Hawkstone’s US lithium deal is back on; shares spike 82pc

Pic: Schroptschop / E+ via Getty Images

Hawkstone Mining’s acquisition of USA Lithium is back on the table after the junior ASX-listed explorer managed to strike a new $5.5 million all-scrip deal.

The company (ASX:HWK) told investors less than two weeks ago it had backed out of the planned acquisition because the two parties could not agree on terms.

US Lithium owns two lithium projects – Big Sandy in Arizona and Lordsburg in New Mexico.

Hawkstone says it has now reduced the risk of the acquisition with a condition that half of the purchase price be payable only once the company has defined a 30 million tonne (Mt) resource.

The shares jumped nearly 82 per cent on the news to an intra-day high of 4c — but fell back to 2.9c by 12.15pm AEST.

The company has agreed to issue a total of 250 million shares, which are worth $5.5 million based on Hawkstone’s share price last Thursday before it went into a trading halt.

Hawkstone will issue 125 million shares once the deal has received shareholder approval and the remaining shares will be issued once a 30Mt resource has been defined.

Hawkstone Mining shares (ASX:HWK) over the past year.

“The board considers the revised terms significantly de-risk the acquisition for Hawkstone
shareholders as 50 per cent of the consideration is now contingent on the announcement of a 30Mt inferred resource at Big Sandy,” director Oonagh Malone said.

USA Lithium is about to begin a 16-hole drilling program at the Big Sandy project.

Hawkstone plans to undertake a placement to raise $2.75 million to fund exploration.