historical data, which will be used to define new exploration targets in the area.
Sadisdorf – the license covers an area of 2,250,300 m² and is valid to 30 June 2026. Historical exploration
work at the Sadisdorf Licence by previous licence holders resulted in a December 2017 historic JORC
compliant inferred mineral resource of 25 million tons with an average grade of 0.45% Li2O (average 2,053
ppm lithium head grade). DL is reviewing and evaluating this historic data to determine further exploration
steps.
Project Plans – Revised Strategy
The Group’s management team took the decision following the completion of the acquisition of the remaining 50%
of DL in June 2021 to reposition the Project to better reflect the significant and rapid developments in the Global
and European Lithium markets. The Project’s revised strategy is now to focus on a larger scale operation that
produces battery-grade LiOH products; to optimise the Project from a cost perspective; and also to minimise the
potential impact on the environment and local communities. All aspects of the Project from mining through to
production of the end product will now be located near to the deposit itself in an area with developed infrastructure,
energy sources, services, facilities, and access roads and rail. Power and water are provided by existing regional
supply networks. It is also located close to the heart of the German automotive and chemical industries.
To progress this revised strategy, the Group has taken a number of steps in the further definition, design and study
work required, which culminated in the publication on 7th September 2022 of the “Preliminary Economic
Assessment (“PEA”) for the revised Zinnwald Lithium Project.
PEA Mine Plan
The Project includes an underground mine with a nominal output of approximately 880,000 t/a ore at estimated
3,004 ppm Li and 75,000 t/a barren rock. Ore haulage is via a 7km partly existing network of underground drives
and adits from the “Zinnerz Altenberg” tin mine which closed in 1991. The mining operation for the Project is
planned as an underground mine development using a main ramp for access to the mine and for ore transportation
from the mine to the surface via access tunnels. The estimated mine life covers >35 years of production. The
optimisation of bulk-mining methods has been a key consideration to realise increased total mined tonnage. The
cross-section map of the area shown below shows the drainage access tunnel, the two access mining tunnels and
the historic talings facility at IAA Bielatal.
4
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
THE ZINNWALD LITHIUM PROJECT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
PEA Processing Flowsheet and Metallurgical Test Work
The Zinnwald Lithium Process Plant is designed to process 880,000 dmt/a of ROM feed, at an average grade of
0.30 wt.% Li, to produce a minimum of 12,011 t/a of battery grade LiOH*H2O (equivalent to 10,530 t/a LCE) and
56,887 t/a of K2SO4 and about 16,000 t/a PCC (precipitated calcium carbonate) by-products. The flowsheet, as
shown below is based on calcium sulfate/calcium carbonate roasting and consists of the following major unit
processes. The Flowsheet test work has been based on an original 100t lithium-mica greisen ore sample that has
produced 50 kg of a reference LiOH product sample as well as for the locked cycle test for process verification as
part of the process design work.
Permitting and Environmental Studies
The overall permitting pathway for the project is subdivided between processes to be permitted under the Mining
Act, which includes the mine, its associated infrastructure and the mechanical separation plant approved under a
Mandatory Framework Operation Plan (MFOP) and the Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz (BImSchG) (Federal
Emission Protection Act) and the Water Authority for all aspects relevant to water use, potential for water pollution
etc.
Economic Analysis in the PEA
The economic analysis included in the PEA (shown below) demonstrates the financial viability of the Project. Based
on the assumptions detailed in this report the Project supports a Pre-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) of US$1.6
billion (at a discount rate of 8%, “NPV8)”) and a pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) of 39%. The after tax NPV8
is US$1.0 billion and post tax IRR is 29.3% The Project has a mine life of over 35 years and the payback period is
less than four years post commencement of production. The full report is published on the Company’s website at
https://www.zinnwaldlithium.com/investors/reports-and-presentations/
PEA Key Indicators
Pre-tax NPV (at 8 % discount)
Pre-tax IRR
Post-tax NPV (at 8 % discount)
Post-tax IRR
Simple Payback (years)
Initial Construction Capital Cost
Unit
US$ m
%
US$ m
%
Years
US$ m
Average LOM Unit Operating Costs (pre by-product credits)
US$ per tonne LiOH
Average LOM Unit Operating Costs (post by-product credits)
US$ per tonne LiOH
Average LOM Revenue
Average Annual EBITDA with by-products
Annual Average LiOH Production
LiOH Price assumed in model
Annual Average SOP Production
Blended SOP Price assumed in model
US$ m
US$ m
Tonnes per annum
US$ per tonne
Tonnes per annum
€ per tonne
Value
1,605
39.0%
1,012
29.3%
3.3
336.5
10,872
6,200
320.7
192.0
12,011
$22,500
56,887
875
5
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
THE ZINNWALD LITHIUM PROJECT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Project Development Plan
The preliminary project schedule outlined below is based on the assumption that the Project will be fully funded
throughout both its next stage of producing a BFS and then into construction; all environmental and other regulatory
permits will be granted without delays; external agencies and suppliers will be cooperative; and management of the
execution will be by competent EPCM / EPC groups.
6
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The Directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2022.
1. Highlights
12 Months to 31 December 2022
Lithological ore-sorting proven to be viable in pilot tests.
• Completion of PEA on revised Project plan showing robust economic results.
Testwork confirmed viability to produce battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide
•
Testwork confirmed viability to produce economically significant by-products.
•
• Hyper-spectral scanning tested to produce accurate quantitative information on ore types and grades.
•
• Commencement of in-fill drilling campaign at Zinnwald license area.
• Commencement of exploration drilling campaign at Falkenhain license area.
• Commenced discussions with owners of local infrastructure.
•
•
•
•
Engaged SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd to provide competent person support.
Joined the EU funded Horizon Europe "Exploration Information Systems" project.
Strengthened the operational team in Germany.
Entered into Option Agreement to acquire more land in vicinity of Altenberg.
Post period end to 21 March 2023
•
•
•
•
First Industrial Cornerstone Investor (AMG) and wider Placing raising a minimum of £14m.
First drill results on Falkenhain exploration license.
Appointment of Tamesis Partners as co-broker and first research published.
Simplified and focused the Company by selling the non-core Abbeytown Lead-Zinc Project.
2. Strategic Review
2.1. Company Overview – Background and evolution
The Group was originally established in 2012 as a mineral exploration and development company and made its IPO
on AIM in December 2017. In October 2020, the Company completed its transformation into a lithium-focused
development company with the acquisition (via a reverse-takeover) of Bacanora Lithium Plc’s 50% ownership and
joint operational control of Deutsche Lithium Gmbh whose principal asset is the Zinnwald Lithium Project. In June
2021, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium from SolarWorld AG, a
company which had been in administration since 1 August 2017. This gave the Company full ownership and full
operational control of Deutsche Lithium.
In December 2021, Bacanora distributed its entire holding of 30.9% of the Company’s shares to its own
shareholders as part of the terms of its takeover by Ganfeng Lithium Ltd. This expunged most of the agreements
between the Company and Bacanora that had been put in place at the time of the RTO. The sole remaining
agreement is the Royalty Agreement covering 50% of the Project, which remains in place.
2.2. Company Strategy
The Zinnwald Lithium Project, as set out above, is the Company’s core development asset and the sole focus of the
Board and its strategy. This strategy continues to be underpinned by a technically led team with extensive
experience in bringing projects from the feasibility stage through to mine production, as well as the capital markets
experience to source the funding required for these types of mining projects. The Company will focus on further de-
risking the project as it is advanced towards a development decision. Key work areas include:
• Complete a Bankable Feasibility Study on the Revised Project following on from the PEA.
•
Further refine the Processing Flowsheet that supports the primary production of battery grade lithium hydroxide
and its co-products, Potassium Sulphate (fertilizer) and Precipitated Calcium Carbonate.
Expansion of the size of the Project by increasing Mineral Resource Estimates to include the “Albite Granites”
and increase size of annual mining throughput with improved ore-sorting technologies.
Identification of and negotiation with further long-term cornerstone investors.
Identification of and negotiation with off-take partners that could include battery manufacturers, chemical
producers or commodity traders.
•
•
•
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
•
Identification of and negotiation with potential project financing partners that could include banks and national
and trans-national development organisations.
Exploration work to advance the satellite licenses to increase the potential size of the overall resource.
Advance the plant engineering towards AAC Class 3.
•
•
• Minimising the carbon footprint by optimising Lithium plant location and transportation.
•
• Negotiation with the holders (principally the German state) of existing mining infrastructure in the vicinity of the
Finalisation of the selection of the optimal chemical processing site location.
Project that has the potential to enhance the project economics.
Advancing the permitting process for the construction and operation of the mine; and
Ensuring the social license to operate by extensive public participation.
•
•
The Company recognises the importance of general public and the NGOs in the permitting processes and has
committed to proactively engage with all the stakeholders in its projects.
2.3. Business Plan
The Board will continue to run the Group with an efficient cost base in order to maximise the amount that is spent
on the Project. The main challenge faced by the Company is securing sufficient funding to execute the
development programme for the Project. The Company maintains a tight control on its budgets and reviews spend
against budget on a monthly basis. The Directors’ extensive experience of mining projects also ensures that funds
are spent in the most effective way possible both on a cost basis and in relation to targeting the most effective areas
to move the Project through to production and revenue generation.
The Group historically financed its activities through capital raisings as a private company, the sale of royalties and
through its joint venture agreements with established industry players. The Company’s public listing has enabled
the Group to target a wider pool of investors, as demonstrated by its various fund raises and share issuances over
the last 18 months at steadily increasing share prices – the October 2020 RTO at 5p, the June 2021 acquisition
from SolarWorld at 12.5p, and the December 2021 fund raise at 15.5p.
As at the date of this report, the Company announced a planned Fundraise at 10.41p, being a material premium to
the current share price, to raise a minimum of £14m to advance the Project to BFS and beyond. This Fundraise
includes the Group securing its first industrial cornerstone investor in AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group, which is
subscribing for a 25% holding of the enlarged share capital.
2.4. Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Set out below are the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The Risks are split into
Business, Operational and ESG/Sustainability. For a full list please refer to the AIM Admission Document published
in October 2020.
Business Risks
2.4.1. Ongoing Funding requirements
Additional funding will be required to complete the proposed future exploration and development plans towards a
BFS and in the longer term for construction of the Project. While the Group has been successful in the past in
obtaining equity financing, there is no assurance that it will be able to obtain adequate financing in the future or that
such financing will be on terms advantageous to the Group and its shareholders.
Mitigation
The Group continues to engage with potential investors that could support the Project in the longer term. It will also
continue to endeavour to add complimentary sources of funding as it progresses, which may include Debt, Offtake
investment, Royalties, Grants or Governmental funding.
Trend:
Unchanged – there has been no significant change to the assessment of this Risk.
8
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
2.4.2. Commodity Price - market forces of supply and demand
The Group intends to produce a battery-grade lithium product (currently Lithium Hydroxide, “LiOH”) from the
Project. and sell most or all of its production to future offtake partners on long-term supply contracts for on-sale to
battery manufacturers. The market for these long-term supply contracts is opaque and not subject to any globally
accepted or hedgeable spot market price. Whilst growth in demand for lithium has been strong in recent years due
primarily to increased usage of electric vehicles and grid storage; there is no guarantee that this growth will continue
at the same rate. The Group will compete on a supply basis with established competitors, who may be able to
increase their production to fill any supply shortfalls.
Furthermore, reserve estimates and feasibility studies using different commodity prices than the prevailing market
price could result in material write-downs of the Group’s investment in its assets, increased amortisation,
reclamation and closure charges or even a reassessment of the feasibility of the Group’s projects. Downside price
cannot currently be mitigated as no derivatives are currently available on the market.
Mitigation
The Group applied a long term LiOH price of $22,500 per tonne in its PEA, published in September 2022. The spot
price for LiOH rose above $70,000 during 2022 and contract prices disclosed by some of the industry’s largest
companies were in the range of $45-50,000 per tonne in Q4 2022. Many industry commentators forecast an
ongoing supply/demand imbalance that is supportive of higher lithium prices. The Group will commission a formal
independent price forecast report for the purposes of its forthcoming BFS and associated Mineral Resource
Estimate.
Trend:
Unchanged – Lithium product prices will remain one of the Group’s most significant financial risks.
2.4.3. Geopolitical / Country Risk
The political climate in Germany and Western Europe is stable and generally held to offer a favourable outlook for
foreign investments, but there is no guarantee that it will remain so in the future. Resource nationalism around
Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) has increased materially in recent years, as countries and economic blocs have
realised the importance of security of supply to support the ongoing development of domestic battery industries. In
August 2022, the USA introduced its Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) with investment totalling $370 billion in climate
and clean energy areas with various incentives to increase the production of electric vehicles, renewables, and
critical minerals to reduce reliance on foreign imports. In 2023, the EU has announced it will issue its response to
the IRA that will outline the measures that it will take to protect and support domestic European industries. This is
expected to include plans to strengthen its own CRM supply lines.
Mitigation
The Zinnwald Project is ideally placed strategically to support Germany’s and the EU’s future plans to develop its
CRM supply. It is one of the largest hard rock deposits in Europe and is well located with regard to the German
chemical and automotive industries.
Trend:
On a macro level the risk of resource nationalism has increased in 2022, but this should ultimately be to the benefit
of the Zinnwald Project, which is a German project specifically designed to support the German (and EU) CRM
supply chain.
2.4.4. Competition in the Lithium Industry
The Group’s battery-grade lithium products are expected to compete primarily for market share with existing lithium
producers and spodumene concentrate producers. The Group is expecting to compete based on the quality of its
end product, consistent and long term production and cost per tonne. The Group’s competitors, some of which are
large multinational corporations, may have substantial strategic advantages over the Group, including existing
infrastructure, greater financial resources, strategic relationships with customers and logistical advantages in certain
markets and could enhance their competitive position through acquiring, or consolidating interests in, other lithium
producers. In addition, new competitors could obtain access to reserves of lithium through new discoveries or to the
extent existing or greenfield projects become more economically viable.
9
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Mitigation
There is currently only one lithium project developing a lithium resource at a construction stage in Europe. None of
the others in development are materially more advanced than Zinnwald and several of these are “on hold” whilst
local support is resolved. Even if all of these projects do eventually come to fruition, they will not be able to supply
the expected long term demand for lithium from EU end users.
Trend:
Unchanged – Zinnwald’s eventual products will inherently face competition from other sources of supply.
2.4.5. Change in Battery Technology
There is no guarantee that lithium-ion batteries will remain the dominant technology in either the battery market as a
whole or specifically in the EV sector. Advances have been made in alternative technologies such as Solid-state
batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-sulphur, vanadium redox flow batteries, aluminium-graphite, sodium-ion, iron
based batteries. Any one of these new technologies may have the potential to supplant or reduce demand for
lithium, if sufficient resources are dedicated to commercialising it. However, the basic attractiveness of lithium as
one of the smallest and lightest elements on the periodic table produce chemical bonds that are some of the
strongest per unit of weight and volume. It is also one of the most abundant minerals on Earth.
Mitigation
The Project will eventually produce LiOH, which is the primary lithium product utilised in the batteries being
developed and used by European car makers. Even if these makers change to alternative lithium based
chemistries, the Project is capable of producing a range of Lithium products. Car and battery manufacturers have
invested heavily in lithium-ion technology and, as yet, show relatively little sign of changing their approach. The
price per kilowatt hour of a lithium-ion battery has fallen by more than 97% since 1991 and is expected to drop
below $100 in the short term.
Trend:
Unchanged – Lithium-ion batteries remain the dominant technology in the EV arena.
2.4.6. Foreign currency exchange rates
The Group’s operational and functional currency is the Euro, whilst lithium products are generally priced and
transacted in US dollars. The Group’s ongoing capital and operational expenditures will primarily be in Euros with
some exposure to GBP. The Group’s operations and profitability may be adversely affected by movements in
foreign currency exchange rates, particularly by movements in the US dollar and/or Euro relative to the British
pound sterling.
Mitigation
The Group’s current primary exposure to the GBP is in relation to the currency of its listed shares and the Group
takes the appropriate hedging steps to mitigate the risks on fund-raising.
Trend:
Unchanged - there has been no significant change to the assessment of this Risk.
Operational Risks
2.4.7. Mining, Exploration and Development Risks.
There is no certainty that the expenditure to be made in the exploration and development of the Group’s properties
in which it has an interest will result in profitable commercial operations. Most exploration projects do not result in
the discovery of commercially mineable deposits. The successful exploration and development of mineral properties
is speculative and subject to a number of uncertainties and hazards, which even a combination of careful
evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate.
Mitigation
The PEA published in September 2022 showed the robust economics for the Zinnwald Project with a headline pre-
tax NPV8 of US$1,605m, IRR of 39.0%, $192m average annual EBITDA and a payback of just 3.3 years. The
Group is currently advancing its technical plans to the level of a BFS.
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Trend:
The inherent risk around all mining projects remains the same, but Zinnwald continues to take the required steps to
de-risk the Project moving forward.
2.4.8. Further licences and permits required
The Group will need to obtain further environmental and technical permits for the construction, development and
operation of its commercial operations. There is a risk that these further permits, concessions and licences may not
be granted. In addition, the granting of such approvals and consents may be withheld for lengthy periods or granted
subject to satisfaction of certain conditions which the Group cannot or may consider impractical or uneconomic to
meet.
Mitigation
The Group has already commenced the permitting approval process including starting its EIA baseline studies and
has engaged with the relevant permitting bodies.
Trend:
Unchanged - there has been no significant change to the assessment of this Risk.
2.4.9. Personnel retention and recruitment
The Group’s ability to compete in the competitive resource sector depends upon its ability to retain and attract
highly qualified management, geological, technical and industry experienced personnel. Such personnel are
expected to play an important role in the development and growth of the Group, in particular by maintaining good
business relationships with regulatory and governmental departments and essential partners, contractors and
suppliers.
Mitigation
The Group has already increased its headcount in Germany from 6 at the end of 2021 to 23 at the end of 2022.
The intention is to further increase this number in 2023, especially around the recruitment of people experienced in
the delivery of resource projects.
Trend:
Unchanged - there has been no significant change to the assessment of this Risk.
ESG / Sustainability Risks
2.4.10. Local Stakeholder Acceptance
Any mining project inherently requires the support and acceptance of local stakeholders to proceed, in particular
from the local communities that will be most directly affected by physical operation, as well as the wider State and
Federal stakeholders. Failure to share the benefits of our operations with local communities such as creation of
jobs, local procurement or community investment activities, may cause delays or disruptions to our operations and
may undermine our social licence to operate.
Mitigation
The Group has held a number of meetings with the local community in Altenberg and has been successfully
operating drill rigs in the area since August 2022. Furthermore, the revised plans for the Project include utilising
existing infrastructure to minimise the potential impact of its operations on local communities. The Project will
ultimately create a significant number of local jobs and has the potential to generate material tax revenues. The
Group also has a policy of working with internationally accredited partners for the development of the Project, these
currently include SRK, Metso-Outotec, K-Utec and Epriroc.
Trend:
Ongoing local good relations with, and support from, local communities is a key area of focus for the Group.
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STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
2.4.11. Environmental laws and regulations
All phases of the Group’s existing and planned operations in Germany will be subject to environmental regulation at
a state and federal level concerning, among other things, water discharges, air emissions, waste management, use
of toxic materials and environmental clean-up. Environmental laws and regulations continue to evolve, and it is
likely the environmental laws and standards that regulate the operations will continue to be increasingly stringent in
the future.
Mitigation
The Group will at all times adhere to environmental regulations and endeavour to ensure that the Project will be as
“low waste” and environmentally sustainable as possible.
Trend:
Unchanged - there has been no significant change to the assessment of this Risk.
2.4.12. Supply Chains and Processes
In Germany, effective from the start of 2023, companies that supply large German businesses are being questioned
about their own supply chains in greater detail. The law requires German businesses with more than 3,000
employees to assess their supply chains for environmental, social or governance issues and then address them, or
face fines of up to 2 per cent of their global turnover and exclusion from public contracts for up to three years. From
next January, smaller German companies will also be included in the requirements. The law is broader than the
UK’s 2015 modern slavery legislation, and it covers seven other areas, including union rights, environmental
degradation, employment of minors and disposal of waste.
Mitigation
Whilst the Group as a standalone operation will not be covered by the new legislation, as it is too small, in the long
run its battery products will likely be supplied to companies that do meet these criteria and will hence expect the
Group to comply. The Group already has well established policies to address these areas of concern and will
continue to evolve and strengthen them where necessary as the Project progresses.
Trend:
The new legislation has increased the risk.
2.4.13. Health and Safety
Protecting the safety and health of employees, contractors and local community and other stakeholders is a
fundamental issue facing the Group and the wider mining industry. Mine sites (including drill sites) are, by their
nature, dangerous places to work particularly due to the use of heavy machinery. Inappropriate use of heavy
machinery or the failure to wear appropriate PPE and follow health and safety protocols may lead to serious injuries
or loss of life.
Mitigation
The Group complies with the applicable laws and regulations of Germany. Safety is a paramount consideration, and
Zinnwald aims to provide a place of work that is safe for everyone. Policies and procedures have been constituted
with the aim of identifying the hazards associated with mining activities and that they are effectively managed. All
occupational health and safety incidents are recorded, categorized and investigated and where required corrective
and preventive actions are implemented.
Trend:
The inherent risk has increased in 2022 as the Group expanded its drilling and sample preparation operations. As
the Group moves forward with the Project towards construction, the potential for health and safety.
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STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
3. Operational Review
3.1. Germany
During 2022, the Group has made significant progress on the Project, including the publication of its PEA on the
Revised Project. For further details see the section on Zinnwald Lithium Project above. As part of this progress
the Group completed the following matters during the year, and after the year end, to underpin the Project plans.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
The Company has already commenced an infill drilling programme at the core Zinnwald license with the objective of
better defining the Resources and Reserves that lie within the ore body, as well as determine the detailed early
years’ mining plan. This will likely lead to revised Resource and Reserves Estimate to be included in the BFS. The
Company has also commenced an exploration drilling campaign at its nearby Falkenhain license to determine the
potential for expansion of both the project’s resources and the production level.
The Company has engaged SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd to provide competent person support for the drill campaign
and geometallurgy. The drilling is being conducted by GEOPS Bolkan Drilling Services Ltd. The Company has
also leased and taken occupancy of new warehouse space in Freiberg that is being used for core storage and core
logging and processing of new drill core. The facility has been outfitted with the latest safe and environmentally
friendly equipment.
In-fill drilling at Zinnwald Lithium Deposit
In August 2022, the Company received its final permits and started an in-fill drilling programme at the core Zinnwald
Lithium license. The purpose of the in-fill drilling programme is to study the mining scale variability of the ore with
the view of applying larger scale mining methods. The ultimate aim is also to support the plan to consider the Albite
Granites (previously referred to as “Ore Type 2” in the PEA) for the Mineral Resource and future mine plan, with
potential to materially increase the total Mineral Resource.
As at the end of 2022, the Company had completed 13 drill holes and 4,311m at the core Zinnwald deposit. The
results of the assay at the first four drill holes were announced in detail in an RNS on 23 November 2022. In
summary the included long mineralised intervals such as 2,503ppm Li over 86.4m and 1,846ppm Li over 121m
within which there are several high-grade core intervals including of 4,286ppm Li over 4.6m and 4,345ppm Li over
6.5m. So far in 2023, the Company has completed a further 15 drill holes, taking the total drilling to 9,587m.
Further assay results will be published in due course.
Exploration drilling at Falkenhain Licence Area
In September 2022, the Company received its final permits and started an exploration drilling programme at
Falkenhain. This exploration licence is located 7km north from the core Zinnwald License. The licence area was
historically extensively explored for occurrences of tin and tungsten with drilling undertaken most recently from 1963
to 1990. The Company has performed a detailed review of the historic data including assaying samples of the
surviving core from these campaigns. The outcome from this work has identified the potential for a lithium resource.
The Company has designed an exploration drill campaign of ten diamond drill holes to test the historic drill data and
better determine the resource potential of the licence. The first drill hole was completed to a depth of 600m and the
assay results published on 30 January 2023 showing significant intercepts of thick high-grade lithium mineralisation
including 80m at an average 2,879 ppm Li and 51m at an average 3,421 ppm Li.
In September 2022, the Company was informed by the Saxony Mining Authority (“SOBA”) that its application to
extend its exploration license at Falkenhain was successful. The exploration license is now valid until the 31
December 2025.
PROCESSING AND FLOWSHEET
Mining and Geometallurgy – TheiaX, Metso-Outotec, Tomra, UVR FIA
TheiaX GmbH, a local German company, reported initial hyperspectral core scanning tests on both existing drill
core from previous drilling campaigns, and crushed ore samples from the previous pilot tests. The hyperspectral
scanning produced clear quantitative information on Zinnwaldite (Li-mineral), Muscovite, Clay minerals and Topaz
from both the drill core and the crushed product. In comparison to standard one metre assay intervals, the
hyperspectral imaging produced information on five cm intervals and detected lower grade inclusions from the core
giving a very clear indication that online hyperspectral imaging could be used for value-based bulk or particle sorting
of crushed ore.
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
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After successful preliminary test work, pilot ore-sorting tests were carried out by Tomra in Hamburg, Germany to
test the amenability of Zinnwaldite ore for particle sorting. All Zinnwaldite lithologies, ore and waste, were tested.
The pilot confirmed that >10 mm crushed material particles can be effectively sorted with off-the-self ore-sorters.
The objective of these testwork campaigns is to reduce ore processing costs by removing waste and low-grade
material from the Mineral Processing circuit before the expensive grinding, drying and magnetic separation stages,
as well as minimising the quantity of fine material produced as by-product. It could also lead to an increase in total
Mineral Resources. The current Mineral Resource excludes Ore Type 1 lenses thinner than two meters due to
processing cost per tonne waste rock mined. With better understanding of the small-scale grade variation and
application of sorting process, it may be possible to lower the Li cut-off grade of Ore Type 1. In addition, a
considerable amount of lithium at the Project is contained in the "Greisenized Granite" rock, which could potentially
be included in Mineral Resources. This material can be understood as an alteration halo surrounding the Ore Type
1 and is estimated at 214 Mt at a Li grade of 1700 ppm. It is currently not included in the Project's Mineral
Resources of 40.4 million tonnes (35.5 million tonnes measured and indicated plus 4.9 million tonnes inferred), as
set out in the PEA.
Additional tests to further confirm the mineral processing assumptions for the Albite Granites as part of the future
mining feed are being undertaken at UVR FIA GmbH in Freiberg. This principally considers the processing
characteristics, mineralogy, and geo-metallurgy of the Albite Granite, which also holds significant amounts of lithium
bearing mineralisation.
Pyrometallurgy – IBU-tec
Calcination (roasting of pre-treated Zinnwaldite concentrate) testwork was carried out by IBU-tec Advanced
Materials AG. The calcination testwork focused on pre-treatment of the concentrate with different additives,
agglomeration and roasting of the agglomerate. The test targeted the possibility of utilising cheaper additives and a
higher leach rate of lithium and potassium from calcine. The tests for calcine leaching of the calcined material were
carried out by K-UTEC.
The tests indicated that Flue Gas Desulfurization ('FGD') Gypsum is suitable for the purpose. FGD Gypsum is
readily available and inexpensive and would represent a cost saving versus using primary gypsum. The tests also
showed an increased lithium recovery rate of 90% (previously 87%) and an increased potassium recovery rate of
70% (previously 50%) from Zinnwaldite ore compared with what was demonstrated in the 2019 FS.
Hydrometallurgy - Production of battery-grade LiOH and co-products – K-UTEC
In March 2022, the Company announced the successful completion of pilot scale testwork that demonstrated the
technical and economic viability of producing high purity (>99.9% purity) lithium hydroxide from Zinnwaldite
concentrate is technically and economically viable. The test work also confirmed the potential to produce
economically significant amounts of commercially saleable co-products, such as high-purity potassium sulphate
("SOP") and precipitated calcium carbonate ("PCC").
In these tests, almost 50kg of battery grade LiOH was produced out of several tons of Zinnwaldite concentrate. The
test work was conducted in Germany by a leading industry specialist, K-UTEC AG Salt Technologies ('K-UTEC')
and verified by a third-party laboratory through chemical and physical analysis. The lithium recovery from the
Zinnwaldite concentrate to the LiOH was proven to be above 80% and comparable to lithium processes from other
types of lithium resources. Non-saleable side streams were proven to contain very low amounts of soluble, possibly
environmentally problematic elements.
The Company further commissioned K-UTEC to conduct a technical scoping study for SOP and PCC product
optimisation, which confirmed the ratios of high grade technical / fertiliser grade SOP products that can be
achieved. This work specifically considered the operational aspects of producing various quantities of SOP products
and will form the basis for higher level engineering studies.
OTHER OPERATIONAL MATTERS
Access to infrastructure
In March 2022, the Company was granted access to portions of the existing mining infrastructure in the vicinity of
the Project for inspection purposes. This infrastructure includes a 4km drainage tunnel, and disused ventilation and
access shafts, which potentially could be used as part of its operations. The infrastructure was found to be in
excellent condition and easily accessible. The Company continues to develop its plans for the possible utilisation of
this infrastructure to beneficially impact the Project and is also in discussion with the owners of the assets for
access and usage.
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
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Land in Altenberg
In August 2022, the Company announced that it had entered into an option agreement with Projektgesellschaft
Altenberg mbH, an entity owned by the town of Altenberg in Germany, that gives the Company the right to acquire
approximately 14,000 square metres of industrial land in the Europark industrial area near to Altenberg. The option
agreement is valid until August 2025. The land subject to the option agreement is adjacent to land already owned
by the Company and combined would bring the Company’s total land holding in this area to approximately 30,000
square metres. This industrial land has the potential to be used for access and other operational aspects of
the Zinnwald Lithium Project.
Partnerships
The Group has further strengthened its relationships with leading partners, whose credibility the Group believes will
ultimately support its position with future project finance partners:
•
•
SRK Consulting UK Ltd is providing Competent Person (“CP”) support and guidance for the Project.
TheiaX GmbH is assisting with cutting edge hyperspectral scanning of drill-core to be used in the geo-
metallurgical optimisation of the Project.
• Metso Outotec is providing expert support in advancing the mineral processing concept and engineering,
including verification of historic engineering, the development of a conceptual study to produce engineering
deliverables to enable a smoother transition into basic engineering and support of further development stages
of the Project.
Epiroc is developing plans for an electrically powered mining operation.
•
• GICON / GLU is proving support in the permitting process of mining assets in the state of Saxony.
Co-Broker Appointment
In February 2023, the Company appointed Tamesis Partners LLP as joint corporate broker and it published the first
independent research note on the Company. Tamesis is a specialist ECM and advisory house with a focus on the
mining sector. Tamesis will support the Company with research coverage and access to an incremental audience of
institutional and strategic investors.
Staffing in Germany
The Group has further strengthened the team in Germany in 2022, adding skills in several key disciplines including
geology, mining, and logistics.
ESG and Sustainability
Progress in relation to Permitting, Environmental, Social and Governmental engagement are covered in detail in the
report of the Sustainability Committee below.
3.2. Lithium Market in 2022
Building on an extremely strong performance in 2021, the lithium market in 2022 continued to perform with spot
prices exceeding US$80,000 ton. Contract pricing, typically a better indicator of overall supply-demand dynamics,
was also very robust with SQM, one of the world’s biggest suppliers, announcing an average price for 2022 of
US$52,000/t. Pricing is supported by a growing consensus around a supply / demand imbalance, with several
market commentators anticipating a persistent deficit of supply. The impact on long term lithium hydroxide price
expectations has been a consistent rise. In Q3 2021, Benchmark Minerals (a leading lithium industry consultancy)
forecast a long-tern price of $12,110, but this was before the step change in balance in the market. In March 2022,
Roskill forecast an inflation adjusted long term price of $23,609 per tonne through to 2036 with a nominal rate of
$33,200/t by 2036. In its year-end review, Fastmarkets produced a 10 year forecast for Lithium prices that showed
prices above $30,000 per tonne for the rest of the decade and still above $25,000 per tonne by 2032. Zinnwald in
its PEA assumed a long term price of $22,500/t.
The global lithium market is expanding rapidly due to an increase in the use of lithium-ion batteries for electric
vehicle and energy storage applications. In recent years, the compound annual growth rate of lithium for battery
applications was over 22% and is projected by Roskill to be more than 20% per year to 2028. This expansion is
being driven by global policies to support decarbonisation via electrification. This is underpinned by Carbon
Emission Legislation (COP26, EU Green Recovery, Paris Accord); Government regulation and subsidies; and
Automakers commitment to EVs. Global electric car sales totalled 4.2 million units in 2021, more than double the
level in 2020 and up ~ 200% versus 2019 with no slowdown anticipated in 2022.
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Benchmark Minerals highlighted that there are 282 Gigafactories at various stages of production/ construction, up
from only 3 in 2015 (by May 2022, this number had gone over 300). If all these plants came online in the planned
10-year timeframe, it would equate to 5,777 GWh of battery capacity, equivalent to 109 million EVs. This would
require 5m tonnes of lithium each year, as compared with 480,000 tonnes produced in 2021. It noted that the lack
of supply is not due to any geological constraints but to a simple lack of capital investment to build future mines and
estimated $42bn needs to be spent by 2030 to meet anticipated demand for lithium.
Arguably the most transformative event in the lithium industry in 2022 came in August when the US Government
announced the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), which is described as the largest piece of federal legislation to
address climate change ever promulgated. It comprises a total of $391billion in provisions relating to energy
security and climate change and includes $270 billion in tax incentives. Some of the largest allocation areas
included $128 billion for renewable energy and grid storage and $13 billion for electrical vehicle incentives. As part
of this Act, in October 2022, the White House made $2.8 billion of direct grants to boost domestic EV battery
production ranging from recycling facilities to lithium processing plants. Companies such as Albermarle, Piedmont
Lithium and Lilac Solutions all received sizeable grants in relation to lithium processing facilities.
The IRA triggered a strong response from the EU driven by concerns around the scale of incentives and subsidies
and the risk to European industry. In January 2023, the European Commission set out its own “Green Deal
Industrial Plan” that aims to ease state aid rules that would “enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s net-zero
industry and support the fast transition to climate neutrality. The Commission will also protect the single market from
unfair trade in the clean-tech sector and will use its instruments to ensure that foreign subsidies do not distort
competition in the single market, also in the clean-tech sector.” The Plan is based on four pillars: simplifying
regulations; speeding up access to finance; skills development; and open trade to provide a ‘more supportive
environment’ to boost the EU’s manufacturing capacity for the green transition to meet its climate targets. Brussels
wants Europe to be the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and to cut its emissions by at least 55% by 2030. A
“Net Zero Industry Act” is due in 2023 with the potential for a longer term European Sovereignty Fund to invest in
emerging technologies.
3.3. Ireland
During the period, the Group retained its sole license at Abbeytown and has met all expenditure requirements to
maintain the license through to June 2023. On 13 March 2023, the Company announced the terms of an
acquisition agreement with Ocean Partners Ltd for them to acquire Erris Zinc Ltd, the owner of the Abbeytown
Lead-Zinc license in Ireland. Ocean Partners shall acquire Erris Zinc for €1 and commit to spend €130,000 over the
next three years to the end of 2025 on exploration work at Abbeytown. Zinnwald shall receive a 1% Net Smelter
Royalty and a €200,000 cash payment due six months after commencement of commercial production from
Abbeytown. Zinnwald shall have the right to buy back Erris Zinc for €1 in March 2025, if the committed exploration
spend has not been made.
3.4. Share Price performance in 2022
The Board shares the frustration of shareholders at the weakness of the Company’s share price in 2022. The wider
equity markets, especially for smaller companies, have been under sustained pressure in 2022 primarily due to
macro-economic factors including rising interest rates, uncertainty caused by the conflict in Ukraine and low
anticipated economic growth. Zinnwald has had two specific equity events that occurred at the end of December
2021 (the distribution of 91m Zinnwald shares owned by Bacanora Lithium Plc on completion of its takeover by
Ganfeng Lithium Ltd; and the expiration of the lock-in on the majority of the 50m Zinnwald shares originally issued
to creditors of the SolarWorld AG estate) which resulted in there being a number of material shareholders that were
unlikely to be natural holders of the Company’s shares. The Board understands that majority of these shareholders
have sold all or the majority of their holdings over the course of 2022. The Board believes that this “overhang” has
now cleared, as evidenced by the improved share price performance so far in 2023. The Board is grateful for the
new and existing shareholders that have absorbed this volume of shares.
3.5. Outlook
The Company is primarily focused on the delivery of a BFS by the end of 2023, further building on the technical
concept detailed in the PEA published in September 2022. The PEA demonstrated a robust Project with very
attractive economics and the team is working hard to advance this to the next stage. The funds raised in the share
placing announced today will primarily be used to deliver this BFS, and thereafter to finance the detailed
engineering and design work required to reach a Final Investment Decision.
As part of this BFS work, the Company near-term priorities are the completion of the in-fill drill campaign at
Zinnwald, which should result in the completion of an updated Mineral Resources and Reserves Estimate (MRE),
as well as determine the detailed early years’ mining plan. The Project’s historic MRE was based solely on the
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Greisen beds and excluded the Albite Granites. One of the goals of the ongoing in-fill drilling programme is to
materially increase the MRE, which could, in turn, accommodate greater mining capacity for an expanded Li-
product output. Historic estimates quantified the tonnage potential of the Albite Granites alone at above 200Mt, an
estimate that the Company is working to verify. The Company will also continue its exploration drilling campaign at
its nearby Falkenhain license to determine the potential for expansion of both the project’s resources and the
production level.
The Company will continue to develop the technologies planned for its processes. Individual processing methods
and stages are well established in mining and other industries. As the recognition of Zinnwaldite as a source for
battery metals is more recent, the application of methods such as high-intensity magnetic separation has not
previously been used in beneficiation of this specific type of lithium ore but is utilised and well established in the
beneficiation of other ore types. Evaporators and crystallizers are common processing methods in the production of
fertiliser salts. The Company has also completed the initial phases of testing bulk and particle sorting techniques
designed to increase the type of resource available to the Project. The Company will also continue to refine its plans
for reducing its overall CO2 footprint and operating costs, such as via the use of electric mining equipment.
The Company has already commenced its EIA and other permit process, including baseline studies and other
reports. This will be a high priority area over the coming quarters.
The Company will continue to liaise with individual, State and Federal owners of local infrastructure regarding
access rights and/or acquisition. The Company will also advance negotiations for service contracts for electric
power and natural gas with local power companies as well as supply contracts for required reagents and materials.
4. Financial Review
Notwithstanding that the Company is a UK Plc admitted to trading on AIM, the Company presents its accounts in its
functional currency of Euros, since the majority of its expenditure, including that of its subsidiary Deutsche Lithium,
is denominated in this currency.
The Group is still at an exploration and development stage and not yet producing minerals, which would generate
commercial income. The Group is not expected to report overall profits until it is able to profitably commercialise its
Zinnwald Lithium project in Germany.
During the year, the Group made an operating loss of €2.4m compared with a loss of €2.7m in 2021. Whilst the
overall amounts are relatively similar, the underlying expenditure areas are materially different. In the year,
administrative expenses increased to €1.9m compared with €1.1m in 2021. The Group has also more than doubled
its overall staffing levels to reflect the sole ownership of the Project and the increased workstreams to advance the
Project. It also includes the costs related to being a public listed company, including the costs of non-executive
directors, brokers, nominated adviser and other advisers. There was also a share-based payment expense of
€0.5m in the current year, arising from the issuance of new Options and RSUs in January 2022.
During the year, the Group made an overall loss before taxation of €2.4m compared with a loss of €1.7m for the
year ended 31 December 2021. The prior period includes the impact of a revaluation gain of €1.0m on the original
investment in Deutsche Lithium, such costs being one off in that year.
The Total Net Assets of the Group decreased to €20.8m at 31 December 2022 from €22.6m at 31 December 2021,
primarily due to the decrease in cash balances of €5,1m, offset by the €3.0m capital investment in the Assets of the
Project in 2022.
The closing cash balance for the Group at the period end was €3.2m. As at 21 March 2023, the Group’s cash
balance is €2.1m, which excludes the expected minimum €18m proceeds of the fund raise announced today.
Cherif Rifaat
Director, CFO
22 March 2023
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ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
5. Directors’ Section 172 Statement
The Directors believe they have acted in the way most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit
of its members as a whole, as required by s172 of the Companies Act 2006.
The requirements of s172 are for the Directors to:
Act fairly between the members of the Company,
• Consider the likely consequences of any decision in the long term,
•
• Maintain a reputation for high standards of business conduct,
• Consider the interests of the Company’s employees,
•
• Consider the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment.
Foster the Company’s relationships with suppliers, customers and others, and
The Company operates as a lithium exploration and development company with its sole focus on the Zinnwald
Lithium Project and ancillary exploration licenses. The Company is currently undertaking additional work to further
expand and develop the Project to enable it to raise the debt and equity required to finance the construction phase
of the Project. As such, the Project is at pre-revenue stage and inherently speculative in nature. It does not
currently generate regular income and is dependent upon fund-raising for its continued operation. The pre-revenue
nature of the business is important to the understanding of the Company by its members, employees and suppliers,
and the Directors seek to provide transparency about the Company's cash position and funding requirements as is
allowed under applicable regulations.
We have split our analysis into two distinct sections, the first to addresses Stakeholder engagement, which provides
information on stakeholders, issues and methods of engagement, disclosed by stakeholder group. The second
section addresses principal decisions made by the Board and focuses on how the regard for stakeholders
influenced decision-making.
Section 1. Stakeholder mapping and engagement activities within the reporting period.
The Company continuously interacts with a variety of stakeholders important to its success, such as equity
investors, royalty holders, workforce, government bodies, local community & vendor partners. The Company strives
to strike the right balance between engagement and communication. Furthermore, the Company works within the
limitations of what can be disclosed to the various stakeholders with regards to maintaining confidentiality of market
and/or commercially sensitive information.
Key Stakeholders – Engagement
Rationale and Objectives
How Zinnwald engaged with the
stakeholders
What came of the engagement
Investors
The Company requires further funding
to develop the Zinnwald Lithium
Project. As such, existing and
prospective equity investors and
project finance partners are important
stakeholders. Without the provision of
further financial investment, the
Company cannot create value for our
shareholders.
We are seeking to promote an
investor base that is interested in a
long term holding in the Company and
will support the Company in achieving
its strategic objectives.
Over the course of 2022, the number
of shares held in public hands has
increased and the overall
daily volume of shares traded has
increased.
The existing substantial shareholders
have regular meetings with the CEO and
CFO.
We engaged with investors on
topics of strategy, governance,
project updates and performance.
The CEO and CFO presented at a
number of investor roadshows and
one-to-one meetings and have
increased the profile of the
Group with an international base of
potential investors.
Discussions with cornerstone
investors and potential offtake
partners are an inherently long term
process. After the period end, the
Company announced a substantial
investment by a new industrial
cornerstone investor, AMG, a
European company active in lithium
and metals processing.
The Company has engaged with new
potential cornerstone and offtake
partners during the period.
Engagement with prospective and
existing investors is via:
•
The AGM and Annual and Interim
Reports.
Investor roadshows and
presentations.
•
• One-on-one investor meetings with
the CEO and CFO.
Access to the Company’s brokers
and advisers
Discussions with providers of
research on the Company
Regular news and project updates.
Social media accounts
•
•
•
•
18
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Key Stakeholders – Engagement
Rationale and Objectives
How Zinnwald engaged with the
stakeholders
What came of the engagement
Workforce
The vast majority of the workforce in
future will be based in Germany and
the Directors consider workforce
issues holistically for the Company
and Zinnwald Project as a whole.
The Company and the Zinnwald
Project’s long-term success is
predicated on the commitment of our
workforce to our vision and the
demonstration of our values on a daily
basis.
The Board have identified that reliance
on key personnel is a known risk (see
the Principal Risks and Uncertainties).
Stakeholder Interests include but are
not limited to:
•
Job creation, fair worker pay and
conditions.
Development opportunities and
interesting work.
Clear communication with
employees
Excellence in health and safety.
•
•
•
Board reporting includes sections
on engagement with workforce.
Meetings were held with staff to
provide project updates and
ongoing business objectives.
UK:
The CEO and CFO report regularly to
the Board, including the provision of
board information.
Germany:
The Company maintains an open line of
communication between its employees,
senior management and Board of
Directors.
The Company is currently too small to
require a formal HR Function in
Germany, but this will be instituted as
the Company grows in size.
Senior management regularly
visit the operations in Germany and
engage with its employees through one-
on-one and staff meetings, employee
events, project updates, etc.
Safety is a key factor in the
governance of the Group and senior
management hold regular safety
meetings.
The Company has six UK employees
including its Directors, all of whom are
UK based.
The rest of the Company’s workforce
is based in Germany.
Government Bodies – State and Federal
The Company requires a number of
different licenses to undertake
activities.
The Company maintains good relations
with the respective government bodies
and communicates progress.
The Company will require licenses to
operate under both the Mining Act
(Mining Framework Operating Plan
and the environmental BImSchG). It
will only be able to commence
production once it receives these
licenses and permits. These licenses
will come from both State and Federal
bodies.
The Company will also require
agreements to access certain existing
local infrastructure, which can help to
develop the Project.
The Company engages with the relevant
departments of the Saxony Government
in order to progress the operational
licences it will require, especially with the
Saxony Mining Authority (SOBA).
The Company received all of its
licenses, including environmental,
heritage etc, to enable it to
commence drilling at Zinnwald and
Falkenhain.
The Company has met with various
departments of the State of Saxony
to discuss its development plans.
The Company has engaged with the
LMBV, an entity under the control of the
German Federal State, in order to
negotiate access and plans related to
infrastructure currently owned and
maintained by the LMBV.
The Company has agreed that the
SOBA will be the overall permitting
body for both the MFOP and the
BImSchG and will work with it to
present and then develop the
overall Scoping Plan.
The LMBV has provided maps for
digitisation of the existing
infrastructure. Discussions are
ongoing around access and data
relating to the relevant assets
owned by the LMBV.
19
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Key Stakeholders – Engagement
Rationale and Objectives
How Zinnwald engaged with the
stakeholders
What came of the engagement
Local Community
The local community at the Zinnwald
site and surrounding area will provide
both immediate access rights for
drilling and in the longer term the
social license to operate.
We need to engage with the local
community to build trust. Having the
community’s trust will mean it is more
likely that any fears the community
has can be assuaged and our plans
and strategies are more likely to be
accepted. Community engagement
will inform better decision making.
The local community will provide
employees and suppliers to the mine
and chemical plant.
The Company will in due course have
a social and economic impact on the
local community and surrounding
area. The Company is committed to
ensuring sustainable growth
minimising adverse impacts. The
Company will engage these
stakeholders as appropriate.
Suppliers
Our suppliers are fundamental to
ensuring that the Company can
develop a financeable project and
ultimately construct the project on time
and budget.
Using quality suppliers ensures that as
a business we meet the high
standards of performance that we
expect of ourselves and vendor
partners.
At a local level, we may also partner
with a variety of smaller companies,
some of whom may be independent or
family run businesses.
The Company has engaged with multiple
local landowners to allow access for the
drilling rigs to operate in the area.
The Company has secured access
to drill 13 holes during the period
and further holes post period end.
The Company has a site office in
Altenberg to enable the local community
to engage with the team. The Company
has also provided several donations to
local bodies.
The Company engages with the
local community as part of the
development of its sustainability
initiatives.
The Company is continuing to identify
all key stakeholders with the local
community.
The Group has open dialogue with the
local town government and community
leaders regarding the project
development.
The Company has existing ESG/
CSR policies and s management
structure at corporate level. The
Company will expand on these policies
and structures at a local project level as
the Company moves through
development and on into construction.
The Company has a policy of working
with internationally respected
consultants for the development of its
PEA and on towards BFS. The
Company will use similar quality
engineering groups when it comes to
construction of the Project.
Management team continue to work
closely with engineering and specialised
consultancy firms including:
• One on one meetings between
management and suppliers.
Vendor site visits to ensure
suppliers able to meet requirements.
Contact with procurement
departments and accounts payable.
•
•
20
SRK Consulting
During the period the Company has
contracted and engaged with the
following (see Operations report for
more detail):
•
• Metso Outotec
Theia-X
•
Tomra
•
K-Utec
•
Epiroc
•
• GEOPS
• Gicon/GLU
• GEOS
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Section 2. Key Decisions made by the Board within the reporting period.
The Board defines principal decisions as both those that have long-term strategic impact and are material to the
Group, but also those that are significant to its key stakeholder groups. In making the following principal decisions,
the Board considered the outcome from its stakeholder engagement, the need to maintain a reputation for high
standards of business conduct and the need to act fairly between the members of the Company. The application of
the s172 requirements can be demonstrated in relation to the some of the key decisions made during 2022:
• Revision of the Project Plans and Parameters – Once the Company had secured full ownership of Deutsche
Lithium, the Company was able to accelerate its review of the Project and develop a plan to optimise and
expand the Project. The Board’s goal was to produce a Project that was larger in scale and could produce a
product more in demand by ultimate buyers. Both of which would ultimately result in better returns for
shareholders and assisting Germany and the EU in building a domestic supplier of a key critical raw material in
plans to decarbonise the economy. This initial review process started in 2021. In March 2022, the Company
concluded test work that demonstrated that it could produce battery grade Lithium Hydroxide. In September
2022, this initial phase concluded with the publication of the PEA that demonstrated the robust economics of
the revised Project.
• Cornerstone Investors – The Board recognises that to develop the Project through its feasibility stage and
ultimately into construction, it will need cornerstone investors with either the financial or technical (or both)
ability to contribute to any future fundraises. The Board also recognises that the closer to construction it gets,
the better terms it will get for key areas such as Offtake commitments, which may help to mitigate dilution to
existing shareholders that have supported the Company from its early stages. Management has engaged with
a number of groups that meet these criteria during the period and will continue to engage with these and similar
parties going forward. At today’s date, the Company has announced a planned Fundraise in which the
Company will secure its first industrial cornerstone partner, AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group, who intend to
subscribe for equity to take them to 25% of the enlarged share capital of the Company. AMG are a well-
established Lithium industry participant with significant resources and a strong presence in Germany, where
they are building a large-scale lithium refinery. This Fundraise is purely for an equity stake and has enabled the
Company to keep back its future Offtake to later in the development stage.
• Continued use of PrimaryBid (or equivalent) for retail investors – The Directors believe that it is good
governance to do all it can to allow existing shareholders and the wider retail market to participate in any
company fund raises especially if this is done via placing and at a discount to the prevailing market price. The
Directors used PrimaryBid in its December 2021 fundraise and is using it again in the fundraise announced
today alongside the placings to AMG and other substantial and sophisticated investors. The Directors do
acknowledge that a drawback is that a PrimaryBid raise is only open for a short window after markets close,
and that the Company could not forewarn shareholders that a raise would be coming and that it would be using
PrimaryBid.
Anton du Plessis
Director, CEO
22 March 2023
21
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with
applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the
directors have elected to prepare the group and parent company financial statements in accordance with UK
adopted International Accounting Standards and as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. Under company law the directors must not approve the
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group
and company, and of the profit or loss of the group and company for that period. In preparing these financial
statements, the directors are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
•
• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
•
state whether applicable UK adopted International Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to
any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
group and company will continue in business.
•
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the
Group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the
Group and Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and parent company and hence for taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Company is compliant with AIM Rule 26 regarding the Company's website.
22
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The directors present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the Company and Group is that of developing the Zinnwald Lithium Project to become the
next lithium producer at the heart of Europe. Details of future developments are included in the Strategic Report.
Results and dividends
The results for the year are set out on page 43.
No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
Directors
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as
follows:
Jeremy Martin (Non-executive Chairman)
Anton du Plessis (CEO)
•
•
• Cherif Rifaat (CFO)
• Graham Brown (Non-executive Director)
Peter Secker (Non-executive Director)
•
Directors' interests
The directors' interests in the shares of the company were as stated below:
As at 31 December 2022
Jeremy Martin
Anton du Plessis
Cherif Rifaat
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
As at 31 December 2021
Jeremy Martin
Anton du Plessis
Cherif Rifaat
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
Substantial shareholdings
No of Shares
27,000
6,351
120,046
-
178,695
No of Shares
27,000
6,351
120,046
-
178,695
% of Issued share capital
0.01%
-
0.04%
-
0.06%
% of Issued share capital
0.01%
-
0.04%
-
0.06%
Share Incentives
350,000
1,305,249
604,282
250,000
150,000
Share Incentives
350,000
-
800,000
200,000
-
The directors are aware of the following substantial interests or holdings in 3% or more of the Company's ordinary
issued share capital as at 21 March 2023:
Major Shareholder
Henry Maxey
Ganfeng Lithium
Oberon Investments Limited
Mark Tindall
Directors' insurance
No of Shares
42,898,910
25,465,889
11,895,633
11,752,443
% of Issued share capital
14.62%
8.68%
4.05%
4.01%
The Group has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors, which were made
during the period and remain in force at the reporting date.
23
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
DIRECTORS’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Supplier payment policy
The Group's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code
(copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The Group's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
•
•
•
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction.
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in
contracts; and
pay in accordance with the Group's contractual and other legal obligations.
Working capital and liquidity risk
Cashflow and working capital forecasting is performed in the operating entities of the Group and consolidated at a
Group level basis for monthly reporting to the Board. The Directors monitor these reports and rolling forecasts to
ensure the Group has sufficient cash to meet its operational needs. The Board has a policy of maintaining at least a
GBP 0.5m cash reserve headroom. Aside from a general commitment of support provided to its Deutsche Lithium
GmbH subsidiary, the Group has no other material fixed cost overheads other than its costs of being listed on the
AIM market.
Foreign currency risk
The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from one main currency
exposure, namely GBP for its Head Office costs and the value of its shares for fund-raising and Euros for most of its
operating expenditure. The Group’s Treasury risk management policy is currently to hold most of its cash reserves
in Euros, as the majority of its current and planned expenditure will be on the Zinnwald Lithium Project in Germany.
The Company took advantage of the strong GBP:Euro exchange rate at the end of 2021 to convert £5m of cash
raised in December 2021 into Euros to match its planned spend for 2022.
Credit and Interest Rate Risk
The Company has no borrowings and a low level of trade creditors and has minimal credit or interest rate risk
exposure.
Auditor
PKF Littlejohn LLP has expressed its willingness to continue in office and a resolution proposing that they be re-
appointed will be put at a General Meeting.
Statement of disclosure to auditor
So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit
information of which the auditor of the Company is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all
the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant
audit information and to establish that the auditor of the Company is aware of that information.
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
As per the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (“SECR”) Regulations published in 2018 quoted companies
and large unquoted companies that have consumed, more than 40,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy in the
reporting period must include energy and carbon information within their directors' report. Zinnwald Lithium Plc and
the Group does not qualify as a quoted company or a large unquoted company and therefore are presently exempt
from the SECR reporting requirements. However, in 2022 the Group estimates that it has consumed circa 900,000
kWh of energy in the period, due primarily to its drilling campaign in Germany. The Group is developing its
reporting systems and KPI metrics to establish baselines for future reporting and will publish these as the Project
develops.
On behalf of the board
Jeremy Martin
Director
22 March 2023
24
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Zinnwald Lithium Plc (The "Company") adheres to the Quoted Company Alliance’s (“QCA”) Corporate Governance
Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies (revised in April 2018) to meet the requirements of AIM Rule 26.
The Company includes below the material disclosures required under these QCA guidelines. The Company also
publishes a more detailed QCA Statement on its website, which is updated annually and last updated in September
2022. This statement includes more comprehensive disclosures considered to be more appropriate in that format.
Board Composition
As at 31 December 2022, the Board comprised two Executive Directors, a Non-Executive Chairman and two other
Non-executive Directors. Details of the current Directors are set out within the List of Directors below. The Board will
continue to review its structure in order to provide what it considers to be an appropriate balance of executive and
non-executive experience and skills.
The Board considers the following Non-Executive Directors to be independent – Jeremy Martin, Graham Brown and
Peter Secker. None of these directors have been employees, have a significant business relationship or close
family ties with related parties or represent significant shareholders. Whilst these directors have received options
under the company’s Share Option Scheme, these are non-material in nature and do not compromise their
independence. Peter Secker was originally the appointee of Bacanora Lithium plc under the terms of the
relationship agreement entered into as part of the acquisition process in October 2020. This relationship expired on
22 December 2021 when Bacanora distributed its shareholding in Zinnwald to its own shareholders. The Board
asked Mr Secker to remain as a Non-Executive Director to take advantage of his extensive expertise in the lithium
industry and his relationships with institutional investors and potential offtakers.
Board Terms of Reference and Powers
The Board sets the Company’s strategic aims and ensures that necessary resources are in place in order for the
Company to meet its objectives. All members of the Board take collective responsibility for the performance of the
Company and all decisions are taken in the interests of the Company.
The Board has adopted a ‘Charter’ that sets out the role and responsibility of the Board and the manner in which it
will exercise and discharge these duties. The role of the Board is to determine the strategic direction of the
Company, regularly review the appropriateness of it and oversee its implementation. It is not the role of the Board to
manage the Company itself but rather to monitor the management and performance of the business. It does this in
the following areas:
Board composition and organisation
Strategy, financial and operational matters
Financial expenditure
Shareholder engagement and communications
•
•
•
•
• Governance and general sustainability (ESG) matters
• Designated positions of responsibility. The roles of management are covered in relation to their interaction
with the Board rather than their day-to-day operational tasks.
The Non-Executive Directors have a particular responsibility to challenge constructively the strategy proposed by
the Chairman and the Executive Directors; to scrutinise and challenge performance; to ensure appropriate
remuneration and that succession planning arrangements are in place in relation to the Executive Directors and
other senior members of the management team. The Executive Directors enjoy open access to the Non-Executive
Directors with or without the Chairman being present.
Director Commitments
The Executive Directors, Anton du Plessis and Cherif Rifaat, were employed on new contracts as part of the
October 2020 re-admission process and full details of these contracts are set out in the October 2020 Admission
Document, which is published on the Company’s website.
All Non-Executive Directors acknowledge in their letter of appointment that the nature of the role makes it
impossible to be specific on maximum time commitment and that at certain times of increased activity, then
preparation for and attendance at meetings will increase. All Directors are expected to attend all Board meetings
(either in person or by phone), the AGM and committee meetings.
Board Meetings
The Board looks to meet in a formal manner on a quarterly basis, with additional meetings held as required to
review the corporate and operational performance of the Group.
25
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Each Board Committee has compiled a schedule of work, to ensure that all areas for which the Board has
responsibility are addressed and reviewed during the course of the year.
The Chairman, aided by the Company Secretary, is responsible for ensuring that the Directors receive accurate and
timely information. The Company Secretary compiles the Board and Committee papers which are circulated to
Directors well in advance of all meetings. The Company Secretary provides minutes of each meeting and every
Director is aware of the right to have any concerns minuted.
A summary of Board meetings attended in the 12 months to 31 December 2022 is set out below:
Jeremy Martin
Anton du Plessis
Cherif Rifaat
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
Board Committees
31 March
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
23 June
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
20 Sept
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
21 Dec
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
The Board has delegated specific responsibilities to the Audit and Remuneration Committees, details of which are
set out below. In November 2021, the Board established a new Sustainability Committee as part of formalising its
approach and commitment to Sustainability and ESG matters. Each Committee has written terms of reference
setting out its duties, authority and reporting responsibilities. It is intended that these will be kept under continuous
review to ensure they remain appropriate and reflect any changes in legislation, regulation or best- practice.
There is currently no internal audit function, given the size of the Group, although the Audit Committee keeps this
under annual review.
The Board considers that, at this stage in the Company’s development, it is not necessary to establish either a
formal nominations or corporate governance committee and that these processes shall be carried out by the Board.
This decision will be kept under review by the Directors on an on-going basis.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee’s overall goal is to ensure that the Group adopts and follows a policy of proper and timely
disclosure of material financial information and reviews all material matters affecting the risks and financial position
of the Group.
The Committee is responsible for overseeing for the Company, major subsidiaries and the Group as a whole, in
relation to the following matters:
Financial reporting.
Internal control and risk management systems.
Internal audit function.
External audit and the relationship with the external auditors; and
•
•
•
•
• Whistleblower and fraud programme.
The Audit Committee meets at least twice a year and comprises independent non-executive Directors only, with the
Chief Financial Officer in attendance and not a member. The external auditors may attend all meetings. The Audit
Committee currently comprises Graham Brown as Chairman and Jeremy Martin.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee assumes general responsibility for assisting the Board in respect of remuneration
policies and strategies for the Company and ensuring they are designed to support strategy and promote long-term
sustainable success. It ensures that the Company offers competitive remuneration that is aligned to company
purpose and values, and clearly linked to the successful delivery of the Group’s long-term strategy, whilst remaining
financially responsible. It also ensures formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive
remuneration and determining director and senior management remuneration.
• Remuneration policies, including long and short-term incentives.
• Review of executive management performance and recommendations for incentive awards.
•
•
Annual reporting of the Company’s remuneration activities.
Administration of the New Share Incentive Schemes.
26
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
• Company policies regarding pension and other benefits; and
•
The engagement and independence of external remuneration advisers.
The Remuneration Committee meets as and when necessary. The Remuneration Committee is comprised
exclusively of independent non-executive Directors and currently comprises Graham Brown and Jeremy Martin as
Chairman. No Director is permitted to participate in discussions or decisions concerning his own remuneration.
Sustainability Committee
The Committee was established in November 2021 to incorporate and emphasise the Company’s commitment to
Sustainability and ESG Matters. The Board and Management of the Company are committed to maintaining a high
standard of corporate governance. The Company has chosen to adhere to the Quoted Companies Alliance (“QCA”)
Corporate Governance Guidelines for Small and Mid-Size Companies, which was updated in April 2018 and
comprises ten key principles. The purpose of the Sustainability Committee is to provide for the Board’s
effectiveness and continuing development in meeting these ten principles.
The Committee is also responsible for overseeing, on behalf of the Board, the development, implementation and
monitoring of the Company’s sustainable development in all its internal policies and operations around the three
pillars of the Group’s Sustainability framework. These are based on the United Nations’ set of 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), of which for mining companies, the key takeaways are to extract responsibly, waste
less, use safer processes, incorporate new sustainable technologies, promote the improved wellbeing of local
communities, curb emissions, and improve environmental stewardship.
The Committee is responsible for overseeing for the Group as a whole, the following matters:
• Corporate Governance matters highlighted by the QCA Code.
•
• Undertake and report on an annual basis an ESG Materiality assessment to identify key issues as the
Sustainability matters and policies.
Company moves through its evolution from exploration to construction and into production.
• Reporting of all ESG and Corporate Governance matters in Company publications.
The Sustainability Committee is comprised of Jeremy Martin (Chairman), Graham Brown and Anton du Plessis.
Cherif Rifaat has been appointed the Designated Director for Sustainability matters and will report to the
Committee. The Committee meets at least twice per year.
Board as a whole
The skills and experience of the Board are set out in their biographical details below. The experience and
knowledge of each of the Directors gives them the ability to constructively challenge strategy and to scrutinise
performance. The Board believes it has a mix of technical skills (e.g., geologists), sector experience (exploration
through to production with resources companies), public company experience and financial expertise to enable it to
deliver on its strategy. Whilst there is not currently a balance of genders on the Board, the Company’s directors look
to appoint individuals with complementary skills and experience to fulfil the Company’s strategy, regardless of
gender.
The Board does not believe that any of the Directors have too many directorship roles at other listed companies and
are hence at risk of “over-boarding” as defined by ISS voting guidelines but will continue to monitor this on an
ongoing basis. The Board is satisfied that the Chairman and each of the non-executive Directors is able to devote
sufficient time to the Group’s business.
The directors keep their skillsets up to date by attending industry and qualification relevant seminars and training
sessions.
List of Directors in 2022
Jeremy Martin. Non-Executive Chairman
Mr Martin was one of the original founders of the Company in 2012 and has performed both non-executive director
and non-executive chairman roles. He has significant experience in companies involved in mining exploration. He
has worked in South America, Central America and Europe, where he was responsible for grassroots regional
metalliferous exploration programmes through to resources definition and mine development. Mr Martin has been
involved in the formation of a number of publicly listed mineral resource companies. He is currently Chief Executive
Officer of Horizonte Minerals Plc, which has now commenced the construction phase of its nickel project in Brazil.
Mr Martin holds a BSc (Hons), MSc, ACSM and MSEG.
27
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Anton du Plessis. Chief Executive Officer
Mr du Plessis joined the Company, originally as Chief Executive Officer, in October 2018. He has over 20 years’
experience in the finance sector. During this time, he has held senior positions at several international investment
banks including CIBC, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley with a focus on advising natural
resources companies on the execution of strategic and financing transactions. He has worked on transactions
across a range of commodities and for a number of leading global companies including AngloGold Ashanti, Rio
Tinto, and BHP Billiton. Prior to embarking on his investment banking career, Mr du Plessis worked for the Anglo
American group in a corporate finance and business development capacity.
Cherif Rifaat. Chief Financial Officer
Mr Rifaat has been Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 2017. He is a UK chartered accountant who has
more than 20 years of venture capital, corporate finance, operational turnaround and investor relations experience
since his qualification with KPMG. He has primarily worked with technology, mining and real estate companies, with
an emphasis on those in a start-up, pre-IPO or restructuring phase. He was a corporate and financial adviser to the
lithium mining company, Bacanora, since it listed on AIM in 2014. Mr Rifaat has been a member of the ICAEW
since 1998.
Graham Brown. Non-Executive Director
Mr Brown has served as a non-executive director of the Company since 2017. He has been a Fellow of the Society
of Economic Geologists (“SEG”) since 1999, participated in the Colombia Senior Executives programme in 2004
and the Duke Business Leaders programme in 2007. He is a past councillor of the SEG and current British
Geological Survey industry adviser and Natural History Museum honorary research fellow. In 2011, he was the co-
recipient of the PDAC Thayer Lindsley Award and from 2013 attained both Chartered Geologist and European
Geologist professional status. Mr. Brown joined Amax as an exploration geologist in 1980 and worked on a variety
of exploration and mining operations in the Circum-Pacific region. For almost a decade Mr. Brown worked as a
consultant involved with the exploration and evaluation of a number of major discoveries in both Asia and Europe.
In 1994, he joined Minorco as Chief Geologist. Subsequently, he became the Europe-Asia region’s Vice President
Exploration and following the Minorco-Anglo American plc merger in 1999, he served as Vice President Geology. In
2003 he was appointed Senior Vice President Exploration and managed geosciences, technical services, and R&D
programs. In 2005 he was promoted to Head of Base Metals Exploration and in 2010 he took up the position of
Group Head of Geosciences for the Anglo American Group. He is currently a senior adviser to Appian Capital, a
prominent private equity fund focussed on mining. Mr Brown holds a BSc. from the University of Strathclyde,
Glasgow.
Peter Secker. Non-Executive Director
Mr Secker is Chief Executive of Bacanora. He is a mining engineer with over 35 years’ experience in the resources
industry. During his career, he has built and operated a number of mines and metallurgical processing facilities in
Africa, Australia, China and Canada. His operating and project experience spans a number of commodities,
including titanium, copper, iron ore, gold and lithium. For the past 15 years, Mr Secker has been Chief Executive of
a number of publicly listed companies in Canada, the UK and Australia.
Board Advice during the year
During the year, the Board did not commission any external advice for its own matters.
Lead Independent Director
Due to the size of the company, the Board does not feel it necessary to appoint a Lead Independent Director.
Company Secretary
The CFO undertakes the joint role of company secretary, as the Board does not feel the size of the company
warrants an independent person.
Annual Board appraisal
In accordance with current best practice and the Code, the Board conducts an annual formal evaluation of its
performance and effectiveness and that of each Director and its Committees. This is conducted during the year by
way of interviews with the Chairman. In addition, the Non-Executive Directors will meet, informally, without the
Chairman present and evaluate his performance. The Board currently considers that the use of external
consultants to facilitate the Board evaluation process is unlikely to be of significant benefit to the process, although
the option of doing so is kept under review.
28
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Ongoing Board Development
The Executive Directors are subject to the Company’s annual review process through which their performance
against predetermined objectives is reviewed, as part of the new incentive scheme review, as well as their personal
and professional development needs considered.
Non-executive Directors are encouraged to raise any personal development or training needs with the Chairman or
through the Board evaluation process.
The Company Secretary ensures that all Directors are kept abreast of changes in relevant legislation and
regulations, with the assistance of the Company’s advisers where appropriate.
Succession Planning
The Board has a minuted emergency succession plan for the Senior Management Team. On an ongoing basis,
board members maintain a watching brief to identify relevant internal and external candidates who may be suitable
additions to or backup for current board members.
Committee Reports – Audit, Remuneration, Sustainability
See separate documents within this Report.
Engagement with all shareholders
The Board attaches great importance to providing shareholders with clear and transparent information on the
Group's activities, strategy and financial position. General communication with shareholders is co-ordinated by the
Chairman, CEO and CFO.
The Company publishes on its website the following information, which the Board believes plays an important part
in presenting all shareholders with an assessment of the Group’s position and prospects:
The Company’s latest Investor presentation.
The Company’s most up to date technical reports on each of its projects.
Annual and Half-Yearly Financial Statements.
All company press releases issued under the RNS service.
•
•
•
•
• Notice of any General Meetings will be posted on the website as well as announced via RNS.
• Details on the results of all resolutions put to a vote at the most recent AGM.
• Contact details including a dedicated email address (info@zinnwaldlithium.com) through which investors
•
can contact the Company; and
The results of voting on all resolutions in future general meetings will be posted to the Group’s website,
including any actions to be taken as a result of resolutions for which votes against have been received from
at least 20 per cent. of independent shareholders.
The Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will generally be held in London in June following the publication of
its annual results and all shareholders are invited to attend.
Institutional Investors
In general, the Board maintains a regular dialogue with its institutional investors, providing them with such
information on the Company’s progress as is permitted within the guidelines of the AIM rules, MAR and
requirements of the relevant legislation. The Company typically holds meetings with institutional investors and other
large shareholders following the release of interim and financial results.
Private Investors
The Company is committed to engaging with all shareholders and not just institutional shareholders. As the
Company is too small to have a dedicated investor relations department, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible
for reviewing all communications received from shareholders and determining the most appropriate response. The
Chief Executive Officer works in conjunction with the Company’s public relations advisers to facilitate engagement
with its shareholders.
Board review
The Board as a whole is kept informed of the views and concerns of major shareholders by briefings from the CEO,
Chairman and the Company’s Broker
29
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
AUDIT COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Part 1 - Background Statement from the Chairman
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present this report on behalf of the Audit Committee (the “Committee”),
covering the activities for the twelve months ended 31 December 2022.
During 2022, the Committee’s agenda has continued to be built around its primary key recommendations to the
Board being the Annual Budget, Review and Approval of the Audited Annual Financial Statements and the review of
the half year results. As well as the ongoing reporting requirements, the Committee has also paid close attention to
the cash flow requirements of the Group to ensure that the Company maintains a tight control on expenditure and
remains well financed.
The Committee is responsible for assuring accountability and effective corporate governance over the Company’s
financial reporting, including the adequacy of related disclosures, the internal financial control environment and the
processes in place to monitor this. The Committee is also responsible for assessing the quality of the audit
performed by and the independence of the auditor.
Part 2 – Matters for consideration in 2022
Significant issues and judgements
In considering the financial results contained in the 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements, the Audit
Committee reviewed the significant issues and judgements made by management in determining those results. A
summary of these issues is detailed below:
Accounting Issue
Summary
Key Action Points by
Committee
Critical Judgement and
estimates
Impairment assessment of
Zinnwald Lithium Project
Going concern
Accounting basis of preparation
Review of impairment indicators under
IFRS 6 resulted in recommendation of
no impairment of Zinnwald Lithium
Project assets.
Review of estimates and
accounting treatment prepared by
CFO. Recommended to the
Board for no impairment.
Reviewed detailed budget and
cashflow forecasts for 2023-24 and
whether it is prudent to account on a
going concern basis under IAS 1.
Review and interrogation of
cashflow forecasts prepared by
management; consideration of
existing cash balances and
exploration plans for 2023.
Recommended approval of the
Budget and that a Going
Concern.
Financial Processes
Review of key financial
procedures and controls
Review of existing systems, controls
and procedures to fully incorporate the
financial systems, approval levels and
controls of Deutsche Lithium.
Review of updated Financial
Reporting Procedures manual.
Recommended approval of the
updated manual to the Board.
Risk Management Process
Continued development of the risk
management process
The Company has updated its risk
register and disclosures and is
developing a long-term control
framework for the management and
mitigation of risk.
Review of updated risk register
and disclosures of steps taken to
mitigate key risks and trends in
the Risks themselves.
The Risk control process will
continue to be monitored over the
coming period.
External auditor
The Company’s external auditor, PKF Littlejohn LLP (“PKF”) presented their detailed audit plan and final audit
findings and recommendations for the twelve months ended 31 December 2022. The Committee agreed with the
audit approach at the planning stage and agreed with the materiality thresholds, identification of the key risk areas
and significant judgements and estimates.
30
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
AUDIT COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The Committee and the Board monitored the auditor’s objectivity and independence. The Committee and the Board
was satisfied that PKF and the Group have appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure that these
requirements are not compromised in the interim accounts review and the year-end audit.
There was no material non-audit work carried out by PKF during the period with the only work being the tax
advisory work to assist with the Company’s annual returns. Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
provides full details of fees paid during the period.
Whistle blower process
One of the Committee’s key delegated responsibilities is to oversee the whistle blower policy and process. The
Company is committed to conducting its business with honesty and integrity and expect all staff to maintain high
standards in accordance with its Code of Conduct. The Board approved an updated group policy at the time of the
RTO in October 2020. The Committee continues to monitor this process and the consideration on when the
Company’s scale of operations will require a dedicated independent whistle blower hotline.
Internal Auditor
The requirement for the appointment of an internal auditor has been assessed by the Committee and the Board; the
level of spend and complexity of the operations being taken into account when considering this decision. To date,
the Board has decided that an internal audit function is not required but will continue to assess the situation on a
regular basis.
Going Concern
The Directors considered it appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the
Consolidated Financial Statements. The going concern statement is detailed in full in Note 1.4 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
For and on behalf of the Audit Committee
Graham Brown
Chairman of Audit Committee
22 March 2023
31
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Part 1 - Background Statement from the Chairman
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneration Report summarising the Company’s
remuneration policy and providing information on the Company’s remuneration approach and arrangements for
Executive Directors, Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) and senior executive management for the year ended 31
December 2022.
This report is prepared in accordance with the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Remuneration Committee Guide
for small and mid-sized quoted companies, revised in 2016. A summary of the Remuneration Committee’s role,
membership and relevant qualifications can be found in the corporate governance section herein or the QCA
statement on the website.
Remuneration Committee meetings are ordinarily held at least twice a year with the primary focus of setting goals
for the coming period and then assessing results at the end of that period. During the year, the Committee met
twice to review and score the targets for awards under all schemes relating to the 2021 period, which resulted in
awards announced on 15 January 2022. The Committee has met twice since the year end to review and score the
targets for the 2022 period and set targets for the next performance periods for all schemes. The Committee made
recommendations to the Board in regard to awards under all schemes, which are detailed below and will be issued
on conclusion of the current closed period.
Part 2 - Summary of basic remuneration structures in 2022
Remuneration for Executive Directors and Senior Management
All Executive Directors are paid a fixed annual salary and, subject to meeting appropriate targets within their
scorecard, are included in the 2020 RSU and PSU share-based incentive plans noted below. Executive Director
Service Contracts and Salaries for the periods covered by this report are as follows:
Name
Role
Annual Salary as at 31 December 2022
Annual Salary as at 31 December 2021
Notice period
Incentive Scheme Awards
RSUs – 2021 Performance period – Vest in January 2024
Anton du Plessis
CEO
£252,000 [1]
£240,000
6 months
Cherif Rifaat
CFO
£150,000 [2]
£100,000
6 months
1,305,249
604,282
[1] Effective 1 January 2023, his basic annual salary was increased by 8% in line with inflation.
[2] Effective 1 January 2023, the Company increased the time requirement from 70% to 100% of his overall working
time to reflect his expanded workload and the stage of development of the Zinnwald Project (2021: time
requirement increased from 50% to 70%). His annual salary was also increased by 8% in line with inflation.
For details of Executive Directors emoluments, please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for
the Euro total remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2022 compared with the year ended 31 December
2021. The salaries noted above represented the contractual base salaries.
Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors
All Non-Executive Directors entered into appointment letters at the time of the RTO in October 2020 on a fixed
annual fee basis. The table below shows the key terms of their appointment letters:
Name
Roles
Independent Non-Executive Directors
Jeremy Martin[1]
Graham Brown[2]
Peter Secker[3]
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
Chairman of the Sustainability Committee
Non-Executive Director
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Non-Executive Director
Notice
Annual Fees
FY 2022
FY 2021
6 months
£65,000
£50,000
3 months
£40,000
£30,000
3 months
£40,000
£1
[1] Effective 1 January 2023, his annual Director Fee was increased by 8% in line with inflation.
[2] Effective 1 January 2023, his annual Director Fee was increased by 8% in line with inflation.
32
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
[3] Mr Secker was originally the appointee of Bacanora under the terms of the relationship agreement, which
expired on 22 December 2021. The Board asked Mr Secker to remain as a Non-Executive Director to take
advantage of his extensive expertise in the lithium industry, his relationships with institutional investors and potential
offtakers, as well as his background with the Zinnwald Lithium Project itself. Effective 1 January 2023, his annual
Director Fee was increased by 8% in line with inflation.
For details of Non-Executive Directors emoluments, please refer to Note 32 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for the Euro total remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2022 compared with the year ended 31
December 2021.
Part 3 – Awards under the 2017 Option Scheme
This Option scheme was put in place at the time of the Company’s original IPO on AIM in November 2017. It is now
only eligible for Group Employees, Consultants and Non-Executive Directors (Executive Management are covered
by the 2020 RSU and PSU schemes). The basic terms of this scheme are as follows:
• Options are granted at the start of each year based on performance against KPIs for the prior year.
• Options vest one third on date of grant, one third after 12 months, one third after 24 months.
• Options expire 90 days after recipient ceases to be an employee, consultant or Director, unless the Board
specifically agrees in writing otherwise; and
• Options expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, if unexercised.
The Table below shows all existing Options as at 31 December 2022. For further detail on all Options please refer
to Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements:
Name
Jeremy Martin
Jeremy Martin
Graham Brown
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
Employees and Consultants
Total In Issue
Date of Grant
29 Oct’20
15 Jan’22
29 Oct’20
15 Jan’22
15 Jan’22
15 Jan’22
Vested
Options
100,000
83,333
100,000
50,000
50,000
1,150,000
1,533,333
Unvested
Options
-
166,667
-
100,000
100,000
2,300,000
2,666,667
Expiry Date
28 Oct’25
15 Jan’27
28 Oct’25
15 Jan’27
15 Jan’27
15 Jan’27
Exercise
Price
£0.05
£0.1810
£0.05
£0.1810
£0.1810
£0.1810
In March 2023, the Remuneration Committee reviewed performance of all eligible participants in the 2017 Option
Scheme and recommended that the Board award a provisional total of 2,450,000 Options when the Company exits
its current Closed Period. The Pricing for these awards will be based on the Fundraise Price announced at the
same time as the publication of these accounts.
Part 4 – Short Term RSU Incentive Scheme ("2020 RSU Scheme")
Scheme Rules
With effect from 1st October 2020 the Company adopted the RSU Scheme for Executive Management, which was
approved by shareholders on 26 October 2020 as part of the RTO of Bacanora’s original stake in Deutsche Lithium
into Zinnwald. The RSU scheme, in essence, is effectively an annual cash bonus system where the pay-outs are in
a form of deferred equity. The rules of the scheme replicate a scheme structure devised for Bacanora by Pearl
Meyer in an independent review of executive remuneration in February 2020.
The RSU scheme is a 3-year scheme, in line with best practice, comprising 1 year performance assessment
followed by 2 years to automatic vesting in full on that date. Other important terms are as follows:
Vesting of RSUs after 2 years is taxed through payroll as if a Cash bonus on that date.
Value on vesting is the number of RSUs x share price on date of vesting.
•
•
• Company has sole discretion to make any net after tax payout in Cash or Shares.
•
•
Awarded RSUs cannot vest early, unless there is a change in control; and
Standard good-leaver / bad-leaver provisions, Malus and Claw-back.
All awards granted under the RSU Scheme are based on assessed scores against KPIs agreed at the start of the
year by the Committee relating to personal, financial, strategic and ‘Environmental, Social, and Corporate
Governance’ (“ESG”) metrics. The Committee scores performance as a percentage of salary for the period, up to a
pre-agreed maximum at the start of the year, divided by the 5 Day VWAP share price at the end of the performance
period.
33
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Awards for 2022 period
The pre-agreed maximum percentage of base salary was set at 100% by the Committee at the start of 2022. In
February 2023, the Committee reviewed the participants performance against their KPIs and recommended a
payout based on 60% of salary and the Company’s 5 Day VWAP price at the end of 2022 of 7.08p. A total of
3,406,780 RSUs will be granted when the Company exits its current Closed Period.
2023 performance period criteria
The 2023 performance period will run from 1 January 2023 until 31 December 2023. The maximum percentage of
base salary has been set at 100% and new KPIs have been approved.
Part 5 –Long Term PSU Incentive Scheme (“2020 PSU Scheme”)
Scheme Rules
With effect from 1st October 2020 the Company adopted the PSU Scheme for Executive Management, which was
approved by shareholders on 26 October 2020 as part of the RTO of Bacanora’s original stake in Deutsche Lithium
into Zinnwald. The PSU scheme is designed to align Management’s long-term share based incentives to the
interests and returns to shareholders. The rules of the scheme replicate a scheme structure devised for Bacanora
by Pearl Meyer in an independent review of executive remuneration in February 2020.
The PSU scheme is a 5-year scheme, in line with best practice, comprising 3 year performance assessment
followed by 2 years to automatic vesting in full on that date. The maximum potential payout of PSUs is calculated at
the start of a performance period, based on a fixed % of salary and the share price at the start of the period. Other
important terms are as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
PSUs vest on the 2-year anniversary of grant, but exercise is at the discretion of the recipient.
PSUs are taxed through payroll on exercise, as if a cash award on that date.
Value on vesting is the number of PSUs x share price on date of vesting.
Awarded RSUs cannot vest early, unless there is a change in control; and
Standard good-leaver / bad-leaver provisions, Malus and Claw-back.
Awards are awarded solely based on results against objective corporate metrics set by the Committee at the start of
each year, as follows:
•
•
‘Relative Total Shareholder Return (“RTSR”)’ against the peer group (see below); and
Any additional objective goals relating to corporate strategy for the three-year measurement period, if
deemed appropriate at the beginning of the period.
Criteria for the first 3-year performance period to 31 December 2023
The first performance period runs from 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2023. The Committee recommended a
maximum of 100% of base salary divided by the share price at the start of the period being 5p (the RTO price) to
determine the maximum potential number of PSU awards. The agreed performance metrics were:
•
•
50% based on Zinnwald securing ownership of 100% of the Zinnwald Lithium Project.
50% based on ‘Relative Total Shareholder Return (“RTSR”)’ against the peer group (see below). In terms
of assessing the RTSR payout, the objective criteria were agreed as:
o
o
o
o
1st Quartile vs Peer Group (ie: above 3rd ranked peer). PSUs = 100% of RTSR Maximum.
2nd Quartile vs Peer Group (ie: above 7th ranked peer). PSUs = 50% of RTSR Maximum.
3rd Quartile vs Peer Group (ie: above 3rd ranked peer). PSUs = 25% of RTSR Maximum.
4th Quartile vs Peer Group (ie: above 3rd ranked peer). PSUs = Nil.
The recommended Peer Group for the first performance period comprised all of the listed lithium companies that
met the criteria of most or all of being European focussed or listed, pre-production and either hard or soft rock in
nature. These peer group companies were Bacanora (AIM:BCN), European Metals Holdings (AIM: EMH),
Savannah Resources (AIM:SAV), Kodal Minerals (AIM:KOD), Infinity Lithium (ASX:INF), Vulcan Energy Resources
(ASX:VUL), European Lithium (ASX:EUR), and Critical Elements (TSX:CRE).
34
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
In terms of potential pay-outs under this first performance period, it is too early to fully assess the performance
against RTSR, as there is still one year to go and the general performance of all the peer group companies has
been variable in the past two years. Based purely on share price growth, Zinnwald is currently in the third quartile,
equating to a 25% pay-out on the RTSR Metric. However, the Executives have clearly satisfied the strategic goal of
securing 100% of the Zinnwald Project and accordingly will eventually receive a minimum payout in January 2024 of
2,000,000 PSUs for Anton du Plessis and 1,000,000 PSUs for Cherif Rifaat, provided that they satisfy the general
scheme rules noted above.
Criteria for the second 3-year performance period to 31 December 2024
The second performance period runs from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024. In terms of any eventual PSU
payouts, the share price at the start of the period was 14.48p, being the 5 Day VWAP, and the Committee
recommended a maximum payout of the following % of base salary for potential pay-outs of PSUs.
Base Case - 100% of Base Salary.
•
• Medium Case - 200% of Base Salary, if the Share Price stays above 50p for a material period.
• High Case - 300% of Base Salary, if Share Price stays above £1 for a material period.
The agreed primary performance metrics were:
•
50% based on the following key corporate milestones.
o Delivery of a JORC compliant Feasibility Study for Lithium Hydroxide, which is to be a sufficient
basis on which to proceed to project financing with a view to entering production.
o Significant progress on key access agreements, key project permits and licenses.
•
50% based on ‘Relative Total Shareholder Return (“RTSR”)’ against the revised peer group (see below). In
terms of assessing the RTSR payout, the objective criteria were agreed as per the above first performance
period.
The Peer Group for the second performance period is the same as that of the first performance period, aside from
Atlantic Lithium (AIM:ALL) replacing Bacanora. In terms of potential pay-outs under this second performance
period, it is too early to fully assess the performance against RTSR and the corporate milestones are still in
progress.
Criteria for the third 3-year performance period to 31 December 2025
The third performance period runs from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025. In terms of any eventual PSU
payouts, the share price at the start of the period was 7.08p, being the 5 Day VWAP, and the Committee
recommended a maximum payout of the following % of base salary for potential pay-outs of PSUs.
•
•
Base Case – 50% of Base Salary.
Stretch Case - 100% of Base Salary, if the Share Price stays above 50p for six months.
The agreed primary performance metrics were:
•
•
50% based on completion of construction funding by end of H1 2025 and start of construction by end of H2
2025.
50% based on ‘Relative Total Shareholder Return (“RTSR”)’ against the same peer group and the same
RTSR criteria as for the second performance period.
For and on behalf of the Remuneration Committee
Jeremy Martin
Chairman of Remuneration Committee
22 March 2023
35
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Part 1 – Sustainability Statement from the Chairman
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present this report on behalf of the Sustainability Committee (the
“Committee”), covering the activities for the twelve months ended 31 December 2022. We use the words
Sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) on an interchangeable basis. A summary of the
Committee’s role, membership and relevant qualifications can be found in the corporate governance section herein
or the QCA statement on the website.
The Zinnwald Board continues to provide leadership and support to our senior management team in order to
achieve sustainable added value for shareholders. The Board is responsible for enabling the efficient operation of
the Group by providing adequate financial and human resources and an appropriate system of financial control to
ensure these resources are fully monitored and utilised. The Board believe strongly in the value and importance of
good corporate governance and in its accountability to all of its stakeholders. Robust corporate governance
improves performance and mitigates risk and therefore is an important factor in achieving the medium to long-term
success of the Group. In addition, the Group recognises its responsibility across ESG more widely through
incorporation of transparent environmental and social policies and metrics within its business plan. The Board
believes that the promotion of a corporate culture based on sustainability, sound ethical values and behaviours is
essential to maximise shareholder value.
The Group maintains a Code of Conduct that includes clear guidance on what is expected of every employee and
officer of the Group. Adherence of these standards is a key factor in the evaluation of performance within the
Group, including during annual performance reviews.
Part 2 – Sustainability Structure and Reporting
This Chart outlines Zinnwald’s sustainability structure
and lines of reporting. The Board retains ultimate
responsibility for all matters but has delegated regular
review and oversight to the Committee. As the Group
moves through the phases from BFS through
permitting and on to construction, it will develop a
regular reporting structure to ensure its Sustainability
philosophy is adhered to, monitored and reported on
an appropriate basis.
The Group has subscribed to the QCA Corporate Governance Code since 2019. In 2021, the QCA published its
recommendations for AIM Companies for ESG Reporting that contained five recommended steps, as follows:
1. Develop a clear purpose Statement (see Part 3 below).
2. Undertake an ESG Materiality Statement (see Part 4 below).
3. Be aware of what others are saying and be prepared to respond.
4. Understand what data you have and what data you will need to gather (see Part 5 below).
5. Take control: decide what to disclose and where; be proactive in your communication.
Part 3 – Zinnwald’s Sustainability Purpose Statement
At Zinnwald, we view sustainability as a guiding principle of our development strategy and are dedicated to
delivering on the commitments to our shareholders, future investors, clients, employees, local communities, and
other stakeholders with this in mind. We believe that transparency and ethical behaviour are central to any
successful Group and undertake all development with respect to the environment and neighbouring communities.
We have the following over-arching Sustainability Philosophy that governs everything we do, which we keep
regularly under review:
•
•
Promote responsibility for the environment within the organisation and communicate and implement this
policy at all levels within the workforce.
integrate positively with local communities.
36
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Ensure that our policies and services are developed in a way that is complimentary to this policy.
• Reduce the use of energy, water and other resources.
• Minimise waste by reduction, re-use and recycling methods.
• Comply with all relevant environmental legislation/regulation.
•
• Do not prioritise funding needs ahead of sustainability requirements.
•
•
Encourage all stakeholders to commit to the sustainable development philosophy.
Identify and provide appropriate training, advice and information for staff and encourage them to develop
new ideas and initiatives.
Provide appropriate resources to meet the commitments of this policy.
Promote and encourage involvement in local environmental initiatives/schemes.
•
•
Part 4 – ESG Stakeholders, Material Risks, KPIs
The Committee has identified an initial high-level assessment of our major stakeholders and our Material ESG
Risks (see below). As we move forward, we will need to drill down into the following key areas to assist in the
establishment of baseline assessments, ongoing reporting and strengthening our operational policies and activities.
•
•
•
Identify detailed list of Stakeholders – Who are they? What are their interests & expectations? How do we
engage? How will they change over time?
Identify detailed material ESG Risks – Based on latest guidance (GRI, UNSDG, SASB etc).
Engage with individual stakeholders to build up a Heat Map of Material Risks.
Major Stakeholders
Shareholders
Offtake Partners
Contractors and Suppliers
Local communities
Customers
Authorities – State (Saxony) / National
Organisations – NGOs, Associations
Media
Material ESG Risks
GHG – Scope 1 and Scope 2
Air Quality
Energy management
Water management
Waste and Hazardous material management
Biodiversity impacts
Community Relations
Labour relations
Workforce Health and Safety
Business Ethics and Transparency
Part 5 - External Reporting Frameworks and Initiatives
The Group will align itself to the Equator Principles - EP4, a risk management framework adopted by financial
institutions for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risks of investments. The Group is
also evaluating the utilisation of the Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) Standards to form the structure of its ongoing
reporting and measurement of its ESG performance.
The Group also aligns itself to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), which are a collection of 17
interlinked global goals supported by 5448 actions. The Group will undertake a process to identify our initial and
future contributions to the UN SDGs on a local and global scale.
Part 6 – Progress made in 2022
On Environmental matters, the Group’s PEA demonstrates that the revised Project has the potential to be one of
the most sustainable and low waste lithium projects globally. Its flowsheet compares favourably with the main other
options in terms of water consumption, energy usage, transport costs and CO2 footprint. It has the potential to be a
low or zero waste project, as vast majority of both its mined product and co-products have their own large-scale
end-markets. At the end of 2022, the Group started the process to secure its Mandatory Framework Operation Plan
(“MFOP”) permit required for the commencement of all operations. The MFOP permit includes all required
environmental permits.
In 2022, in line with its strict environmental policy, the Group closely monitoring site conditions with regards to
current drilling activities at the Zinnwald and Falkenhain licenses. It held frequent coordination meetings with the
regional nature protection agency and environmental surveyors have been held. The preservation of the existing
nature and areas of recreation is a key concern to the Group. Furthermore, environmental surveys were completed
at areas under consideration for the Project. The surveys will be utilised to determine the scope of the
Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”).
37
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
On Social matters, the Group’s PEA demonstrates that the revised project is expected to generate more than 450
direct jobs in a brownfield historic mining region in the long term. It also expects to generate at least €2 billion in tax
revenues over the initial mine plan, of which half goes directly to the local area. The Group maintains a positive
relationship with the local community and continuously engages with various local organisations and authorities.
Furthermore, the Group has donated to several local associations and public institutions such as the local
Kindergarten and the volunteer fire brigade.
As part of the public engagement effort, an encouraging consultation and information meeting was held in the
village of Zinnwald in March 2022 to explain the drill programme and plans to develop the Project. In order to assist
in keeping the public and the authorities informed about the Project, a local project office has been in operation
throughout the ongoing drilling campaign, to address any questions by local stakeholders.
On a wider front with EU associations, in December 2022, the Group formally joined the European Battery Alliance
and is exploring options for further collaboration. In May 2022, the Group joined the "Exploration Information
Systems" project, part of the EU funded Horizon Europe Research and Innovation scheme. The research project
focuses on developing new exploration techniques. The Group believes that such projects are crucial in securing
the necessary materials for future generations and is proud to contribute to this effort by providing a case study site
in Germany.
In the area of Governance, the Company is already a UK listed Plc with a commitment and obligation to maintain
the highest levels of transparency and corporate governance standards. The Group adheres to the QCA Corporate
Governance Code and has established this Committee to ensure best practice with regard to ESG obligations. The
Committee has established the Group’s core Sustainability philosophy and is working on refining and expanding on
existing ESG Policies.
Part 7 – Plans for 2023
The Group has an extensive set of plans for 2023. On the Environmental front, the Group’s primary focus will be
on progressing its Permitting applications. It has been agreed that the Saxony Mining Authority will be the
determining body for the overall permitting pathway for the processes permitted under the Mining Act (includes the
mine, its associated infrastructure and the mechanical separation plant) and the Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz
(BImSchG) (Federal Emission Protection Act). The Group has submitted its first draft of the Scoping Plan for this
process and will be engaging with the authorities throughout the year.
The Group has already started its environmental baseline surveys for the areas under consideration, which need to
run for four seasons. The Group has started work on its comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment study. The Group is also considering an independent Life Cycle Assessment to deliver ISO compliant
assessment of Production process, including comparison to rival processes, which would be useful for engagement
with all key stakeholders (Governments, Investors, Customers).
On the Social front, the Group will continue and expand on its engagement with its key stakeholders. For the local
community, we will ensure that any questions or concerns are addressed and dealt with promptly. For governmental
bodies, we will work closely with Saxony, National and EU bodies to demonstrate the benefits of Zinnwald as a
Critical European project.
On the Governance side, we will address outstanding items noted above from the QCA’s recommendations. We
will commence the ESG Materiality Assessment, both internally and externally. We will commence and initial
assessment of our reporting structures and KPIs. We will also expand on our disclosures on our Website, through
Social Media and direct Investor engagement.
For and on behalf of the Sustainability Committee
Jeremy Martin
Chairman of Sustainability Committee
22 March 2023
38
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Zinnwald Lithium Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the
‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income, the
Group and Company Statements of Financial Position, the Group and Company Statements of Changes in Equity,
the Group and Company Statements of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant
accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law
and UK-adopted international accounting standards and as regards the parent company financial statements, as
applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion:
•
•
•
•
the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and of the parent company's affairs
as at 31 December 2022 and of the group's loss for the year then ended;
the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international
accounting standards;
the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted
international accounting standards and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act
2006; and
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable
law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of
the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent company in accordance
with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s
Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance
with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to
provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment
of the group’s and parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included an
evaluation of management’s assessment and a review of management’s budget and cash flow forecasts prepared
up to 30 June 2024. This included the analysis of qualitative and quantitative aspects within management’s
assessments.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's or parent company’s ability to
continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are
authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the
relevant sections of this report.
Our application of materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. The quantitative and qualitative thresholds
for materiality determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures. Group
and parent company materiality was €453,000 (2021: €460,000) and €450,000 (2021: €105,000) respectively,
based on 2% of gross assets for both the Group and parent company.
The use of asset-based materiality reflects the ongoing investment in Deutsche Lithium GmbH and exploration
work. The key benchmark is gross assets, given that current and potential investors will be most interested in the
recoverability of the exploration and evaluation assets on a Group basis and on the recoverability of the loans to the
subsidiaries or investments therein in respect of the parent company.
Component materiality for all entities within the group was set lower than our overall group materiality and ranged
from €75,000 to €453,000. Performance materiality for the group, and all significant components including the
parent company, was set at 70% of overall materiality.
We agreed with the audit committee that we would report all audit differences identified during our audit in excess of
€23,000 (2021: €23,000).
39
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Our approach to the audit
Our audit is risk based and is designed to focus our efforts on the areas at greatest risk of material misstatement,
aspects subject to significant management judgement as well as greatest complexity, risk and size.
In designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risk of material misstatement in the financial
statements. The recoverability of intangible assets, and recoverability of investments, and the valuation of share-
based payments were assessed as areas which involved significant accounting estimates and judgements by
management. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including evaluating whether
there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud. All
significant and / or material components were audited directly without the use of component auditors.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement
(whether or not due to fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters
were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key Audit Matters
How our scope addressed this matter
Valuation and recoverability of intangible assets
(refer note 15)
There is a risk that intangible fixed assets may be
materially misstated due to expenditure being
incorrectly capitalised in the year (not in accordance
with IFRS 6), or due to the carrying value of the
intangible assets exceeding their recoverable amount.
With the exception of the newly acquired lithium
project, all of the group’s exploration projects are at an
early stage of development, therefore independently
prepared resource estimates are not available to
enable value in use calculations. The group is
therefore reliant on the consideration of impairment
indicators per IFRS 6 which requires estimation and
judgement.
The independently prepared resource estimates and
expected value in use calculation for the Zinnwald
lithium project, which is currently under development,
requires judgement and estimation.
Management has outlined their key judgements and
sources of estimation uncertainty in note 2 of the
financial statements.
Our work in this area included:
•
•
•
•
•
Agreeing additions during the year to
invoice/supporting documentation; ensuring that
the expenditure is eligible to be capitalised in
accordance with IFRS 6;
Assessing management's impairment review,
taking into account both internal and external
indicators and impairment indicators per IFRS 6;
Verifying title to project licenses and compliance
with the terms therein;
Assessing progress on the exploration projects
during the year; and
Ensuring licenses are still valid and that any
performance conditions / minimum expenditure
requirements were met during the year.
We consider that management’s estimation and
judgement in this area was reasonable, and no further
impairment was identified in addition to that currently
recognised in the financial statements for the Ireland
and Sweden based projects.
Accounting for investment in subsidiaries
Our work in this area included:
There is a risk that investments held by the parent
company could be materially misstated if the assets
are not appropriately assessed for impairment or when
there is material error in the calculation whether
unintentionally or as a result of management bias.
•
•
•
Inspecting the individual financial statements of the
entities in which ZLP has an interest, net
assets/liability position and liquidity so as to
identify an impairment indicator which will
influence our review of the impairment review and
carrying value of the investments/goodwill.
Assessing the recoverability of the investments by
reference to the underlying projects.
Reviewing management’s impairment assessment
and reperform the procedures to verify its
accuracy.
40
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements
and our auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual
report. Our opinion on the group and parent company financial statements does not cover the other information and,
except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion
thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information
is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material
misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial
statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
•
•
the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal
requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment
obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the
directors' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to
you if, in our opinion:
•
•
•
•
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit
have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities, the directors are responsible for the
preparation of the group and parent company financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and
fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the group and parent company financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the
group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related
to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the
group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance
with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or
error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence
the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in
line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including
fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
• We obtained an understanding of the group and parent company and the sector in which they operate to
identify laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a direct effect on the financial
statements. We obtained our understanding in this regard through discussions with management, as well as the
application of cumulative audit knowledge and experience of the sector.
41
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
• We determined the principal laws and regulations relevant to the group and parent company in this regard to be
those arising from the Companies Act 2006, international accounting standards, AIM regulations and the
operating terms set out in the exploration licenses. We designed our audit procedures to ensure the audit team
considered whether there were any indications of non-compliance by the group and parent company with those
laws and regulations. These procedures included, but were not limited to specific enquiries of management,
reviewing board minutes and any legal or regulatory compliance correspondence.
• We designed our audit procedures to ensure the audit team considered whether there were any indications of
non-compliance by the group and parent company with those laws and regulations. These procedures included,
but were not limited to specific enquiries of management, reviewing board minutes and any legal or regulatory
compliance correspondence.
• We also identified the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud. We considered, in
addition to the non-rebuttable presumption of a risk of fraud arising from management override of controls,
whether key accounting estimates and judgements could include management bias. We addressed these risks
by challenging the assumptions and judgements made by management when auditing significant accounting
estimates. Refer to the key audit matters section above.
• We addressed the risk of fraud arising from management override of controls by performing audit procedures
which included,but were not limited to: the testing of journals and evaluating the business rationale of any
significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business, as well as discussions with
management where relevant.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those
leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk
increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected
in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is
also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional
concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial
Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s
report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the
Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members
those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone, other than the company and the company's
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Daniel Hutson (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn LLP
Statutory Auditor
22 March 2023
15 Westferry Circus
Canary Wharf
London, E14 4HD
42
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Continuing operations
Exploration projects impairment
Administrative expenses
Other operating income
Share based payments charge
Operating Loss
Revaluation gain on joint venture
Share of loss of joint venture
Finance income
Loss before taxation
Tax on loss
Loss for the financial year
Other Comprehensive Income
Total comprehensive loss for the year
Earnings per share from continuing operations
attributable to the owners of the parent company
31 December 2022
31 December 2021
€
-
(1,850,129)
42,948
(545,225)
€
(1,583,566)
(1,122,534)
779
(7,779)
(2,352,406)
(2,713,100)
-
-
191
1,038,252
(52,911)
455
(2,352,215)
(1,727,304)
-
-
(2,352,215)
(1,727,304)
(138)
181
(2,352,353)
(1,727,123)
Notes
25
7
10
9
12
30
13
Basic (cents per share)
(0.80)
(0.74)
Total loss and comprehensive loss for the year is attributable to the owners of the parent company.
43
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022
Non-current assets
Intangible Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Right of Use Assets
Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total Assets
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease Liabilities
Net current assets
Non-current Liabilities
Deferred tax liability
Lease Liabilities > 1 Year
Total Liabilities
Net Assets
Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity
Notes
31 December 2022
€
31 December 2021
€
14
15
16
20
21
16
22
16
26
27
28
30
18,966,165
327,528
185,285
16,165,085
48,621
-
19,478,978
16,213,706
309,795
3,164,585
3,474,380
121,845
8,291,991
8,413,836
22,953,358
24,627,542
583,660
140,149
723,809
638,660
-
638,660
2,750,570
7,715,176
(1,382,868)
(47,795)
(1,382,868)
-
(1,430,663)
(1,382,868)
(2,154,472)
(2,021,528)
20,798,886
22,606,014
3,316,249
20,289,487
1,367,868
(4,174,718)
3,316,249
20,289,487
822,781
(1,822,503)
20,798,886
22,606,014
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 22 March 2023
and are signed on its behalf by;
__________________
Jeremy Martin
Director
__________________
Cherif Rifaat
Director
Company Registration No: 10829496
Rwnc rcvr fcpc
44
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total Assets
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Net current assets
Total liabilities
Net Assets
Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity
Notes
31 December 2022
€
31 December 2021
€
15
17
20
21
26
27
28
30
2,567
14,523,375
3,302
14,523,375
14,525,942
14,526,677
5,204,018
2,748,145
7,952,163
1,233,814
7,998,680
9,232,494
22,478,105
23,759,171
110,754
110,754
7,841,409
110,754
270,430
270,430
8,962,064
270,430
22,367,351
23,488,741
3,316,249
20,289,487
679,136
(1,917,521)
3,316,249
20,289,487
134,049
(251,044)
22,367,351
23,488,741
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own income statement. The
company’s loss for the period was €1,666,447 (2021: loss of €1,240,505).
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 22 March 2023
and are signed on its behalf by;
__________________
Jeremy Martin
Director
__________________
Cherif Rifaat
Director
Company Registration No: 10829496
45
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Notes
Share
Capital
€
Share
premium
account
€
Other
reserves
Retained
earnings
Total
€
€
€
Balance at 1 January 2021
2,278,155
7,362,699
814,821
(95,199) 10,360,476
Year ended 31 December 2021
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences
Total comprehensive income for the
year
Issue of share capital
Share issue costs
Credit to equity for equity settled
share-based payments
Total transactions with owners
recognised directly in equity
Balance at 31 December 2021 and
1 January 2022
Year ended 31 December 2022
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Total comprehensive income for the
year
Credit to equity for equity settled
share-based payments
25
Total transactions with owners
recognised directly in equity
-
-
-
-
-
(1,727,304)
(1,727,304)
181
-
181
181
(1,727,304)
(1,727,123)
1,038,094
-
-
13,217,816
(291,028)
-
25
-
-
7,779
- 14,255,910
(291,028)
-
7,779
-
1,038,094
12,926,788
7,779
, 13,972,661
3,316,249
20,289,487
822,781
(1,822,503) 22,606,014
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2,352,215)
(2,352,215)
(138)
-
(138)
(138)
(2,352,215)
(2,352,353)
545,225
545,225
-
-
545,225
545,225
Balance at 31 December 2022
3,316,249
20,289,487
1,367,868
(4,174,718 20,798,886
46
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Notes
Share
Capital
€
Share
premium
account
€
Other
reserves
Retained
earnings
Total
€
€
€
Balance at 1 January 2021
2,278,155
7,362,699
126,089
989,461 10,756,404
Year ended 31 December 2021
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation differences
Total comprehensive income for the
year
Issue of share capital
Share issue costs
Credit to equity for equity settled
share-based payments
Total transactions with owners
recognised directly in equity
Balance at 31 December 2021 and
1 January 2022
Year ended 31 December 2022
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income
Currency translation differences
Total comprehensive income for the
year
Credit to equity for equity settled
share-based payments
25
Total transactions with owners
recognised directly in equity
-
-
-
-
-
(1,240,505)
(1,240,505)
181
-
181
181
(1,240,505)
(1,240,324)
1,038,094
-
-
13,217,816
(291,028)
-
-
-
7,779
25
- 14,255,910
(291,028)
-
7,779
-
1,038,094
12,926,788
7,779
, 13,972,661
3,316,249
20,289,487
134,049
(251,044) 23,468,741
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1,666,477)
(1,666,477)
(138)
-
(138)
(138)
(1,666,477)
(1,666,615)
545,225
545,225
-
-
545,225
545,225
Balance at 31 December 2022
3,316,249
20,289,487
679,136
(1,917,521) 22,367,351
47
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Year ended 31 December
2022
Year ended 31 December
2021
Notes
€
€
€
€
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash used in operations
33
(1,904,776)
(495,174)
Net cash outflow from operating activities
(1,904,776)
(495,174)
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in Deutsche Lithium as Joint Venture
Purchase of remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium
Cash acquired on purchase of Deutsche Lithium
Exploration expenditure in Germany
Exploration expenditure in Ireland and Sweden
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds on disposal of equipment
Interest received
-
-
-
(2,802,075)
-
(351,217)
26,471
191
(735,800)
(1,500,000)
486,213
(948,157)
(37,455)
(8,437)
455
Net cash used in investing activities
(3,126,630)
(2,743,181)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issue of shares
Share issue costs
Lease payments
-
-
(96,000)
6,927,255
(243,436)
-
Net cash generated from financing activities
(96,000)
6,683,819
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash
equivalents
(5,127,406)
3,445,464
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
8,291,991
4,846,527
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
3,164,585
8,291,991
48
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Year ended 31 December
2022
Year ended 31 December
2021
Notes
€
€
€
€
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash used in operations
34
(1,272,040)
(609,438)
Net cash outflow from operating activities
(1,272,040)
(609,438)
Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in Deutsche Lithium as Joint Venture
Purchase of remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Interest received
-
-
(696)
191
(735,800)
(1,500,000)
(498)
455
Net cash used in investing activities
(505)
(2,235,843)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issue of shares
Share issue costs
Loans to group undertakings
-
-
(3,977,990)
6,927,255
(243,436)
(682,712)
Net cash generated from financing activities
(3,977,990)
6,001,107
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash
equivalents
(5,250,535)
3,155,826
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
7,998,680
4,842,854
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
2,748,145
7,998,680
49
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
1. Accounting Policies
1.1 Company Information
Zinnwald Lithium Plc (“the Company”) is a public limited company which is listed on the AIM Market of the London
Stock Exchange domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address is 29-31 Castle
Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, HP13 6RU.
The group consists of Zinnwald Lithium Plc and its wholly owned subsidiaries as follows as at 31 December 2022.
Name of undertaking
Registered office
Nature of business Class of shares
Deutsche Lithium Holdings Ltd
Erris Zinc Limited
Deutsche Lithium GmbH
United Kingdom
Ireland
Germany
Exploration
Exploration
Exploration
held
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Direct
holding
100.0%
100.0%
-
Indirect
holding
-
-
100.0%
On 1 December 2017, Zinnwald Lithium Plc acquired the entire issued share capital of Deutsche Lithium Holdings
Ltd (formerly Erris Resources (Exploration) Ltd) by way of a share for share exchange. This transaction has been
treated as a group reconstruction and accounted for using the reverse merger accounting method. Its registered
office address is 29-31 Castle Street, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 6RU.
On 26 February 2018, Zinnwald Lithium Plc acquired the entire issued share capital of Erris Zinc Limited on
incorporation. Erris Zinc Limited is a company registered in Ireland. Its registered office address is The Bungalow,
Newport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. F23YF24.
On 29 October 2020, Zinnwald Lithium Plc acquired 50% of the issued share capital of Deutsche Lithium GmbH
(“Deutsche Lithium”). On 24 June 2021, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of the issued share capital of
Deutsche Lithium. Deutsche Lithium is a company registered in Germany. Its registered office is at Am Junger-
Loewe-Schacht 10, 09599, 09599, Freiberg, Germany.
1.2 Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards
and IFRIC interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under
IFRS (except as otherwise stated).
The financial statements are prepared in euros, which is the functional currency of the Company and the Group's
presentation currency, since the majority of its expenditure, including funding provided to Deutsche Lithium, is
denominated in this currency. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest €.
The € to GBP exchange rate used for translation as at 31 December 2022 was 1.12759.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, unless stated
otherwise within the accounting policies. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.3 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of Zinnwald Lithium Plc and all of its subsidiaries (i.e.,
entities that the group controls when the group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement
with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity).
In regard to its shareholding in Deutsche Lithium, for the period from 1 January 2021 to 24 June 2021, the Board
concluded that whilst it had significant influence over Deutsche Lithium (50% shareholding, 1 of the 2 co-managing
directors and a casting vote on operational matters), it did not have control over that company and consequently the
investment was accounted for using equity accounting rather than consolidated. On conclusion of the acquisition of
the remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium on 24 June 2021, the Company now consolidates the full results of
Deutsche Lithium. Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. Identifiable assets
acquired and liabilities assumed are measured at their fair values at the acquisition date.
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2022. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the
financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members
of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are
eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an
impairment of the asset transferred.
50
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group. They are
deconsolidated from the date on which control ceases.
1.4 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group and
company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The Group had a
cash balance of €2.1m at the year end and keeps a tight control over all expenditure. The Board has a strategy to
enable the curtailing of a number of areas of expenditure to enable it to meet its minimum fixed costs for the next 12
months, even without raising further funds, whilst still maintaining all licenses in good standing. However, as
announced at the date of this report, it is completing a material fund raise to finance further development of the
Project and meet Group expenditures. Thus, the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Financial
Statements continues to be adopted.
Intangible assets
1.5
Capitalised Exploration and Evaluation costs
Capitalised Exploration and Evaluation Costs consist of direct costs, licence payments and fixed salary/consultant
costs, capitalised in accordance with IFRS 6 "Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources". The Group and
Company recognises expenditure in Exploration and Evaluation assets when it determines that those assets will be
successful in finding specific mineral assets. Exploration and Evaluation assets are initially measured at cost.
Exploration and Evaluation Costs are assessed for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the
carrying amount of an asset may exceed its recoverable amount. Any impairment is recognised directly in profit or
loss.
Property, plant and equipment
1.6
Property, plant and equipment are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation
and any impairment losses. Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their
residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Leasehold land and buildings
Plant and equipment
Fixtures and fittings
Computers
Motor vehicles
Low-value assets (Germany)
No deprecation is charged on these balances
25% on cost
25% on cost
25% on cost
16.7% on cost for new vehicles, 33.3% on cost for second-hand vehicles
100% on cost on acquisition for items valued at less than €800
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and
the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in the income statement.
1.7 Non-current investments
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries and joint ventures are initially measured at
cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
Impairment of non-current assets
1.8
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to
determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication
exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if
any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the group estimates the
recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
Intangible assets not yet ready to use and not yet subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the
estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future
cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the
carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is
recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the
impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
51
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
1.9 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks.
1.10 Right of Use Assets and Lease Liabilities
On 1 January 2019, the Group adopted IFRS 16, which supersedes IAS 17 and sets out principles for the
recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract. All leases are
accounted for by recognising a right-of-use assets due to a lease liability except for:
•
•
Lease of low value assets; and
Leases with duration of 12 months or less
The Group reviews its contracts and agreements on an annual basis for the impact of IFRS 16. The Group has such
short duration leases and lease payments are charged to the income statement with the exception of the Group’s
lease for the Freiberg office and core shed.
Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor over the lease
term, with the discount rate determined by reference to the rate inherent in the lease unless (as is typically the case)
this is not readily determinable, in which case the group’s incremental borrowing rate on commencement of the
lease is used. Variable lease payments are only included in the measurement of the lease liability if they depend on
an index or rate. In such cases, the initial measurement of the lease liability assumes the variable element will
remain unchanged throughout the lease term. Other variable lease payments are expensed in the period to which
they relate.
On initial recognition, the carrying value of the lease liability also includes:
•
•
•
amounts expected to be payable under any residual value guarantee;
the exercise price of any purchase option granted in favour of the group if it is reasonably certain to assess
that option;
any penalties payable for terminating the lease, if the term of the lease has been estimated on the basis of
termination option being exercised.
Right of use assets are initially measured at the amount of the lease liability, reduced for any lease incentives
received, and increased for:
•
•
•
lease payments made at or before commencement of the lease;
initial direct costs incurred; and
the amount of any provision recognised where the group is contractually required to dismantle, remove or
restore the leased asset
Subsequent to initial measurement lease liabilities increase as a result of interest charged at a constant rate on the
balance outstanding and are reduced for lease payments made. Right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line
basis over the remaining term of the lease or over the remaining economic life of the asset if, rarely, this is judged to
be shorter than the lease term.
1.11 Financial assets
Financial assets are recognised in the group's and company's statement of financial position when the group and
company become party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets are classified into specified categories at initial recognition and subsequently measured at
amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income, or fair value through profit or loss. The
classification of financial assets at initial recognition that are debt instruments depends on the financial assets cash
flow characteristics and the business model for managing them.
Financial assets are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs. In order for a financial asset to be
classified and measured at amortised cost, it needs to give rise to cash flows that are "solely payments of principal
and interest SPPI" on the principal amount outstanding.
Financial assets at amortised cost (debt instruments)
Financial assets at amortised cost are subsequently measured using the effective interest rate method and are
subject to impairment. The group's and company's financial assets at amortised cost comprise trade and other
receivables and cash and cash equivalents.
52
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the recognition
of interest would be immaterial. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a
debt instrument and of allocating the interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate
that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the debt instrument to the net
carrying amount on initial recognition.
Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that
occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have
been affected.
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or when
it transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity.
Financial liabilities
Other financial liabilities
Other financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs. They are
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on
an effective yield basis.
The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating
interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated
future cash payments through the expected life of the financial liability to the net carrying amount on initial
recognition.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.12 Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.
1.13 Employee benefits
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are
required to be recognised as part of the cost of non-current assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are
received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the group and company is demonstrably
committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.14 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
1.15 Equity
Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.
Share premium
Share premium represents the excess of the issue price over the par value on shares issued. Incremental costs
directly attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax,
from the proceeds.
53
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Merger reserve
A merger reserve was created on purchase of the entire share capital of Erris Resources (Exploration) Ltd which
was completed by way of a share for share exchange and which has been treated as a group reconstruction and
accounted for using the reverse merger accounting method.
Share-based payment reserve
The share-based payment reserve is used to recognise the fair value of equity-settled share-based payment
transactions.
1.16 Share-based payments
Equity-settled share-based payments with employees and others providing services are measured at the fair value
of the equity instruments at the grant date. Fair value is measured by use of an appropriate pricing model. Equity-
settled share-based payment transactions with other parties are measured at the fair value of the goods and
services, except where the fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which case they are valued at the fair value of
the equity instrument granted.
The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on
the estimate of shares that will eventually vest. A corresponding adjustment is made to equity.
When the terms and conditions of equity-settled share-based payments at the time they were granted are
subsequently modified, the fair value of the share-based payment under the original terms and conditions and under
the modified terms and conditions are both determined at the date of the modification. Any excess of the modified
fair value over the original fair value is recognised over the remaining vesting period in addition to the grant date fair
value of the original share-based payment. The share-based payment expense is not adjusted if the modified fair
value is less than the original fair value.
Cancellations or settlements (including those resulting from employee redundancies) are treated as an acceleration
of vesting and the amount that would have been recognised over the remaining vesting period is recognised
immediately.
1.17 Foreign exchange
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the rates of exchange prevailing at
the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in
foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on
translation are included in administrative expenses in the income statement for the period.
The financial statements are presented in the functional currency of Euros, since the majority of exploration
expenditure is denominated in this currency.
1.18 Exceptional items
Items are disclosed separately in the financial statements where it is necessary to do so to provide further
understanding of the financial performance of the group. They are items that are material, either because of their
size or nature, or that are non-recurring.
1.19 Joint Arrangements
Up to 24 June 2021, the Group’s core activities in relation to the Zinnwald Lithium project were conducted through
joint arrangements in which two or more parties have joint control. A joint arrangement is classified as either a joint
operation or a joint venture, depending on the rights and obligations of the parties to the arrangement.
Joint operations arise when the Group has a direct ownership interest in jointly controlled assets and obligations for
liabilities. The Group does not currently hold this type of arrangement.
Joint ventures arise when the Group has rights to the net assets of the arrangement. For these arrangements, the
Group uses equity accounting and recognises initial and subsequent investments at cost, adjusting for the Group’s
share of the joint venture’s income or loss, dividends received and other comprehensive income thereafter. When
the Group’s share of losses in a joint venture equals or exceeds its interest in a joint venture it does not recognise
further losses. The transactions between the Group and the joint venture are assessed for recognition in
accordance with IFRS.
No gain on acquisition, comprising the excess of the Group’s share of the net fair value of the investee’s identifiable
assets and liabilities over the cost of investment, has been recognised in profit or loss. The net fair value of the
identifiable assets and liabilities have been adjusted to equal cost.
54
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Joint ventures are tested for impairment whenever objective evidence indicates that the carrying amount of the
investment may not be recoverable under the equity method of accounting. The impairment amount is measured as
the difference between the carrying amount of the investment and the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal
and its value in use. Impairment losses are reversed in subsequent periods if the amount of the loss decreases and
the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised.
1.20 Segmental reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Chief Executive
Officer, who is considered to be the group's chief operating decision-maker ('CODM').
1.21 New standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted
Aside from the impact of IFRS 16, as noted above, there were no new standards or amendments to standards
adopted by the group and company during the year which had a material impact on the financial statements.
At the date of approval of these financial statements, the following standards and amendments were in issue but not
yet effective, and have not been early adopted:
•
•
•
•
•
IFRS 4 and IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts (effective 1 January 2023)
IAS 12 amendments – Income Taxes: Deferred tax relating to single transaction (effective 1 January 2023)
IAS 1 amendments - Presentation of Financial Statements: Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-
Current (effective 1 January 2023)
IAS 1 amendments – Presentation of Financial Statements: Disclosure of Accounting Policies (effective 1
January 2023), and
IAS 8 amendments – Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors: Definition of Accounting Estimates
(effective 1 January 2023)
There are no other IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a
material impact on the group or company.
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and
assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.
The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are
considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates
are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the
period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Critical judgements
The following judgements and estimates have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial
statements.
Share-based payments
Estimating fair value for share based payment transactions requires determination of the most appropriate valuation
model, which depends on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determination of the
most appropriate inputs to the valuation model including the expected life of the share option or appreciation right,
volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions about them. For the measurement of the fair value of equity
settled transactions with employees at the grant date, the Group and Company use the Black Scholes model.
Joint venture investment
The Group applied IFRS 11 to all joint arrangements and classifies them as either joint operations or joint ventures,
depending on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor. The Group held 50% of the voting rights of its
joint arrangement with SolarWorld AG. The Group determined itself to have joint control over this arrangement as
under the contractual agreements, unanimous consent is required from all parties to the agreements for certain key
strategic, operating, investing and financing policies. The Group’s joint arrangement was structured through a
limited liability entity, Deutsche Lithium GmbH, and provided the Group and SolarWorld AG (parties to the joint
venture agreement) with rights to the net assets of Deutsche Lithium under the arrangements. Therefore, this
arrangement was classified as a joint venture up to 24 June 2021 when the Company acquired the remaining 50%
of Deutsche Lithium and thereafter consolidated its full results.
55
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
The investment was assessed at each reporting period date for impairment. An impairment is recognised if there is
objective evidence that events after the recognition of the investment have had an impact on the estimated future
cash flows which can be reliably estimated. In addition, the assessment as to whether economically recoverable
reserves exist is itself an estimation process. Under IFRS 3, on acquisition of the additional stake in the joint
venture, the Company remeasured the fair value of its original investment in the joint venture and recognised a
gain.
Impairment of Capitalised Exploration Costs
Group capitalised exploration costs had a carrying value as at 31 December 2022 of €18,966,165 (2021:
€16,165,085), which solely relate to the Zinnwald Lithium Project, Management tests annually whether capitalised
exploration costs have a carrying value in accordance with the accounting policy stated in note 1.6. Each
exploration project is subject to a review either by a consultant or an appropriately experienced Director to
determine if the exploration results returned to date warrant further exploration expenditure and have the potential
to result in an economic discovery. This review takes into consideration long-term metal prices, anticipated resource
volumes and grades, permitting and infrastructure as well as the likelihood of on-going funding from joint venture
partners. In the event that a project does not represent an economic exploration target and results indicate that
there is no additional upside, or that future funding from joint venture partners is unlikely, a decision will be made to
discontinue exploration.
In Germany, Deutsche Lithium’s core mining license at Zinnwald is valid to 31 December 2047, which underpins the
PEA published in September 2022. Deutsche Lithium has additional exploration licenses at Falkenhaim (recently
renewed for a further three years to 31 December 2025), at Altenberg to 15 February 2024 and at Sadisdorf to 30
June 2026. The PEA showed a material increase in size and output of the Project and underpinned a pre-tax NPV
of $1.6m and a post-tax NPV of $1.0m and post-tax IRR of 29%. Accordingly, the Board has concluded that no
impairment charge is required for these assets.
In Ireland, the Group retains a single license at the Abbeytown Zinc Project (PL 3735), which is valid to 2025. The
historic exploration work identified excellent mineralisation in its drill holes and the metallurgical review has shown a
good quality concentrate can be produced. The Group is no longer focussed on Ireland and put the license on care
and maintenance in 2021 whilst it looked for a Partner to take the asset forward. The Company fully impaired the
carrying value of this asset in its 2021 accounts and accordingly no further impairments are required. In March
2023, the Group announced that it would be selling the Abbeytown Project to Ocean Partners Ltd in return for a 1%
Net Smelter Royalty and a €200,000 payment due six months after the start of commercial production.
In Sweden, in 2021 the Company surrendered all assets and licenses to the Swedish authorities. The assets had
been fully impaired in previous periods and all balances have been removed from the Group accounts in 2022.
3
Financial Risk and Capital Risk Management
The Group’s and Company's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (primarily currency risks),
credit risk and liquidity risk. The overall risk management programme focusses on currency and working capital
management.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from one main currency
exposure, namely GBP for its Head Office costs and the value of its shares for fund-raising and Euros for a material
part of its operating expenditure. The Group’s Treasury risk management policy is currently to hold most of its cash
reserves in Euros, as the majority of its current and planned expenditure will be on the Zinnwald Lithium Project in
Germany. The Company took advantage of the strong GBP:Euro exchange rate at the end of 2021 to convert £5m
of cash raised in December 2021 into Euros to match its planned spend for 2022.
Credit and Interest Rate Risk
The Group and Company have no borrowings and a low level of trade creditors and have minimal credit or interest
rate risk exposure. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents is held at major financial institutions.
Working Capital and Liquidity Risk
Cashflow and working capital forecasting is performed in the operating entities of the Group and consolidated at a
Group level basis for monthly reporting to the Board. The Directors monitor these reports and rolling forecasts to
ensure the Group has sufficient cash to meet its operational needs. The Board has a policy of maintaining at least a
GBP 0.5m cash reserve headroom. The Group has no material fixed cost overheads other than its costs of being
listed on the AIM market and its lease in Freiberg. None of its employee contracts have notice periods of longer
than six months and its exploration expenditure is inherently discretionary.
56
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
4
Segmental reporting
The Group operates principally in the UK and Germany with a largely dormant subsidiary in Ireland. Activities in the
UK include the Head Office corporate and administrative costs whilst the activities in Germany relate to the work
done by Deutsche Lithium on the Group’s primary asset of the Zinnwald Lithium Project. The reports used by the
Board and Management are based on these geographical segments. As noted earlier, the results of Germany were
reported as an Investment in Joint Venture for the period to 24 June 2021, and from thereon are reported on a fully
consolidated basis. Non-core Assets primarily relates to the historic Abbeytown Zinc Project.
Administrative expenses
Share based payment charge
Project impairment
Gain/loss on foreign exchange
Other operating income
Loss from operations per reportable
segment
Non-core Assets
2022
€
(6,308)
-
-
-
-
Germany
2022
€
(453,620)
-
-
-
42,948
UK
2022
€
(1,364,522)
(545,225)
-
(25,679)
191
Total
2022
€
(1,824,450)
(545,225)
-
(25,679)
43,139
(6,308)
(410,672)
(1,935,235)
(2,352,215)
Reportable segment assets
Reportable segment liabilities
8,837
-
19,225,340
1,855,795
3,719,181
296,677
22,953,358
2,154,472
Administrative expenses
Share based payment charge
Project impairment
Gain/loss on foreign exchange
Other operating income
Share of loss from joint venture
Loss from operations per reportable
segment
Non-core Assets
2021
€
(6,270)
-
(1,583,566)
(1)
-
-
Germany
2021
€
(151,979)
-
-
-
779
(52,911)
UK
2021
€
(1,206,383)
(7779)
-
242,099
1,038,707
-
Total
2021
€
(1,364,632
(7779)
(1,583,566)
242,098
1,039,486
(52,911)
(1,589,837)
(204,111)
66,644
(1,727,304)
Reportable segment assets
Reportable segment liabilities
15,144
-
16,242,874
1,664,143
8,369,525
357,386
24,627,543
2,021,529
5 Operating loss
Operating loss for the year is stated after charging / (crediting)
Exchange (gains)/losses
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Depreciation of Right of Use Assets
Amortisation of intangible assets
Ireland and Sweden exploration projects impairment
Share-based payment expense
Operating lease charges
Exploration costs expensed
Group
2022
€
25,679
49,990
93,405
995
-
545,225
70,591
412,722
2021
€
(242,098)
7,077
829
1,583,566
7,779
39,098
143,735
57
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
6 Auditor’s remuneration
Fees payables to the company’s auditor and associates
For audit services
Audit of group, parent company and subsidiary undertakings
For other services
Taxation compliance services
7 Other gains and losses
Gain on re-measurement of initial 50% interest in Deutsche Lithium
2022
€
2021
€
62,774
41,952
4,343
3,500
2022
€
-
2021
€
1,038,252
8
Employees
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year
was:
Directors
Employees
Group
Company
2022
Number
5
14
2021
Number
5
6
2022
Number
5
1
2021
Number
5
-
19
11
6
5
Their aggregate remuneration comprised
Group
Company
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
2022
€
1,300,065
142,586
98,457
2021
€
870,447
111,925
38,005
2022
€
709,370
86,266
52,067
2021
€
589,688
71,302
38,005
1,541,109
1,020,377
847,703
698,995
Aggregate remuneration expenses of the group include €559 516 (2021: €225,499) of costs capitalised and
included within non-current assets of the group.
Aggregate remuneration expenses of the company include €nil (2021: €Nil) of costs capitalised and included within
non-current assets of the group.
Directors’ remuneration is disclosed in note 32.
9
Finance income
Interest income
Interest on bank deposits
Group
2022
€
191
2021
€
455
58
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
10 Share of results in Joint Venture
Share of loss in joint venture
11
Impairments
Group
2022
€
2021
€
-
(52,911)
Impairment tests have been carried out where appropriate and the following impairment losses have been
recognised in profit or loss:
In respect of
Intangible assets
Recognised in
Administrative expenses
Notes
14
2022
€
2021
€
-
-
1,583,566
1,583,566
The impairment losses in respect of financial assets are recognised in other gains and losses in the income
statement.
12 Taxation
Loss before taxation
Expected tax credit based on the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of
19.00% (2021: 19.00%)
Disallowable expenses
Non-taxable gains
Unutilised tax losses carried forward
Taxation (credit) / charge for the year
Group
2022
€
(2,352,215)
2021
€
(1,727,304)
(446,921)
(328,188)
171,828
-
275,093
11,531
(197,268)
513,925
-
-
Losses available to carry forward amount to €5,525,000 (2021: €3,730,000). No deferred tax asset has been
recognised on these losses, as the probability of available future taxable profits is not currently quantifiable.
13 Earnings per share
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for basic earnings per share
293,395,464
232,669,857
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares
- Weighted average number of outstanding share options
5,695,342
2,265,890
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for diluted earnings per share
299,090,806
234,935,747
2022
€
2021
€
59
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Earnings
Continuing operations
Loss for the period for continuing operations
(2,352,215)
(1,727,304)
Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share distributable to equity
shareholders of the company
(2,352,215)
(1,727,304)
Earnings per share for continuing operations
Basic and diluted earnings per share
Basic earnings per share
(0.80)
(0.74)
There is no difference between the basic and diluted earnings per share for the period ended 31 December 2022 or
2021 as the effect of the exercise of options would be anti-dilutive.
14
Intangible Assets
Group
Goodwill
Germany
Exploration and Evaluation costs
€
€
Ireland
Total
€
€
Cost
At 1 January 2021
Revaluation – on acquisition of subsidiary
Additions on acquisition of subsidiary
Reallocated to Germany E&E assets
Deferred tax provision on fair value
Additions – group funded
-
1,038,252
4,493,222
(5,531,474)
-
-
-
-
8,303,416
5,531,474
1,382,868
948,156
2,023,706
-
-
-
-
35,566
2,023,706
1,038,252
12,796,638
-
1,382,868
983,822
At 31 December 2021
Additions – group funded
At 31 December 2022
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
Amortisation charged for the year
At 31 December 2022
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2021
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,165,914
2,802,075
2,059,272
-
18,225,286
2,802,075
18,967,989
2,059,272
21,027,261
829
995
2,059,272
-
2,060,101
995
1,824
2,059,272
2,061,096
18,966,165
16,165,085
-
-
18,966,165
16,165,085
Intangible assets comprise capitalised exploration and evaluation costs (direct costs, licence fees and fixed salary /
consultant costs) of the Zinnwald Lithium project in Germany, as well as the now fully impaired Ireland Zinc Project.
The licenses for the old Sweden Gold Projects were returned to the Swedish authorities in 2021 and accordingly are
excluded.
The Company has had no directly owned intangible assets since 2020.
60
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
15 Property plant and equipment
Group
Cost
At 1 January 2022
Additions – group funded
Disposals - group
Exchange adjustments
Leasehold,
land and
buildings
€
Fixtures,
fittings and
equipment
€
Motor
vehicles
Total
€
€
9,817
31,173
-
-
24,642
263,695
(10,864)
(278)
32,427
56,349
(22,183)
-
66,886
351,217
(33,047)
(278)
At 31 December 2022
40,990
277,195
66,593
384,778
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
Depreciation charged for the year
Depreciation on disposals
Exchange adjustments
At 31 December 2022
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2021
Company
Cost
At 1 January 2022
Additions – group funded
Exchange adjustments
At 31 December 2022
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
Depreciation charged for the year
Exchange adjustments
At 31 December 2022
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2021
-
-
-
-
-
13,143
37,498
(10,864)
(141)
5,122
12,492
-
-
18,265
49,990
(10,864)
(141)
39,636
17,614
57,250
40,990
237,559
48,979
327,528
9,817
11,499
27,305
48,621
Computers
€
4,665
696
(278)
5,083
1,364
1,291
(139)
2,516
2,567
3,301
16 Right of Use Assets and Lease Liabilities
In May 2022, Deutsche Lithium GmbH entered into a commercial lease agreement for and office and core shed
property in Freiberg, Germany. The duration of the lease is for 2 years. The instalments for the lease are €12,000
per month, fixed for the duration of the lease.
The right of use asset and lease liability was recognised on 1 May 2022 on inception of the lease. Movements in
the period are shown as follows:
61
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Right of use asset
Initial Recognition on 1 May 2022
Depreciation charged in the period
Balance as at 31 December 2022
Lease Liability
Initial Recognition on 1 May 2022
Interest charged for the period
Lease payments in the period
Balance as at 31 December 2022
- Recognised in Short Term Payables
- Recognised in Payables >1 year
17 Fixed asset investments
Company
Investments in subsidiaries
€
278,690
(93,405)
185,285
266,690
5,254
(84,000)
187,944
140,149
47,795
2022
€
14,523,375
2021
€
14,523,375
Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid.
Movement in non-current investments
Cost
At 1 January 2022 and at 31 December 2022
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2021 and at 31 December 2022
The investment in Deutsche Lithium Holdings Ltd comprises the following balances
Original investment in DLH – Prior to AIM IPO in 2017
Initial acquisition of shares in Erris Resources Ltd (now DLH)
Acquisition of remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium GmbH
Carrying value of investment in Deutsche Lithium GmbH at 24 June 2021
Shares issued to acquire the remaining 50%
Cash paid to acquire the remaining 50%
Fair Value adjustment on revaluation
Value of Investment
Shares in group undertakings
14,523,375
14,523,375
€
169,089
4,534,972
7,281,062
1,500,000
1,038,252
14,523,375
Remeasurement of fair value of initial holding in Deutsche Lithium
Under IFRS 3, on acquisition of the controlling stake, the Company remeasured the fair value of its original
investment in Deutsche Lithium. In terms of calculating that revaluation and any resulting gain or loss, the Directors
noted that both transactions were conducted on an arms-length basis with unconnected third-parties. The Directors
considered that there was a significant control premium in acquiring the second 50% of Deutsche Lithium and used
an estimate of 30% in its calculations of the revaluation of the fair value of the initial shareholding.
62
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Value of second acquisition
Less: Cash in company
Less: Free Carry eliminated
€
8,781,062
(486,213)
(333,100)
Control premium (30%) of Net Value
Fair Value of original investment
Cash
Release of obligation
Net Value of second acquisition
7,961,749
Value of second Acquisition
Carrying Value at 24 June 2021
Gain recognised on revaluation
€
2,388,525
5,573,224
486,213
333,100
8,781,062
4,534,972
1,038,252
On consolidation as at 24 June 2021, a calculation was required under normal acquisition rules to calculate the
goodwill arising at the date of acquisition, but taking into consideration the 50% already owned at that date. The
previously held 50% investment in Deutsche Lithium at Fair Value is derecognised and replaced with the assets and
liabilities of Deutsche Lithium, so that going forward it is consolidated in full as normal as a subsidiary undertaking.
The Directors have concluded that there should be no adjustment to the carrying value of Deutsche Lithium's Net
Assets. The Directors undertook a detailed review of Deutsche Lithium's balance sheet at the time of the
Company’s acquisition of the remaining 50% of Deutsche Lithium it did not own and concluded that no adjustments
were required. Since that date, Deutsche Lithium has continued with the same accounting policies, which are in
accordance with those of the Company.
Fair Value of consideration given to acquire the controlling interest
Cash payment of €1.5m
Issuance of 49,999,996 new ordinary shares
Total consideration
Fair value of 50% investment in Deutsche Lithium as at 24 June 2021
Fair value of net assets acquired in Deutsche Lithium as at 24 June 2021
€
1,500,000
7,281,062
8,781,062
5,573,224
14,354,286
(8,822,812)
Goodwill – re-allocated to Deutsche Lithium intangible exploration assets at 31 December 2021
5,531,474
18 Trade and other receivables - credit risk
Fair value of trade and other receivables
The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables is equal to their fair value.
No significant balances are impaired at the reporting end date.
19 Financial Instruments
Financial instruments at amortised cost
Trade and other receivables
Cash and bank balances
Financial liabilities at amortised cost
Trade and other payables
Group
2022
€
2021
€
Company
2022
€
2021
€
309,795
3,164,585
121,845
8,291,991
5,204,018
2,748,145
1,233,814
7,998,680
3,474,380
8,413,836
7,952,163
9,232,494
583,660
614,859
75,780
270,430
583,660
614,859
75,780
270,430
63
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
20 Trade and other receivables
Amounts falling due within one year:
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income
Group
2022
€
-
248,692
61,103
2021
€
-
83,982
37,863
Company
2022
€
2021
€
5,157,859
14,026
32,133
1,179,869
21,891
32,054
309,795
121,845
5,204,018
1,233,814
Other receivables primarily comprise VAT recoverable, which were received following the year end.
The carrying amounts of the Group and Company's trade and other receivables are denominated in the following
currencies:
Euros
British Pounds
21 Trade and other payables
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade payables
Other taxation and social security
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income
Group
Company
2022
256,008
53,787
2021
63,591
58,254
2022
271,911
4,932,107
2021
156,367
1,077,447
309,795
121,845
5,204,018
1,233,814
Group
2022
€
321,277
34,974
13,082
214,327
2021
€
313,391
23,802
13,509
287,958
Company
2022
€
10,468
34,974
-
65,312
2021
€
66,498
23,802
-
180,130
583,660
638,660
110,754
270,430
All Trade payables have been settled since the year end.
The carrying amounts of the Group and Company's current liabilities are denominated in the following currencies:
Euros
British Pounds
22 Deferred taxation
Group
2022
459,637
124,023
2021
330,443
308,217
583,660
638,660
Company
2022
2021
-
270,430
270,430
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and
movements thereon:
Group
Deutsche Lithium intangible assets – fair value adjustment
Liabilities
2022
€
1,382,868
Liabilities
2021
€
1,382,868
The deferred tax liability set out above relates to a 25% provision made on the fair value uplift of the company’s
acquisition of control of Deutsche Lithium GmbH.
64
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
23 Retirement benefit schemes
Defined contribution scheme
2022
€
2021
€
Charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes
52,067
38,005
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held
separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
24 Share based Incentives
The Directors believe that the success of the Group will depend to a significant degree on the performance of the
Group's senior management team. The Directors also recognise the importance of ensuring that the management
team are well motivated and identify closely with the success of the Group. The Company adopted an initial Share
Option Plan in December 2017 and will continue to issue options to key employees, consultants and Non-Executive
Directors. In October 2020, the Company’s shareholders approved two additional new short-term and long-term
incentive schemes for Executive Management, the key terms of which are detailed in the Remuneration Committee
report.
Share Option Plan (2017)
Movements in the number of share options, under the Share Option Plan (2017), outstanding and their related
weighted average exercise prices are as follows:
Average exercise
price in £ per share
Year ended 31 December 2022
Number of
Options
Year ended 31 December 2021
Number of
Options
Average exercise
price in £ per share
At beginning of year
Granted during the year
Lapsed during the year
Exercised during the year
£0.0920
£0.1810
£0.0965
-
1,900,000
4,000,000
(1,700,000)
-
£0.094
-
£0.085
-
3.350.000
-
(300,000)
(1,150,000)
At end of year
£0.1748
4,200,000
£0.092
1,900,000
Exercisable at the year end
1,533,333
Weighted average remaining exercise period, years
3.99
1,900,000
1.27
Option classification
Issue Date
29 October 2020
15 January 2022
No of Options
200,000
4,000,000
Exercise Price
£0.05
£0.1810
Expiry Date
28 October 2025
15 January 2027
4,200,000
£0.1748
RSU Scheme (2020)
The first awards of RSUs under the new scheme were made on 15 January 2022 relating to the initial performance
period from 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2021. A total of 1,909,531 RSUs were issued, which will be included
on the register for next year’s disclosure.
Movements in the number of RSUs, under the RSU Plan (2020), outstanding and their related weighted average
exercise prices are as follows
65
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Beginning of Period
Granted
Lapsed
Exercised
At end of period
Weighted Ave remaining yrs
RSU Classification
Issue Date
15 Jan-22
Year ended 31 December 2022
Year ended 31 December 2021
Ave Exercise
Price
-
n/a
-
-
n/a
Options
-
1,909,531
-
-
1,909,531
1.50
Ave Exercise
Price
-
-
-
-
-
Options
-
-
-
-
-
-
No of RSUs
1,909,531
Vesting date
16 January 2024
The awards of 3,406,780 RSUs for the 2022 Performance Period will be issued in March 2023 following publication
of these accounts.
PSU Scheme (2020)
The first awards of PSUs under the new scheme are expected to be issued in January 2024, based on the initial
performance period from 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2023. The maximum potential issuance under the first
performance period is 6.000,000 PSUs, if all performance metrics are achieved.
The second awards of PSUs will be made in January 2025 relating to the second performance period from 1
January 2022 to 31 December 2024.
The third awards of PSUs will be made in January 2026 relating to the third performance period from 1 January
2023 to 31 December 2025.
25 Share based payment transactions
Expenses recognised in the year
Options issued under the Share Option Plan (2017)
RSUs issued under the RSU Scheme (2020)
Group
2022
€
347,400
197,825
2021
€
7,779
-
Company
2022
€
347,400
197,825
545,225
7,779
545,225
2021
€
7,779
-
7,779
Awards made under the various share incentive schemes will be expensed over the relevant vesting periods for
each scheme.
26 Share Capital
Ordinary share capital
Issued and fully paid
293,395,464 ordinary shares of 1p each
Group and Company
2022
€
2021
€
3,316,249
3,316,249
3,316,249
3,316,249
The Group's share capital is issued in GBP £ but is converted into the functional currency of the Group (Euros) at
the date of issue of the shares.
66
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Reconciliation of movements during the year:
Ordinary shares of 1p each
At 1 January 2022
Issue of fully paid shares (cash subscription)
At 31 December 2022
27 Share Premium account
Ordinary
Number
€
Ordinary
Value
€
293,395,464
-
3,316,249
-
293,395,464
3,316,249
At beginning of year
Issue of new shares
Exercise of share options
Share issue expenses
Group
2022
€
20,289,487
-
-
-
2021
€
7,362,699
13,114,010
103,806
(291,028)
Company
2022
€
2021
€
20,289,487
-
-
-
7,362,699
13,114,010
103,806
(291,028)
20,289,487
20,289,487
20,289,487
20,289,487
In 2020, the Company's share premium account was cancelled by Special Resolution and by Court Order on 15
September 2020 and the funds were converted to retained earnings.
28 Other reserves
Group
At 1 January 2021
Additions
Merger reserve
€
688,732
-
Share based
payment reserve
€
Translation
reserve
€
126,070
7,779
19
181
200
Total
€
814,821
7,960
822,781
At 31 December 2021
688,732
133,849
Additions
-
545,225
(138)
545,087
At 31 December 2022
688,732
679,074
62
1,367,868
A merger reserve was created in 2017 on the purchase of the entire share capital of Erris Resources (Exploration)
Ltd (now renamed Deutsche Lithium Holdings Ltd) which was completed by way of a share for share exchange and
which has been treated as a group reconstruction and accounted for using the reverse merger accounting method.
Company
At 1 January 2021
Additions
At 31 December 2021
Additions
At 31 December 2022
Share based
payment reserve
€
Translation
reserve
€
126,070
7,779
133,849
545,225
679,074
19
181
200
(138)
62
Total
€
126,089
7,960
134,049
545,087
679,136
67
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
29 Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities
Bacanora Royalty Agreement
The Company and Bacanora entered into on completion of the Acquisition a royalty agreement which provides, that
the Company agrees to pay Bacanora a royalty of 2 per cent. of the net profit received by the Company pursuant to
its 50 per cent. shareholding in Deutsche Lithium and earned in relation to the sale of lithium products or minerals
by Deutsche Lithium’s projects on the Zinnwald and Falkenhain licence areas. The royalty fee shall be paid in Euros
and paid by Deutsche Lithium half yearly. The agreement is for an initial term of 40 years and shall automatically
extend for additional 20-year terms until mining and processing operations cease at Deutsche Lithium’s projects at
the Zinnwald and Falkenhain licence areas. The Company has undertaken to Bacanora to abide by certain
obligations in relation to Deutsche Lithium’s projects at the Zinnwald and Falkenhain licence areas such as
complying with applicable laws and ensure that these projects are operated in accordance with the underlying
licences and concessions granted to Deutsche Lithium. The Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to
extinguish at any time its right to pay a royalty fee to Bacanora prior to the expiry of the term by paying a one-off
payment of €2,000,000.
Whilst the Directors acknowledge this contingent liability, at this stage, it is not considered that the outcome can be
considered probable or reasonably estimable and hence no provision has been made in the financial statements.
The Directors note that the Royalty is only applicable to 50% of Deutsche Lithium’s production and does not apply
to the additional 50% of Deutsche Lithium acquired by the Company in June 2021. The Directors also note that the
Royalty obligation will remain due to Bacanora after the completion of the acquisition of Bacanora by Ganfeng
Lithium Limited.
Osisko Royalty Agreements
Deutsche Lithium Holdings Ltd (“DLH”, formerly Erris Resources (Exploration) Ltd (“ERL”) entered into Osisko
Royalty Agreement 1 with Osisko on 16 September 2016 pursuant to which it granted a royalty to Osisko for a 1 per
cent. net smelter return on the sale or disposition of all minerals provided from the Abbeytown Project. The royalty is
based on published spot prices in relation to minerals delivered for processing and actual amounts received where
raw ore or concentrates are sold. Osisko shall be entitled to elect to receive the royalty on precious metals in kind
rather than cash. This royalty was granted to Osisko in consideration of Osisko’s payment of C$500,000 to DLH.
The royalty is perpetual and as such the agreement (and obligation on DLH to pay the royalty) shall continue
indefinitely. Whilst the Directors acknowledge this contingent liability, at this stage, it is not considered that the
outcome can be considered probable or reasonably estimable and hence no provision has been made in the
financial statements. On 13 March 2023, the Company announced an agreement to sell Erris Zinc Ltd, which owns
the Abbeytown Project to Ocean Partners Ltd. As part of this transaction, this Royalty will be novated from DLH to
Erris Zinc Ltd ahead of completion of the sale.
The Osisko royalty does not apply to the Zinnwald Lithium project.
30 Retained earnings
Group
2022
€
2021
€
Company
2022
€
2021
€
At the beginning of the year
Loss for the year
(1,822,503)
(2,352,215)
(95,199)
(1,727,304)
(251,044)
(1,666,477)
989,461
(1,240,505)
At the end of the year
(4,174,718)
(1,822,503)
(1,917,521)
(251,044)
31 Events after the reporting date
On 30 January 2023, the Company announced the first drill hole results from the planned 10 hole exploration dill
hole campaign at Falkenhain. This first drill hole was completed to a depth of 600m and the assay results showed
significant intercepts of thick high-grade lithium mineralisation including 80m at an average 2,879 ppm Li and 51m
at an average 3,421 ppm Li.
68
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
On 6 February 2023, the Company appointed Tamesis Partners LLP as joint corporate broker and they published
the first independent research note on the Company. Tamesis is a specialist ECM and advisory house with a focus
on the mining sector. Tamesis will support the Company with research coverage and access to an incremental
audience of institutional and strategic investors.
On 13 March 2023, the Company announced the terms of an acquisition agreement with Ocean Partners Ltd for
them to acquire Erris Zinc Ltd, the owner of the Abbeytown Lead-Zinc license in Ireland. Ocean Partners shall
acquire Erris Zinc for €1 and commit to spend €130,000 over the next three years to the end of 2025 on exploration
work at Abbeytown. Zinnwald shall receive a 1% Net Smelter Royalty and a €200,000 cash payment due six
months after commencement of commercial production from Abbeytown. Zinnwald shall have the right to buy back
Erris Zinc for €1 in March 2025, if the committed exploration spend has not been made.
32 Related party transactions
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
Remuneration
€
76,150
295,229
175,732
46,862
46,862
2022
Pension Share option
charge
€
€
-
29,959
17,832
-
-
21,712
135,222
62,603
13,027
13,027
Remuneration
€
58,289
375,454
116,578
34,974
-
2021
Pension Share option
charge
€
€
-
26,128
11,877
-
-
3,889
-
-
3,890
-
640,835
47,791
245,593
585,295
38,005
7,779
Jeremy Martin
Anton du Plessis
Cherif Rifaat
Graham Brown
Peter Secker
Transactions with related parties
During the year the group entered into the following transactions with related parties:
Group
Erris Gold Resources
Consultancy and expenses
2021
€
2022
€
-
14,289
Aggregate consultancy and expenses include €nil (2020: €Nil) of costs capitalised and included within non-current
assets. There were no amounts outstanding at the year end.
In 2021, Henry Maxey, a substantial shareholder in the Company, entered into an agreement with the Company
(the "Commitment Agreement") to subscribe for New Ordinary Shares in the December 2021 Placing for up to a
value of £4.0 million. The Board considered that the Commitment Agreement was an important factor in the Placing
proceeding and, as part thereof, therefore issued 258,064 New Ordinary Shares to Mr Maxey, equivalent to
approximately £40,000 at the Placing Price.
There were no related party transactions in 2022.
69
ZINNWALD LITHIUM PLC
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
33 Cash (used in)/generated from group operations
Loss for the year after tax
Adjustments for:
Investment income
Lease interest
Gain on disposal of equipment
Impairment of intangible assets in Ireland and Sweden
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Depreciation of Right of Use Assets
Amortisation of intangible assets
Gain on remeasurement of initial interest in Joint Venture
Share of loss of Joint Venture
Equity-settled share-based payment expense
Movements in working capital:
(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables
(Decrease) / increase in trade and other payables
2022
€
(2,352,215)
(191)
5,254
(4,288)
-
49,990
93,405
995
-
-
545,225
(187,951)
(55,000)
2021
€
(1,727,304)
(455)
-
-
1,583,566
7,077
-
829
(1,038,252)
52,911
7,779
79,969
538,706
Cash used in operations
(1,904,776)
(495,174)
34 Cash (used in)/generated from operations – company
Loss for the year after tax
Adjustments for:
Investment income
Group loan impairments
Gain on remeasurement of initial interest in Joint Venture
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Share of loss of Joint Venture
Equity-settled share-based payment expense
Movements in working capital:
Decrease in trade and other receivables
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables
2022
€
(1,666,477)
(191)
-
-
1,291
-
545,225
7,787
(159,675)
2021
€
(1,240,505)
(455)
1,298,726
(1,038,252)
(1,039)
52,911
7,779
27,400
281,919
Cash used in operations
(1,272,040)
(609,438)
70