Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | Piedmont Lithium Reports Q4 & Full Year 2023 Results

Piedmont Lithium Reports Q4 & Full Year 2023 Results

February 23, 2024

NAL Operations Ramping, Growth Projects Progressing, and Balance Sheet Reinforced

$39.8 million full year revenue on sales of 43.2 thousand dry metric tons (dmt) of spodumene concentrate
$5.7 million full year gross profit, reflecting settlement accruals in Q4’23
Ramp up continues at NAL with further improvements in production and costs expected in 2024
2024 shipments expected to shift toward multi-year customer contracts; de-emphasizing volatile spot sales
Permitting and regulatory approvals advancing in Ghana and North Carolina
$71.7 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2023
Net proceeds of approximately $49.1 million from sales of Sayona Mining and Atlantic Lithium shares in Q1’24

BELMONT, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$PLL #EV–Piedmont Lithium Inc. (“Piedmont” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:PLL; ASX:PLL), a leading global supplier of lithium resources critical to the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain, today announced fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2023.

“2023 was a pivotal year for Piedmont as our Quebec joint-venture, North American Lithium (“NAL”), successfully commenced operations last March, leading to the first revenue in Q3 via shipments made under our NAL offtake agreement. As the largest lithium operation in North America, NAL has been successfully ramping up production over the past 10 months, with production hitting record levels in December. We are completing a few remaining capital projects in the first half of 2024 that we expect will result in further improvements in production and operating costs as NAL looks to achieve full run-rate production levels later this year.

“We are pleased with the production ramp-up and prospects for long-term operations at NAL; however, our 2023 financial results were adversely impacted by the sharp downturn in lithium prices that occurred during the year and into 2024. We plan to shift our offtake volumes towards our multi-year customer contracts and reduce shipment volumes under spot sales agreements. We expect this strategy to result in less volatility and higher average realized prices.

“While NAL is a current focus given its status as a producing asset, we believe Piedmont is well-positioned for the long-term with growth opportunities across our project portfolio. In Ghana, we are encouraged by the support of the Ghanaian government evidenced by the sovereign wealth fund’s investment into the Ewoyaa Lithium Project (“Ewoyaa”) announced last year. Ewoyaa continues to advance through the permitting and approvals processes, and the project is poised to be a near-term spodumene producer with exceptional logistics and relatively modest capital and operating costs.

“We continue to make advances towards our mining permit in North Carolina for our Carolina Lithium Project, with the most recent set of questions from the state indicating that the review process for this important milestone could be approaching its conclusion. Our Carolina and Tennessee projects are strategically located in the growing Battery Belt and critical to the goal of achieving some level of lithium self-sufficiency in America. These projects will be advanced on timelines that take into account lithium market conditions, strategic partnering efforts, and government debt financing opportunities.

“Lithium has been a cyclical business for the past decade with trough markets in pricing generally followed by new record highs. As we navigate the current market, which seems to be in the throes of ‘peak pessimism,’ we’re bolstering our balance sheet by monetizing non-core assets, deferring capital spending, and employing cost savings plans designed to reduce our corporate overhead. Our goal is to protect shareholder value in this downturn, while remaining strategically positioned for the lithium market recovery that we believe is a matter of time.”

Keith Phillips, Piedmont Lithium President and Chief Executive Officer

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Highlights

All references to dry metric tons (“dmt”) in this release relate to spodumene concentrate.

		Units	2023		Q4’23		Q3’23
Sales
	Concentrate shipped	dmt thousands	43.2		14.2		29.0
	Revenue	$ millions	39.8		(7.3	)	47.1
	Realized price (~5.5% Li₂O)⁽¹⁾	$/dmt	920		(513	)	1,624
	Realized cost of sales⁽²⁾	$/dmt	789		756		805

Profitability
	Gross profit	$ millions	5.7		(18.1	)	23.8
	Gross profit margin	%	14.3		NM		50.4
	Net income (loss)⁽³⁾	$ millions	(21.8	)	(25.4	)	22.9
	Adjusted net income (loss)⁽⁴⁾	$ millions	(31.3	)	(23.7	)	16.9
	Adjusted diluted EPS⁽⁴⁾	$	(1.64	)	(1.23	)	0.88
	Adjusted EBITDA⁽⁴⁾	$ millions	(35.1	)	(24.4	)	16.2
	Adjusted EBITDA margin⁽⁴⁾	%	(88.1	)	NM		34.3

Cash
	Cash and cash equivalents⁽⁵⁾	$ millions	71.7		71.7		94.5

____________________________________
(1)		Realized price is the average estimated price, net of certain distribution and other fees, for ~5.5% Li₂O grade, which includes referenced pricing data up to December 31, 2023 and is subject to final adjustment. The final adjusted price may be higher or lower than the estimated average realized price based on future price movements.
(2)		Realized cost of sales is the average cost of sales including Piedmont’s offtake pricing agreement with Sayona Quebec for the purchase of spodumene concentrate at a market price subject to a floor of $500 per metric ton and a ceiling of $900 per metric ton, adjustments for product grade, freight, and insurance.
(3)		Net income (loss) includes gain (loss) on dilution from equity method investments, which is reported on a one-quarter lag, of $8.0 million, $1.8 million and $17.0 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2023, three months ended December 31, 2023, and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
(4)		See end of this release for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.
(5)		Cash and cash equivalents are reported as of the end of the period.
NM – Not meaningful

Fourth Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

Piedmont Lithium

Purchased 14.2 thousand dmt (~5.7%% Li₂O) from NAL in Q4’23 and shipped to customers.
A shipment totaling 13.1 thousand dmt was delayed from Q4’23 to mid-January 2024 due to inclement weather and port congestion.
$29.2 million accrued at December 31, 2023 for settlements in 2024 associated with spot shipments in 2023, negatively impacting Q4’23 revenue and gross profit.
We had $71.7 million in cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2023. In Q1’24, we sold our holdings in Sayona Mining and a portion of our holdings in Atlantic Lithium for approximately $49.1 million. The sale of these shares had no impact on our joint ventures or offtake positions with either Sayona Quebec or Atlantic Lithium.
In February 2024, we initiated a cost-savings plan to reduce operating expenses by $10 million annually and defer capital spending in 2024. As part of our plan, we reduced our workforce by 27%, mainly within our corporate office staff. We will record approximately $1 million in severance and related costs in the first quarter of 2024, and expect to recognize the majority of our cost savings in 2024.
In Q1’24, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted Piedmont’s motion to dismiss a securities class action lawsuit, originally filed in July 2021, against Piedmont and two of its executives.

North American Lithium (Quebec, Canada)

In Q4’23, NAL produced 34.2 thousand dmt and shipped 23.9 thousand dmt, of which 14.2 thousand dmt were sold to Piedmont.
In October 2023, Sayona Mining provided a forecast for the one-year period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 projecting production of 140,000 to 160,000 dmt and shipments of 160,000 to 180,000 dmt.
In November 2023, Sayona released initial drill results from the 2023 drill campaign at NAL, identifying multiple thick, high-grade, spodumene-bearing pegmatites. Additional assays and drill results are pending, and Sayona Quebec expects to publish a mineral resource update in 2024, which may upgrade the classification of current mineral resources and offer the possibility to convert mineral resources to additional mineral reserves.
In December 2023, operations at NAL achieved records in concentrate production (13.9 thousand dmt), mill availability (80%), and global lithium recovery (66%).
In Q4’23, NAL substantially progressed ongoing capital improvement projects, including a capacity increase for its tailings storage facility and a new crushed-ore dome. In particular, the crushed ore dome will enable the operations at NAL to achieve better mechanical availability and process stability. Both production and cash operating costs at NAL are expected to improve upon completion of these projects in mid-2024.
Concentrate produced and shipped by NAL and concentrate shipped by Piedmont:

		Share	Units	FY23	Q4’23	Q3’23
North American Lithium
	Concentrate produced	100%⁽¹⁾	dmt thousands	98.8	34.2	31.5
	Concentrate shipped	100%⁽²⁾	dmt thousands	72.1	23.9	48.2

Piedmont Lithium
	Concentrate shipped	100%	dmt thousands	43.2	14.2	29.0

______________________________
(1)		Concentrate produced represents 100% of NAL’s production.
(2)		Concentrate shipped represents 100% of NAL’s shipments, inclusive of shipments to Piedmont totaling 29.0 thousand dmt and 14.2 thousand dmt in Q3’23 and Q4’23, respectively.

Note: The table above reports quarterly and year-to-date information in accordance with Piedmont’s fiscal year reporting, which is on a calendar-year basis. Concentrate produced and concentrate shipped (above) are reported in the periods in which activities actually occurred. For financial statement purposes, Piedmont reports income (loss) from its 25% ownership in Sayona Quebec, which includes NAL, on a one-quarter lag.

Ewoyaa Project (Ghana)

In Q4’23, Ghana’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources granted a mining lease for the Ewoyaa project. The lease remains subject to ratification by the Ghanaian Parliament. The mining lease includes a 13% free-carried interest in Ewoyaa for the Government of Ghana and a 10% royalty.
In January 2024, the Minerals Income Investment Fund, Ghana’s sovereign wealth fund, commenced its funding of Atlantic Lithium with a $5 million subscription of Atlantic Lithium’s common stock.
In February 2024, Patrick Brindle, Piedmont’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, stepped down as a member of Atlantic Lithium’s board of directors due to our reduction in ownership of Atlantic Lithium.

Carolina Lithium (North Carolina)

Piedmont continues to advance the state mining permit process. In January 2024, Piedmont submitted a response to additional information request (“ADI”) #3 to North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality Division of Energy, Minerals, and Land Resources (“DEMLR”). Subsequently, DEMLR provided an ADI #4, which consisted of two further questions. We note that the questions posed by DEMLR are straightforward in nature and the number of questions in ADI #4 is substantially reduced from prior information requests. We are encouraged by this most recent round of questions and look forward to concluding the state mine permitting process in due course.
Piedmont continues to engage with community stakeholders, including the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, in advance of anticipated rezoning efforts.

Tennessee Lithium (Tennessee)

In Q4’23, Piedmont purchased a tailings storage facility adjacent to the Tennessee Lithium plant site for the placement of inert tailings to be produced as part of the alkaline pressure leach process.
Also in Q4’23, Piedmont negotiated a purchase agreement to acquire a large industrial complex in close proximity to the Tennessee Lithium plant site.
In 2024, Piedmont will continue to assess funding strategies for Tennessee Lithium, which has already received the final material permits required to proceed with construction of the 30,000 metric ton per year lithium hydroxide conversion facility.

Exploration and Development

In October 2023, we paid $1.5 million for a 19.9% equity interest in Vinland Lithium, a Canadian-based entity jointly owned with Sokoman Minerals and Benton Resources. Vinland Lithium owns the Killick Lithium Project, a large exploration property prospective for lithium located in southern Newfoundland, Canada.
We have entered into an earn-in agreement with Vinland Lithium to acquire up to a 62.5% equity interest in Killick Lithium through staged-investments. As part of our investment, we entered into a marketing agreement with Killick Lithium for 100% marketing rights and right of first refusal to purchase 100% of all lithium products produced by Killick Lithium on a life-of-mine basis at competitive commercial rates.

2024 Outlook

			2024
Capital expenditures			$10 million — $14 million
Investments in and advances to affiliates			$32 million — $38 million

The majority of forecasted capital expenditures relate to Carolina Lithium and Tennessee Lithium. Investments in and advances to affiliates reflect cash contributions to Sayona Quebec and advances to Atlantic Lithium for the Ewoyaa project. Our outlook for forecasted capital expenditures and investments in and advances to affiliates is subject to market conditions.

Piedmont expects funding for Ewoyaa to be minimal in 2024 and is evaluating a range of options that would be non-dilutive to Piedmont Lithium shareholders to fund its share of project capital. We expect a final investment decision for Ewoyaa to be made by 2025.

Under our offtake agreement with Sayona Quebec, Piedmont has the right to purchase the greater of 50% of production or 113,000 dmt/year, in addition to the 13.1 thousand dmt shipment that sailed in mid-January. However, actual purchases in 2024 may differ from the allotment based on how deliveries under contract are scheduled. As we begin deliveries under our customer contracts, we expect to provide more stable price realizations and reduce our reliance on unpredictable spot market sales.

Safety and Sustainability

Piedmont continues to build safety as a foundational pillar of its business and to further development of policies and procedures to enhance the Company’s safety and environmental management systems. Engagement in identifying hazards also improved with increased reporting that enabled proactive strategies for addressing unsafe conditions.

Additionally, Piedmont performed a materiality assessment in Q4’23 with key shareholders to identify, categorize, and prioritize material environmental, social, and governance matters. The Company expects to use the results of the assessment to further develop and guide the organization’s sustainability strategy as we advance toward operations at Carolina Lithium and Tennessee Lithium.

Conference Call Information

Date:		Thursday, February 22, 2024
Time:		4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time
Dial-in (Toll Free):		1 (800) 715-9871
Dial-in (Toll):		1 (646) 307-1963
Conference ID:		6860456
Participant URL:		https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/957370119

Piedmont’s earnings presentation and supporting material are available at:

https://piedmontlithium.com/investors-overview/.

About Piedmont

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (Nasdaq: PLL; ASX: PLL) is developing a world-class, multi-asset, integrated lithium business focused on enabling the transition to a net zero world and the creation of a clean energy economy in North America. Our goal is to become one of the largest lithium hydroxide producers in North America by processing lithium (spodumene) concentrate produced from assets where we hold an economic interest. Our projects include our Carolina Lithium and Tennessee Lithium projects in the United States and partnerships in Quebec with Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA) and in Ghana with Atlantic Lithium (AIM: ALL; ASX: A11). These geographically diversified operations will enable us to play a pivotal role in supporting America’s move toward energy independence and the electrification of transportation and energy storage.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of or as described in securities legislation in the United States and Australia, including statements regarding exploration, development, construction and production activities of Sayona Mining, Atlantic Lithium, and Piedmont; current plans for Piedmont’s mineral and chemical processing projects; Piedmont’s potential acquisition of an ownership interest in Ewoyaa; and strategy. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other risk factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual timing of events, results, performance or achievements and other factors to be materially different from the future timing of events, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among others: (i) that Piedmont, Sayona Mining, or Atlantic Lithium may be unable to commercially extract mineral deposits, (ii) that Piedmont’s, Sayona Mining’s or Atlantic Lithium’s properties may not contain expected reserves, (iii) risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including risks inherent in exploring, developing, constructing and operating mining projects, environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), (iv) uncertainty about Piedmont’s ability to obtain required capital to execute its business plan, (v) Piedmont’s ability to hire and retain required personnel, (vi) changes in the market prices of lithium and lithium products, (vii) changes in technology or the development of substitute products, (viii) the uncertainties inherent in exploratory, developmental and production activities, including risks relating to permitting, zoning and regulatory delays related to our projects as well as the projects of our partners in Quebec and Ghana, (ix) uncertainties inherent in the estimation of lithium resources, (x) risks related to competition, (xi) risks related to the information, data and projections related to Sayona Mining or Atlantic Lithium, (xii) occurrences and outcomes of claims, litigation and regulatory actions, investigations and proceedings, (xiii) risks regarding our ability to achieve profitability, enter into and deliver product under supply agreements on favorable terms, our ability to obtain sufficient financing to develop and construct our projects, our ability to comply with governmental regulations and our ability to obtain necessary permits, and (xiv) other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Australian Securities Exchange, including Piedmont’s most recent filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements, projections and estimates are given only as of the date of this press release and actual events, results, performance and achievements could vary significantly from the forward-looking statements, projections and estimates presented in this press release. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Piedmont disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, projections, and estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Piedmont, except as required by applicable law, undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Piedmont, its financial or operating results or its securities.

PIEDMONT LITHIUM INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
	2023			2022			2023			2022
Revenue	$	(7,310	)	$	—		$	39,817		$	—
Costs of sales		10,775			—			34,138			—
Gross profit		(18,085	)		—			5,679			—
Exploration costs		261			454			1,929			1,939
Selling, general and administrative expenses		11,526			9,250			43,319			29,449
Total operating expenses		11,787			9,704			45,248			31,388
Income (loss) from equity method investments		1,759			(1,804	)		194			(8,352	)
Loss from operations		(28,113	)		(11,508	)		(39,375	)		(39,740	)
Interest income		900			780			3,859			1,153
Interest expense		(5	)		(18	)		(39	)		(116	)
Loss from foreign currency exchange		(3	)		(28	)		(91	)		(88	)
Gain (loss) on dilution of equity method investments		1,767			(412	)		16,975			28,955
Total other income		2,659			322			20,704			29,904
Loss before income taxes		(25,454	)		(11,186	)		(18,671	)		(9,836	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(64	)		(282	)		3,106			3,139
Net loss	$	(25,390	)	$	(10,904	)	$	(21,777	)	$	(12,975	)

Basic and diluted:
Loss per share	$	(1.32	)	$	(0.61	)	$	(1.14	)	$	(0.74	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding		19,209			17,966			19,033			17,518

PIEDMONT LITHIUM INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except per share amounts)

	December 31, 2023			December 31, 2022
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	71,730		$	99,247
Accounts receivable		595			—
Other current assets		3,829			2,612
Total current assets		76,154			101,859
Property, plant and mine development, net		127,086			71,541
Other non-current assets		30,353			18,873
Equity method investments		147,662			95,648
Total assets		381,255			287,921

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		11,754			12,862
Current portion of long-term debt		149			425
Other current liabilities		29,463			124
Total current liabilities		41,366			13,411
Long-term debt, net of current portion		14			163
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion		1,091			1,177
Other non-current liabilities		431			—
Deferred tax liabilities		6,023			2,881
Total liabilities		48,925			17,632
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 100,000 shares authorized; 19,272 and 18,073 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		2			2
Additional paid-in capital		462,899			381,242
Accumulated deficit		(126,844	)		(105,658	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(3,727	)		(5,297	)
Total stockholders’ equity		332,330			270,289
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	381,255		$	287,921

PIEDMONT LITHIUM INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands)

	Years Ended December 31,
	2023			2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(21,777	)	$	(12,975	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense		9,516			3,490
Loss from equity method investments		(194	)		8,352
Gain on dilution of equity method investments		(16,975	)		(28,955	)
Deferred taxes		3,106			3,139
Depreciation and amortization		272			74
Noncash lease expense		245			106
Loss on sale of property, plant and mine development		—			12
Unrealized loss on investment		—			30
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(595	)		—
Other assets		(1,021	)		(201	)
Operating lease liabilities		(220	)		(97	)
Accounts payable		(1,281	)		1,413
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		30,494			(837	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		1,570			(26,449	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(56,723	)		(25,732	)
Advances to affiliates		(9,361	)		(13,006	)
Investments in equity method investments		(33,239	)		(21,062	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(99,323	)		(59,800	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net of issuance costs		71,084			122,059
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		—			279
Principal payments on long-term debt		(426	)		(1,087	)
Payments to tax authorities for employee stock-based compensation		(422	)		—
Net cash provided by financing activities		70,236			121,251
Net (decrease) increase in cash		(27,517	)		35,002
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		99,247			64,245
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	71,730		$	99,247