AMG Reports Stable Results in Weak Markets

Nov 6, 2024

Amsterdam, 6 November 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reports third quarter 2024 revenue of $356 million, a 3% decrease versus the third quarter of 2023. AMG achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $40 million, supported by an exceptionally strong performance by the AMG Technologies segment showing an increase of 112% compared to the same period in 2023.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “EBITDA continued on a steady growth trend in the third quarter of 2024, during which we achieved $40 million of EBITDA. AMG Technologies delivered a strong performance compared to the third quarter last year with excellent results in a growing market. AMG Engineering secured $131 million in order intake and had a record high order backlog as of September 30, 2024 of $367 million. This result continues to demonstrate the earnings power of our diversified portfolio despite the challenging market conditions and depressed price levels in both AMG Lithium and AMG Vanadium.

In terms of our growth projects, our major lithium capital expenditures are substantially complete. Our Brazilian mine expansion is ramping up and on September 18, 2024, AMG hosted the grand opening of Europe’s first lithium hydroxide refinery in Bitterfeld, Germany. The refinery has finalized construction and has transitioned to commissioning, ramp-up and customer qualification. Both projects strengthen our low-cost position in the lithium market. AMG is approaching the end of a period of significant capital intensity that positions us for strong profitability as market prices improve.

I am also pleased to report that we have significant liquidity. With $272 million in cash on hand and $200 million available under our revolving credit facility, AMG has a total liquidity of $472 million.”

Lithium

• Our lithium concentrate plant expansion from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons per year is ramping up and we expect to produce at full 130,000-ton annualized capacity by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.
• On September 18, 2024 in Bitterfeld, Germany, AMG hosted the grand opening of Europe’s first lithium hydroxide refinery.

Vanadium

• Construction of the vanadium electrolyte plant at AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany is complete, and we are producing qualification batches for our customers.
• SARBV’s “Supercenter” phase 1 project in Saudi Arabia is beginning detailed engineering and permitting. Several licenses and permits have already been obtained, including the Industrial Investment License from the Ministry of Industrial and Mineral Resources.

Technologies

• AMG Engineering achieved $367 million in order backlog as of September 30, 2024, the highest in AMG’s history. Order intake of $131 million during the third quarter of 2024 was 63% higher than the same period in 2023, driven largely by strong orders of remelting furnaces.
• AMG LIVA’s first third-party commercial Hybrid Energy Storage System, integrating Lithium-Ion and Vanadium Redox Flow batteries with AI-driven efficiency, is now operational at Wipotec GmbH, enhancing the facility’s power system.

Financial Highlights

• AMG’s liquidity as of September 30, 2024 was $472 million, with $272 million of unrestricted cash and $200 million of revolving credit availability.
• EBITDA continued on a steady growth trend in the third quarter of 2024, during which AMG achieved $40 million of EBITDA despite significant declines in lithium and vanadium prices.

Key Figures

Notes:

(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, strategic expenses, and other exceptional items.
(2)   Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.

Operational Review

AMG Lithium

AMG Lithium’s revenue decreased 22% compared to the third quarter of 2023. This variance was largely driven by the 67% decline in lithium market prices versus the third quarter of 2023, offset by a 42% increase in volume.

SG&A expenses of $12 million in the third quarter of 2024 were 16% higher than in the same period last year, mainly driven by the increase in headcount related to the German lithium expansion project and higher professional fees.

The third quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA decreased 65%, to $10 million, from $30 million in the third quarter of 2023, due to the decline in lithium prices as noted above.

During the third quarter of 2024, a total of 22,731 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates were sold, 42% higher than the 16,012 dmt in the third quarter of 2023. The average realized sales price was $870/dmt CIF China for the quarter. The average cost per ton for the quarter was $450/dmt CIF China, driven by higher lithium concentrate production, lower costs from the weakening Brazilian Real, and ongoing high tantalum sales volumes which lower the cost of production.

Our lithium concentrate plant is currently ramping to 130,000 tons and shipping volumes were therefore impacted in the third quarter of 2024. We expect to reach design capacity production in the fourth quarter of 2024. AMG is one of the lowest-cost lithium concentrate mines in the world, and we plan to maintain this competitive advantage.

AMG Vanadium

AMG Vanadium’s revenue for the third quarter of 2024 decreased by 13%, to $151 million, due primarily to lower sales prices across the segment and lower volumes of ferrovanadium, partially offset by increased volumes in chrome metal.

Gross profit of $11 million in the third quarter of 2024 was 34% lower compared to the same period in 2023, largely due to the decline in revenues noted above.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2024 of $14 million were materially in line with the comparable prior period.

The third quarter of 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $11 million was 29% below the same period in 2023. This was primarily driven by the 21% decrease in market prices for ferrovanadium compared to the third quarter of 2023.

AMG Technologies

AMG Technologies’ third quarter 2024 revenue increased by $24 million, or 19%, compared to the same period in 2023. This improvement was driven by higher sales volumes of antimony and silicon, and higher sales prices of antimony.

SG&A expenses increased by 13% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to additional personnel at AMG LIVA and AMG Engineering corresponding to the increased business development, as well as increased professional fees and research and development costs.

AMG Technologies’ adjusted EBITDA was $19 million during the third quarter, more than double the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher profitability in antimony and graphite.

AMG Engineering signed $131 million in new orders during the third quarter of 2024, representing a 1.82x book to bill ratio. The third quarter 2024 order intake was driven by exceptionally strong orders of remelting furnaces. Order backlog was the highest in AMG’s history at $367 million as of September 30, 2024.

AMG Silicon has been operating two of its four furnaces since March 2024, and we plan to run two furnaces for the remainder of 2024. The operational parameters of the silicon business will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Due to the noted interruptions in AMG Silicon’s operations, the profitability of the business is immaterial and excluded from adjusted EBITDA during this period of abnormal operations.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $2 million in the third quarter of 2024. This expense was mainly due to $7 million of deferred tax expenses in our German businesses related to losses that do not qualify for recognition as deferred tax assets. This expense is offset by the $3 million tax benefit related to the statutory tax rates applied to AMG’s negative profit before tax. In addition, there was a $2 million deferred tax benefit related to a favorable foreign exchange impact on our Brazilian tax positions.

AMG paid taxes of $5 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to tax payments of $33 million in the third quarter of 2023. The reduced cash payments in the current period were largely a result of the decrease in profitability year-over-year.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s third quarter 2024 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the third quarters of 2024 and 2023 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

AMG had $18 million non-cash expense during the third quarter of 2024 mainly driven by AMG Lithium due to the decline in lithium prices, which has been excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

SG&A

AMG’s third quarter 2024 SG&A expenses were $47 million compared to $43 million in the third quarter of 2023. The increase was largely driven by the increase in headcount in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses associated with our strategic expansion projects and higher professional fees relating to additional regulatory requirements.

Liquidity

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the third quarter. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $272 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $200 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $472 million of total liquidity as of September 30, 2024.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s third quarter 2024 net finance cost was $8 million compared to $9 million in the third quarter of 2023. This is due to higher non-cash intercompany foreign exchange gains compared to the same period in 2023, partially offset by increased interest costs associated with the new $100 million incremental term loan issued in April 2024.

Outlook

Due to the strong operating results to date including exceptional results from our Antimony operation, we are increasing our EBITDA guidance for 2024 from “exceed $130 million EBITDA” to “exceed $150 million EBITDA.”

As the lithium prices have weakened further and AMG Antimony’s contributions normalize, we expect AMG’s adjusted EBITDA to exceed $130 million in 2025. Due to the uncertainty related to the commissioning and ramp-up process as well as the impact of the write-downs in the value of our inventory to the current low market prices, we have excluded any expected contribution from our lithium hydroxide refinery in Bitterfeld, Germany from our 2025 guidance.

(Loss) profit for the period to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

Notes:
(1)   The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including the joint venture with Shell, the LIVA Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Third Quarter 2024 Earning Press Release

AMG Critical Materials N.V. Announces Interim Dividend

Jul 31, 2024

Amsterdam, 31 July 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) declares an interim dividend of €0.20 per ordinary share, from an interim dividend of €0.40 per ordinary share in the prior year.

The interim dividend of €0.20 per ordinary share, in respect of the period from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024, is payable on August 14, 2024 to shareholders of record as of August 6, 2024. The ex-dividend date will be August 5, 2024. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15%.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Interim Dividend 2024

AMG’s Critical Materials’ Portfolio Delivers Strong Quarterly Results

Jul 31, 2024

Amsterdam, 31 July 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reports second quarter 2024 revenue of $364 million, a 17% decrease versus the second quarter of 2023. Despite significant declines in lithium and vanadium prices compared to the same period in 2023, AMG achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $39 million by leveraging its diversified portfolio. AMG continued to experience robust structural demand for its critical materials which is a testament to the strategic positioning of our businesses and the low-cost position of all of our operations.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “The second quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $39 million reflects the success of our strategic positioning and diversified business model, enabling us to navigate market volatility effectively. Aerospace continues to be a source of growth, with AMG Engineering securing $90 million in order intake in the second quarter, and a June 30th order backlog of $310 million. Additionally, AMG Chrome, AMG Graphite and AMG Antimony all performed well compared to the second quarter last year, and it is noteworthy that every operating unit at AMG was profitable in the second quarter of 2024.

In terms of our growth initiatives, our major lithium projects continue on-schedule, with our Brazilian mine expansion and our lithium conversion plant ramp-up in Germany. Both projects strengthen our position in the lithium market. In June 2024, we took an additional step to expand our lithium resource portfolio with the capital investment in Savannah Resources, Europe’s largest spodumene lithium deposit. With current low price levels, AMG has been able to increase its control over lithium resources with minimal capital outlays. Additionally, our low-cost operations in Brazil are delivering continued profitability in lithium concentrate and are ramping up production ahead of schedule.

Our vanadium business demonstrated strong volume growth of 23% in the second quarter of 2024 versus the second quarter of last year, helping to offset a 29% decline in price. Our operations in Ohio continue to be the low-cost global producer of ferrovanadium, significantly outperforming primary mining operations.

I am also pleased to report that we have significant liquidity to support our many growth opportunities. With $308 million in cash on hand and $200 million available under our revolving credit facility, AMG has a total liquidity of over $500 million.”

Lithium

• AMG Lithium B.V. invested GBP 16 million (approximately USD 20 million) in Savannah Resources Plc, the developer of the Barroso Lithium Project in Portugal, Europe’s largest spodumene lithium deposit. This investment gives AMG a 15.77% ownership stake, making AMG the largest shareholder of record.
• Our lithium concentrate plant expansion from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons per year is ramping up and we expect to produce at 110,000-ton annualized capacity in the third quarter and at full 130,000-ton annualized capacity in the fourth quarter.
• In Bitterfeld, Germany, AMG’s first 20,000-ton module of its lithium hydroxide refinery is on schedule and the qualification process is underway. The production batches are expected to ship in the third quarter of 2024.

Vanadium

• AMG Vanadium’s Zanesville, Ohio facility continued to perform well and exceeded target production volumes in the first half of 2024.
• AMG Vanadium completed a 5-year contract extension with a key, long-term refinery partner for processing their spent catalyst. AMG Vanadium will continue to provide full metals reclamation on this material, fully eliminating any environmental risks for this refinery.
• The vanadium electrolyte plant at AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany is in the final stages of completion. We expect to have nameplate capacity available by the fourth quarter of 2024 as part of the vertical integration into LIVA batteries.
• In May 2024, AMG Titanium signed a new multi-year contract extension with SAFRAN to supply titanium aluminides (“TiAl”) for production of low-pressure turbine blades for the CFM International LEAP engine. The technology and equipment to produce this material was jointly developed with AMG Engineering (ALD Vacuum Technologies).
• SARBV’s “Supercenter” phase 1 project in Saudi Arabia has completed the FEL3 basic engineering phase. Technical and commercial evaluations of the long lead equipment packages are progressing and expected to be complete by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

Technologies

• AMG LIVA is executing several battery projects to optimize energy management for industrial plants and integrate renewable energy sources and EV charging. A hybrid energy storage system with a 4.5 MWh capacity is currently in service, integrating wind and solar energy for a major industrial client and enabling 80% self-sufficiency.
• AMG Graphit Kropfmühl and BASF have entered into an innovative agreement to reduce their product carbon footprint.

Financial Highlights

• In April 2024, AMG entered into a new $100 million incremental term loan, structured as a fungible add-on to the existing $350 million senior secured term loan. The $100 million incremental term loan has the same pricing, terms and 2028 maturity as the existing $350 million term loan. AMG will use the proceeds of the new incremental term loan for general corporate purposes and lithium resource development.
• AMG’s liquidity as of June 30, 2024 was $508 million, with $308 million of unrestricted cash and $200 million of revolving credit availability.
• AMG declares an interim dividend of €0.20 per ordinary share, to be paid in the third quarter of 2024.

Key Figures

_Notes:

_{(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, strategic expenses, and other exceptional items.
(2)   Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Operational Review

AMG Lithium

AMG Lithium’s revenue and gross profit decreased 71% and 96%, respectively, compared to the second quarter of 2023. These variances were largely driven by the 59% decline in lithium market prices since the second quarter of 2023, as well as the decreased lithium concentrate volumes as a result of the ramp-up currently underway.

SG&A expenses of $11 million in the second quarter of 2024 were 10% higher than in the same period last year, mainly driven by the increase in headcount related to both the German and Brazilian lithium expansion projects, as well as higher employee benefit costs and professional fees.

The second quarter 2024 of adjusted EBITDA decreased 98%, to $2 million, from $86 million in the second quarter of 2023, due to the decline in metal prices as noted above.

During the second quarter of 2024, a total of 17,092 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates were sold, 41% lower than the 28,870 dmt in the second quarter of 2023 due to the ramp-up currently underway at our lithium concentrate plant. The average realized sales price was $891/dmt CIF China for the quarter. The average cost per ton for the quarter was $543/dmt CIF China. Both total production and cost of production were ahead of plan.

Our lithium concentrate plant is currently ramping to 130,000 tons and shipping volumes were therefore impacted in the second quarter. We expect to reach design capacity production in the fourth quarter of 2024. AMG is one of the lowest-cost lithium concentrate mines in the world, and we plan to maintain this competitive advantage.

AMG Vanadium

AMG Vanadium’s revenue for the second quarter of 2024 decreased by 7%, to $168 million, due primarily to lower sales prices across the segment, partially offset by increased volumes in vanadium and chrome metal.

Gross profit of $20 million in the second quarter of 2024 was 15% higher compared to the same period in 2023, largely due to the increased volumes in vanadium and chrome metal.

SG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2024 of $14 million were 32% lower than the second quarter of 2023. The prior period was higher due to a one-time pension expense.

The second quarter of 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $20 million was 27% greater than the same period in 2023. This was primarily driven by the increased volumes in vanadium and chrome metal as well as the ongoing benefit of Section 45X, a production credit for domestic manufacturing of critical materials for which AMG Vanadium qualified based on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

AMG Technologies

AMG Technologies’ second quarter 2024 revenue increased by $33 million, or 26%, compared to the same period in 2023. This improvement was driven by strong revenues in Engineering, as well as higher sales volumes of silicon, graphite, and antimony, and higher sales prices of antimony.

SG&A expenses increased by 6% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to additional personnel at AMG LIVA and AMG Engineering corresponding to the increased business development, as well as increased research and development costs.

AMG Technologies’ adjusted EBITDA was $18 million during the second quarter, more than triple the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher profitability in Engineering as well as graphite and antimony.

AMG Engineering signed $90 million in new orders during the second quarter of 2024, representing a 1.15x book to bill ratio. The second quarter 2024 order intake was driven by strong orders of remelting and turbine blade coating furnaces. Order backlog was $310 million as of June 30, 2024.

AMG Silicon has been operating two of its four furnaces since March 2024, and we plan to run two furnaces for the remainder of 2024. The operational parameters of the silicon business will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Due to the noted interruptions in AMG Silicon’s operations, the profitability of the business is immaterial and excluded from adjusted EBITDA during this period of abnormal operations.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $11 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $27 million in the second quarter of 2023. This variance was mainly due to lower profitability in the current quarter, but also due to a $7 million increased deferred tax expense related to the depreciation of the Brazilian real versus the US dollar. Fluctuations in the Brazilian real exchange rate impact the valuation of the Company’s net deferred tax positions in Brazil.

AMG paid taxes of $4 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to tax payments of $35 million in the second quarter of 2023. The reduced cash payments in the current period were largely a result of the decrease in profitability year-over-year.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s second quarter 2024 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the second quarters of 2024 and 2023 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

AMG had $3 million non-cash expense during the second quarter of 2024 mainly driven by Vanadium’s inventory cost adjustment due to lower vanadium prices, which has been excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

SG&A

AMG’s second quarter 2024 SG&A expenses were $45 million compared to $49 million in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease, as mentioned above in the Vanadium segmental review, was largely driven by a one-time pension expense related to employee benefit plans in the prior period, partially offset by the increase in headcount in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses.

Liquidity

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the second quarter. As of June 30, 2024, the Company had $308 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $200 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $508 million of total liquidity as of June 30, 2024.

In April 2024, AMG entered into a new $100 million incremental term loan, structured as a fungible add-on to the existing $350 million senior secured term loan. The $100 million incremental term loan has the same pricing, terms and 2028 maturity as the existing $350 million term loan. AMG will use the proceeds of the new incremental term loan for general corporate purposes and lithium resource development.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s second quarter 2024 net finance cost was $8 million, 3% higher than in the second quarter of 2023.

Outlook

Looking ahead, we remain focused on our lithium projects and anticipate improved market conditions. We expect our adjusted EBITDA to exceed $130 million for 2024.
(Loss) profit for the period to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

_{Notes:
(1)   The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including the joint venture with Shell, the LIVA Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.}

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Press Release

AMG Critical Materials Acquires a Strategic Stake in Savannah Resources

Jun 20, 2024

Amsterdam, 20 June 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V subsidiary (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) AMG Lithium B.V., AMG’s wholly owned subsidiary, is pleased to announce a capital investment of GBP 16 million (approximately USD 20 million) in Savannah Resources Plc (“Savannah”), the developer of the Barroso Lithium Project (the “Project”) in Portugal, Europe’s largest spodumene lithium deposit. AMG’s capital investment yields a 15.77% ownership stake, making AMG the largest shareholder of record.

The terms of the agreement include a seat on Savannah’s Board of Directors, a 5-year offtake of the Project at 45ktpa of spodumene (or 225,000 DMT in the aggregate), with the opportunity to increase the offtake to 90ktpa of spodumene and extend to 10 years (900,000 DMT in the aggregate) by providing Savannah with an acceptable “full project financing solution” for the Project’s development. Both parties agreed also to cooperate in evaluating expanding into Lithium downstream activities in Portugal and Spain.

Through this agreement, Savannah and AMG will be contributing towards the domestic extraction and processing targets for lithium raw material set forth in the 2023 European Critical Raw Materials Act.

“We are excited to partner with Savannah on its development of the Barroso Lithium Project, Europe’s largest spodumene project. This partnership with Savannah is an additional step in expanding our lithium resource portfolio.”

~Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman and CEO of AMG.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with AMG, which represents another huge de-risking step for the Barroso Lithium Project. With this investment, Savannah is now fully funded to complete all its current work streams.”

~Emanuel Proença, CEO of Savannah

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

Regulatory Information

This Announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“UK MAR”).

About Savannah

Savannah Resources is a mineral resource development company and the sole owner of the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal, the largest battery grade spodumene lithium resource outlined to date in Europe.

Through the Barroso Lithium Project (the ‘Project’), Savannah will help Portugal to play an important role in providing a long-term, locally sourced, lithium raw material supply for Europe’s rapidly developing lithium battery value chain. After the Environmental Licence was granted in May 2023 and the Scoping Study confirmed the economic potential of the Project in June 2023, production is now targeted and on track to begin in 2026. At that stage, Savannah will start producing enough lithium (contained in c.190,000tpa of spodumene concentrate) for approximately half a million vehicle battery packs per year, equal to a significant portion of the European Commission’s Critical Raw Material Act goal of a minimum 10% of European endogenous lithium production set for 2030. Savannah is focused on the responsible development and operation of the Barroso Lithium Project so that its impact on the environment is minimised and the socio-economic benefits that it can bring to all its stakeholders are maximised.

The Company is listed and regulated on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and the Company’s ordinary shares are also available on the Quotation Board of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) under the symbol FWB: SAV, and the Börse Stuttgart (SWB) under the ticker “SAV”.

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:

Savannah Resources PLC
Emanuel Proença, CEO
Tel: +44 20 7117 2489

AMG Critical Materials N.V.
Michele Fischer
Senior Vice President of Communications
Tel: +1 610 975 4979
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Strategic Stake in Savannah Resources

AMG Announces Results of the Annual General Meeting

May 8, 2024

Amsterdam, 8 May 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) announces that during its Annual General Meeting held on May 8, 2024, shareholders approved all but one of the agenda items presented, including the expansion of the Management Board from three to four members. Mr. Michael Connor was appointed to the Management Board as Chief Corporate Development Officer for a term of four years, with effect from May 8, 2024. The Remuneration Report for 2023 (advisory vote) was not approved as it fell just short of the > 50% of the votes needed for approval. Results for all voting items will be published on AMG’s website on May 13, 2024.

During the meeting, Mr. Jackson Dunckel was reappointed as Chief Financial Officer for an additional term of four years, beginning May 8, 2024. In addition, Dr. Donatella Ceccarelli was reappointed as a member of the Supervisory Board for a term of two years, with effect from May 8, 2024.

Given the rotation schedule of the Supervisory Board and the retirement in 2025 of two longstanding members, Professor Hanke and Mr. Depp, the Supervisory Board resolved to expand its resources to create a Board with seven members. During the meeting, Ms. Dagmar Bottenbruch was appointed to the Supervisory Board as an independent member for a term of four years, beginning May 8, 2024.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

This press release has been updated on May 9, 2024.

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Results of the 2024 AGM

AMG Announces Final 2023 Dividend

May 8, 2024

Amsterdam, 8 May 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) is pleased to announce that during the Annual General Meeting, held on May 8, 2024, AMG’s shareholders approved the payment of a dividend of €0.60 per ordinary share over the financial year 2023. The interim dividend of €0.40, paid on August 9, 2023, was deducted from the amount distributed to shareholders. The final dividend per ordinary share therefore amounts to €0.20.

Payment of the final dividend will be completed on or around May 15, 2024, to shareholders of record on May 13, 2024. The ex-dividend date is May 10, 2023. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15%.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Final 2023 Dividend

AMG Reports First Quarter 2024 Results: Lithium Projects on Schedule

May 7, 2024

Amsterdam, 7 May 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reports first quarter 2024 revenue of $358 million, a 21% decrease versus the first quarter of 2023. First quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $31 million decreased largely due to the decline in global metal prices compared to the prior period.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “The first quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA of $31 million is in line with our guidance for the year. We are pleased to announce that our major lithium expansions continue on-schedule. Our Brazilian mine expansion and the ramp-up of our lithium conversion plant in Germany place us in an enviable position for when prices recover. The lithium market is volatile and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Long-term demand trends are encouraging, and additional supply prospects are confronting challenging constraints throughout the industry. Our low-cost position allows us to endure the current market conditions and prosper considerably at more normalized price levels.

Market prices for all products in our portfolio weakened during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in adjusted EBITDA compared to the first quarter of 2023 was predominantly driven by the global decline in lithium and vanadium prices. The average quarterly prices of lithium carbonate and ferrovanadium, the material prices that most significantly impact our financial results, decreased 76% and 33%, respectively, versus the average pricing in the first quarter of 2023.

Despite these market conditions, our lithium expansion strategy remains on track, and we have significant liquidity to support our growth opportunities. Including our $100 million term loan expansion, which occurred after the end of the first quarter, AMG has close to $600 million of total liquidity.”

Lithium

• In Brazil, the expansion of our lithium concentrate plant from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons per annum is progressing as planned. We expect to reach full nameplate capacity of 130,000 tons in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• In Bitterfeld, Germany, AMG’s lithium hydroxide refinery’s first 20,000-ton module is on schedule, both in its advanced commissioning and product qualification process. We plan to ship production batches to clients in the third quarter of 2024.

Vanadium

• AMG Vanadium continues to implement its global satellite roasting strategy through the implementation of our recently acquired TTI technology.
• The vanadium electrolyte plant at AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany is in the final stages of completion. We expect to have nameplate capacity available by the second half of 2024 as part of the vertical integration into LIVA batteries.
• Shell & AMG Recycling’s (SARBV) “Supercenter” project in Saudi Arabia is in final stages of basic engineering for Phase 1. The joint venture has begun the selection process for financial advisors for non-recourse project financing.

Technologies

• In April, NewMOX SAS, Grenoble, France, was formed to service the nuclear fuel market. NewMOX is a subsidiary of ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH, Hanau, Germany (“ALD”), AMG’s engineering subsidiary focused on vacuum furnace technology, which includes sintering furnace systems enabling the production of commercial nuclear fuel from plutonium and depleted uranium (termed “MOX”). ALD’s MOX technology has been applied in Germany, the United States, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom and recently ALD has been delivering such furnace systems to China.
• AMG LIVA is engaged in the execution of several battery projects to optimize the energy management of industrial plants and incorporate renewable energy sources. In June we will celebrate the opening of a 4.5 MWh energy storage system shifting wind and solar energy for a major industrial client. The system enables 80% self-sufficiency and is also used for peak shaving, process heating and cooling, EV charging and grid services.

Financial Highlights

• In April, AMG entered into a new $100 million incremental term loan, structured as a fungible add-on to the existing $350 million senior secured term loan. The $100 million incremental term loan has the same pricing, terms and 2028 maturity as the existing $350 million term loan. AMG will use the proceeds of the new incremental term loan for general corporate purposes and lithium resource development.
• AMG’s liquidity as of March 31, 2024 was $485 million, with $285 million of unrestricted cash and $200 million of revolving credit availability. These figures do not include the term loan expansion noted above, as it occurred after the end of the quarter.
• AMG Engineering signed $82 million in new orders for the first three months of 2024, 8% higher than for the same period in 2023.
• The Company will pay its final 2023 declared dividend of €0.20 per ordinary share on or around May 15, 2024, to shareholders of record on May 13, 2024.

Key Figures

_Notes:

_{(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses, equity-settled share-based payments, strategic expenses, and other exceptional items.
(2)   Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Operational Review

AMG Lithium

AMG Lithium’s revenue and gross profit decreased 68% and 94%, respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2023. These variances were largely driven by the decline in lithium market prices, since the first quarter of 2023, as well as the unabsorbed fixed costs incurred during construction of the spodumene expansion project in Brazil in the current quarter.

SG&A expenses of $11 million in the first quarter of 2024 were 26% higher than in the same period last year, mainly driven by the increase in headcount related to both the German and Brazilian lithium expansion projects, as well as higher employee benefit costs and professional fees.

The first quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA decreased 94%, to $6 million, from $90 million in the first quarter of 2023, due to the decline in metal prices as noted above.

During the first quarter of 2024, a total of 15,652 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates were sold, 24% lower than the 20,509 dmt in the first quarter of 2023 due to shipping variances in 2023. Volumes were negatively impacted by shipments that arrived in the fourth quarter of 2023 to the detriment of our first quarter 2024 volumes. The average realized sales price was $1,163/dmt CIF China for the quarter. The average cost per ton for the quarter was $616/dmt CIF China.

Our lithium concentrate plant is currently ramping to 130,000 tons and shipping volumes will be impacted in the second quarter. The cost per ton will rise relative to historical costs due to unabsorbed costs during the ramp-up, as well as lower relative tantalum sales volumes offsetting higher spodumene production. We expect to reach design capacity production in the fourth quarter of 2024. AMG is one of the lowest cost lithium concentrate mines in the world and we plan to maintain that position.

AMG Vanadium

AMG Vanadium’s revenue for the first quarter of 2024 decreased by 15%, to $165 million, due primarily to lower sales prices in vanadium and chrome metal partially offset by increased volumes in vanadium.

Gross profit in the first quarter of 2024 was $9 million lower compared to the same period in 2023, largely due to lower prices noted above.

SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2024 of $14 million were 4% higher than in the first quarter of 2023 related to an increase in research and development costs during the current quarter.

The first quarter 2024 adjusted EBITDA decreased 29% compared to the same period in 2023, to $14 million, largely driven by the decline in metal prices noted above.

AMG Technologies

AMG Technologies’ first quarter 2024 revenue increased by $26 million, or 21%, compared to the same period in 2023. This improvement was driven by strong revenues in our engineering unit, as well as higher sales volumes of silicon. Despite challenging overall market conditions for AMG, the AMG Technologies segment is delivering strong financial results, evidencing the strength of our portfolio to succeed in a varied set of market conditions.

SG&A expenses increased by 9% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to additional personnel at AMG Engineering and AMG LIVA corresponding to the increased order backlog and business development, respectively.

AMG Technologies’ adjusted EBITDA was $11 million during the first quarter, 33% higher than in the first three months of 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher profitability in Engineering driven by remelting and induction furnace sales as well as the after sales and service division.

AMG Engineering signed $82 million in new orders during the first quarter of 2024, 8% higher than the same period in 2023, representing a 1.03x book to bill ratio. The first quarter 2024 order intake was driven by strong orders of remelting and turbine blade coating furnaces, as well as the spare parts and services division. Order backlog was $300 million as of March 31, 2024.

AMG Silicon began operating two of its four furnaces in March 2024. We plan to run two of four furnaces for the remainder of 2024. The operational parameters of the silicon business will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Due to the noted interruptions in AMG Silicon’s operations, the profitability of the business is immaterial and excluded from adjusted EBITDA during this period of abnormal operations.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $3 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $36 million in the first quarter of 2023. This variance was due to lower profitability in the current quarter relative to the same period in the prior year, marginally offset by non-cash deferred tax expenses related to the derecognition of certain tax assets. These tax assets were associated with interest expense carryforwards in our US business as well as loss carryforwards in our German and Dutch entities.

AMG paid taxes of $8 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to tax payments of $21 million in the first quarter of 2023. The reduced cash payments in the current period were largely a result of the decrease in profitability year-over-year, offset by tax payments due in Brazil related to positive results in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s first quarter 2024 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

AMG had $3 million non-cash expense during the first quarter of 2024 mainly driven by Vanadium’s inventory cost adjustment due to lower vanadium prices, and $2 million of costs associated with AMG Brazil’s lithium concentrate expansion, which have been excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

SG&A

AMG’s first quarter 2024 SG&A expenses were $45 million compared to $40 million in the first quarter of 2023, with the increase largely due to higher personnel costs driven by increased hiring in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses.

Liquidity

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the first quarter. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $285 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $200 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $485 million of total liquidity as of March 31, 2024. These figures do not include the term loan expansion previously noted, as it occurred after the end of the quarter.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s first quarter 2024 net finance cost was $15 million compared to $7 million in the first quarter of 2023. This variance was largely driven by non-cash, intercompany foreign exchange losses of $7 million during the current quarter, compared to $2 million in foreign exchange gains in the prior period.

Outlook

Regarding 2024 outlook, low prices continue for both lithium and vanadium. Utilizing today’s price levels, we reiterate that AMG’s 2024 adjusted EBITDA will be approximately $130 million.

AMG’s lithium projects are progressing on schedule and we expect that they will have a substantially positive impact as market conditions improve.

Regarding AMG’s 5-year guidance, utilizing a variety of price and quantity assumptions with a lithium carbonate equivalent price of $25,000, we guide to an EBITDA of $500 million or more in five years or earlier.

(Loss) profit for the period to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

_{Notes:
(1)   The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including the joint venture with Shell, the LIVA Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.}

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• First Quarter 2024 Earnings Press Release

AMG Reports Record-Setting Earnings for the Full Year 2023

Feb 21, 2024

Amsterdam, 21 February 2024 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reported record-setting adjusted EBITDA $350 million in 2023, due largely to strong profitability in our lithium and vanadium businesses. Fourth quarter 2023 revenue was $367 million, a 6% decrease versus the fourth quarter of 2022. Fourth quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $71 million decreased 32% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

Cash from operating activities was $223 million in 2023, the highest in AMG’s history, and 33% higher than the $168 million in 2022.

_{Note:
(1)   Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “AMG has achieved the highest adjusted EBITDA in its 16 year history with $350 million for the full year 2023. Market conditions for all products within our portfolio substantially weakened as the year progressed. The 32% decrease in adjusted EBITDA compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 was driven in large part by the global decline in metal prices within our portfolio, predominantly the lithium price decline. The average quarterly prices of lithium carbonate and ferrovanadium decreased over 76% and 26%, respectively, versus the average pricing in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Cash from operating activities was $223 million in 2023, the highest in AMG’s history, and 33% higher than the $168 million in 2022. We were $38 million free cash flow positive for the year despite investing $169 million in capital projects as well as acquiring a 25% stake in Zinnwald in 2023. This underscores our low-cost position in both lithium and vanadium. We ended the year in a $323 million net debt position, and continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $345 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $195 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $540 million of total liquidity as of December 31, 2023. AMG continues to benefit from its low-cost fixed-rate debt facilities, and has an average interest rate charge across its two main debt instruments of 5%.

AMG Engineering signed $350 million in new orders during 2023, the highest full year order intake in AMG’s history, and 24% higher than in 2022. This record order intake was driven by strong orders of remelting and heat treatment furnaces, representing a 1.27x book to bill ratio. AMG’s order backlog was $295 million as of December 31, 2023.

Through its critical materials science-based solutions, AMG, as its mission, seeks to contribute to CO₂ reduction by way of “enabling” its customers to increase the efficiency of renewable energy production, and to “enable” energy saving strategies. We measure the enabled contribution to CO₂ reduction at our customer level via stringent third-party developed life cycle assessments. We based this mission on the belief that in this obviously high growth environment, we could achieve both above average financial returns and use our proprietary technologies to be at the forefront of the industrial contribution to atmospheric CO₂ reduction. Our Enabling CO₂ Reduction Portfolio (ECO₂RP) in 2023 enabled 110.3 million tons of CO₂ reduction, 11% more than the 99.4 million tons of enabled CO₂ reduction in 2022.”

Lithium

• In Brazil, our lithium concentrate plant will temporarily stop production for the change-over period in March 2024 in order to facilitate the expansion from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons. We expect to produce 93,000 tons for the full year of 2024 and will operate at the full expanded capacity rate, or 130,000 tons per year, in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• AMG’s lithium hydroxide refinery’s first 20,000-ton module in Bitterfeld, Germany, is in advanced phases of commissioning, and the product qualification process is planned to start in the third quarter of 2024.

Vanadium

• The Zanesville, Ohio facility exceeded our target production volumes in the fourth quarter of 2023. The production from both the roasting operation and the melt shop exceeded historical averages achieved by the Cambridge, Ohio operation.
• Enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, AMG Vanadium qualified for Section 45X effective from 2023 onwards, which provides a production credit for domestic manufacturing of critical materials. Based on preliminary regulations as issued by the IRS, AMG expects to receive a subsidy of approximately $6 million for full year 2023. The ruling is still in the comment period and, as such, is subject to a final determination.
• AMG’s innovative lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) projects are integral for industrial power management applications and accelerate the energy transition. The batteries are currently under various stages of bidding and development. One is operational, three are currently under contract and being engineered, and 15 are in bidding and development stages, with a total megawatt hour (MWh) capacity of 749 MWh.
• AMG LIVA has agreed to acquire the Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (“VRFB”) activities from J.M. VOITH SE & CO. KG (“VOITH”). VOITH has developed an advanced technology for controlling and balancing large-scale high-voltage VRFB energy storage systems. The technology complements LIVA’s VRFB system development. LIVA will continue to develop the technology and integrate it into its large-scale energy storage systems.
• The vanadium electrolyte plant at AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany is under construction. The target capacity is 6,000 m³ vanadium electrolyte, the equivalent of approximately 100 MWh, which will serve the electricity storage market, including a vertical integration into LIVA batteries. We expect to have nameplate capacity available by the second half of 2024.
• AMG Vanadium has acquired the processing technologies and IP related activities from Transformation Technologies Inc. (“TTI”), a US company based in Oregon. This unique thermal treatment of spent catalyst and other oil refinery wastes into valuable products is complementary to AMG’s existing spent catalyst processing technology and know-how. AMG will integrate the TTI technology into its global strategic growth initiatives conducted through Shell & AMG Recycling (“SARBV”).
• SARBV’s “Supercenter” project in the Middle East is a facility to produce high-purity vanadium oxides for applications such as chemicals and aerospace as well as vanadium electrolyte for the long duration energy storage market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The facility will operate under a long-term supply contract with Saudi Aramco for vanadium-containing gasification ash from its power plants in the Kingdom. For illustration purposes, Phase 1 of the Supercenter plans to produce 8 million pounds of vanadium oxide from 7,000 metric tons of gasification ash located at a site in Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The FEL3 basic engineering has been submitted. The full Supercenter project will also include the processing of spent catalysts, a Fresh Catalyst R&D facility and a LIVA Hybrid Energy Storage System.

Financial Highlights

• AMG’s full year 2023 adjusted EBITDA was a record-setting $350 million due largely to high profitability in our lithium and vanadium businesses, offset by lower profit in AMG Critical Minerals.
• Cash from operating activities was $223 million in 2023, compared to $168 million in 2022, largely driven by the lithium and vanadium expansion projects as well as strong cash flows from our Silicon business driven by energy sales.
• AMG’s free cash flow⁽¹⁾ was $38 million in 2023.
• AMG’s liquidity as of December 31, 2023 was $540 million, with $345 million of unrestricted cash and $195 million of revolving credit availability.
• Annualized return on capital employed was 26.3% for 2023, compared to 30.8% in 2022.
• AMG Engineering signed $350 million in new orders during 2023, the highest in AMG’s history and 24% higher than in 2022.
• The total 2023 dividend proposed is €0.60 per ordinary share, including the interim dividend of €0.40, paid on August 9, 2023.

_{Note:
(1) Free cash flow is defined as cash flows from operating activities less cash flows used in investing activities.}

Key Figures

_Notes:

_{(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses and other exceptional items, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses.
(2)   Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue decreased 10% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, to $158 million, driven mainly by the 76% and 26% decrease in prices for lithium carbonate and ferrovanadium, respectively, since the fourth quarter of 2022. This price decrease was partially offset by increased volumes in vanadium and lithium. Higher average annual prices for spodumene as well as higher sales volumes of vanadium, lithium concentrate, and tantalum propelled revenue for the segment 9% higher on a full year basis. In 2023, ferrovanadium and tantalum concentrate sales increased 45% and 56%, respectively, versus the prior year.

Gross profit for the quarter decreased 57% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the lower sales prices. The primary driver was the lithium price decline, which fell 76% since the fourth quarter of 2022. Full year gross profit increased 2% compared to 2022, due to the higher prices and volumes noted above.

SG&A expenses of $67 million in 2023 were 47% higher than in 2022, mainly driven by the increase in headcount related to the lithium and vanadium expansion projects, as well as higher employee benefit costs, professional fees and research and development costs.

The fourth quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA decreased 30%, to $56 million, from $80 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, due to the decline in metal prices as noted above. Full year 2023 adjusted EBITDA, however, was 15% higher than in 2022, driven by higher prices and higher volumes as well as the incremental dividend noted below.

Enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, AMG Vanadium qualifies for Section 45X which provides a production credit for domestic manufacturing of critical materials from 2023 onwards. Based on preliminary regulations as issued by the IRS, AMG expects to receive a subsidy of approximately $6 million for full year 2023. This subsidy is included in gross profit. The ruling is still in the comment period and, as such, is subject to a final determination.

AMG received a $10 million dividend from an equity investment which is included in adjusted EBITDA.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, a total of 29,706 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates were sold, 39% higher than the 21,329 dmt in the fourth quarter of 2022 due to shipping variances in 2023. The average realized sales price was $1,943/dmt CIF China for the quarter. The average cost per ton for the quarter was $498/dmt CIF China.

During 2023, a total of 95,097 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates were sold, an increase of 8,384 dmt versus 2022. The average realized sales price for 2023 was $3,160/dmt CIF China, an increase of $355/dmt over 2022. The average cost per ton for 2023 was $475/dmt CIF China.

It is important to note that fourth quarter pricing benefited from the timing lag experienced related to the contractual pricing agreements with our lithium concentrate customers. The prices of lithium concentrate and lithium carbonate have declined 56% and 41%, respectively, since the end of the third quarter 2023.

In 2024, we anticipate the cost per ton to rise due to unabsorbed costs during the ramp-up as well as lower relative tantalum sales volumes offsetting higher spodumene production. AMG is one of the lowest cost lithium concentrate mines in the world and we plan to maintain that position.

AMG Critical Minerals

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 21%, to $55 million, mainly due to lower volumes largely driven by the silicon metal plant operating one furnace during the quarter, as discussed in detail below. The slowdown in the European industrial economy also continued to negatively impact the segment.

Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $19 million lower compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to lower volumes in silicon and antimony in the current quarter.

SG&A expenses in 2023 of $29 million were 4% higher than in 2022 related to an increase in professional fees during the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA decreased 88% compared to the same period in 2022, to $2 million, largely driven by the silicon metal plant as well as the slowdown in the end-use markets for the segment in the current quarter. As a result, full year 2023 adjusted EBITDA decreased to $7 million from $38 million in the prior year.

AMG Silicon operated one of four furnaces in the fourth quarter of 2023. We plan to run two of four furnaces for the remainder of 2024. The operational parameters of the silicon business will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Due to the noted interruptions in AMG Silicon’s operations, the financial impact of the business will be excluded from adjusted EBITDA during this period of abnormal operations. However, AMG Silicon generated $26 million in cash flow from operating activities during the quarter driven by the receipt of energy sales made in the fourth quarter of 2022.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ fourth quarter 2023 revenue increased by $10 million, or 7%, compared to the same period in 2022. This improvement was driven by strong revenues in our engineering unit, as well as higher sales volumes of chrome metal and higher sales prices of titanium alloys, partially offset by lower chrome metal pricing. Revenue for the segment in 2023 increased 10% compared to prior year.

SG&A expenses increased by 10% in 2023 compared to 2022, due to additional personnel at AMG Engineering and AMG LIVA corresponding to the increased order backlog and business development, respectively.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ adjusted EBITDA was $14 million during the fourth quarter, 40% higher than in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher profitability in Engineering and Titanium, partially offset by lower chrome margins driven by continued sequential decline in chrome price in the fourth quarter of 2023.

AMG Engineering signed $27 million in new orders during the fourth quarter of 2023. On a full year basis, AMG signed a record high of $350 million in new orders during 2023, 24% higher than in 2022, representing a 1.27x book to bill ratio. The 2023 order intake was driven by strong orders of remelting and heat treatment furnaces. Order backlog was $295 million as of December 31, 2023.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $95 million in 2023, compared to $84 million in 2022. This variance was due to negative movements in the Brazilian real in 2023 as compared to 2022 as well as non-cash deferred tax expenses related to the derecognition of certain tax assets. These tax assets were associated with interest expense carryforwards in our US business as well as loss carryforwards in our German business. These deferred tax expenses were partially offset by the lower profitability in the current quarter relative to the same period in the prior year.

AMG paid taxes of $103 million in 2023, compared to tax payments of $42 million in 2022. The higher cash payments in 2023 were largely a result of the timing lag related to Brazil’s strong performance in late 2022 through the second quarter of 2023.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s fourth quarter and full year 2023 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in 2023 and 2022 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

AMG had $15 million non-cash expense during the fourth quarter of 2023 mainly driven by Lithium GmbH’s inventory cost adjustment of purchased lithium hydroxide which has been excluded in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA.

In mid 2023, AMG initiated a restructuring program to improve efficiencies and reduce headcount. The largest restructuring expenses are in AMG Titanium with $4 million, and in AMG Graphite with a restructuring expense of $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

As a result of the restructuring program, certain non-core assets were also impacted. Asset impairments were recorded due to the retirement of these assets in the fourth quarter of 2023 at AMG Titanium and AMG Graphite of $3 million and $7 million, respectively.

SG&A

AMG’s fourth quarter 2023 SG&A expenses were $46 million compared to $37 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, with the increase largely due to higher personnel costs driven by increased hiring in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses.

Full year 2023 SG&A expenses were $178 million, 20% higher than in 2022, due to increased professional fees associated with strategic projects during 2023 as well as higher personnel costs attributable to increased hiring in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses.

Liquidity

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the fourth quarter. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $345 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $195 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $540 million of total liquidity as of December 31, 2023.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s fourth quarter 2023 net finance income was $2 million compared to $4 million of income in the fourth quarter of 2022. This decrease was mainly driven by lower capitalization of interest expense now that the Zanesville plant is fully operational.

Final Dividend Proposal

AMG intends to declare a dividend of €0.60 per ordinary share over the financial year 2023. The interim dividend of €0.40, paid on August 9, 2023, will be deducted from the amount to be distributed to shareholders. The proposed final dividend per ordinary share therefore amounts to €0.20.

A proposal to resolve upon the final dividend distribution will be included on the agenda for the Annual General Meeting to be held on May 8, 2024.

Outlook

Our ongoing cost reduction and efficiency programs will reduce our headcount by approximately 200 which will essentially be offset by the ramp-up of our expansions in Germany and Brazil, as well as the growth in our LIVA and Engineering businesses.

Capital expenditures for 2024 are expected to be approximately $125 million, mainly driven by the lithium concentrate expansion in Brazil and expenditures related to the construction of the lithium hydroxide plant in Germany.

AMG has no expected financing needs in 2024. AMG refinanced its $350 million term loan and $200 million revolver in November 2021, extending revolver and term loan maturities to 2026 and 2028, respectively. AMG has no significant near-term debt maturities. And although we look to consistently optimize our financial structure, our current liquidity of $540 million can fully fund all of the approved capital expansion projects and all other financial obligations.

AMG’s two main lithium expansion projects are heading towards completion: our lithium concentrate expansion project from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons in Brazil and module 1 of our lithium hydroxide refinery in Germany. We are reviewing our resource development projects and all other expansion activities in light of the present market conditions.

Regarding 2024 outlook, from the lithium concentrate and lithium carbonate market price highs in November 2022 of $6,110 per ton and $84,062 per ton, respectively, prices have each declined by 84%.

On November 8, 2023, we indicated an adjusted EBITDA for 2024 of approximately $200 million excluding any profitability from our Bitterfeld lithium hydroxide refinery and utilizing contemporary pricing. Since then, market prices for spodumene and lithium carbonate have declined 50% and 39%, respectively. Utilizing today’s price levels, lithium profitability will be $60 million lower and vanadium profitability will be $10 million lower, therefore AMG’s 2024 adjusted EBITDA will be approximately $130 million.

Our analysis of the long-term supply and demand trends in lithium gives us confidence that the present low prices are unsustainable.

Segmental Realignment

The Company has changed its organizational structure effective January 1, 2024, and will therefore report financials for the new segments starting in the first quarter of 2024. This change results in three reporting segments: AMG Lithium, AMG Vanadium, and AMG Technologies. Each of these segments have very specific trends and business models, and require very different management skill sets.

AMG’s 2023 pro forma segmental information for AMG Lithium, AMG Vanadium, and AMG Technologies is shown below:

AMG Lithium

AMG Vanadium

AMG Technologies

Profit for the period to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

_{Notes:
(1)   The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including the joint venture with Shell, the LIVA Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.}

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Fourth Quarter & FY 2023 Earnings Press Release

AMG Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results and Announces New Corporate Structure Effective January 1, 2024

Nov 8, 2023

Amsterdam, 8 November 2023 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) reported third quarter 2023 revenue of $369 million, a 13% decrease versus the third quarter of 2022. Third quarter 2023 EBITDA of $54 million decreased 48% compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Cash from operating activities was $178 million on a year-to-date basis, compared to $111 million for the first nine months of 2022.

_{Note:
(1)   EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “The 48% decrease in EBITDA compared to the third quarter of 2022 was driven in large part by the global decline in metal prices within our portfolio, predominantly the lithium price decline. The average quarterly prices of lithium carbonate and ferrovanadium have decreased over 50% and 29%, respectively, versus the average pricing in the third quarter of 2022. On a year-to-date basis, however, EBITDA has increased 17% compared to the first nine months of 2022.

We ended the third quarter in a $320 million net debt position, and continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the quarter. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $347 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $195 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $542 million of total liquidity as of September 30, 2023. In today’s rising rate environment, AMG continues to benefit from its low-cost fixed-rate debt facilities, and has an average interest rate charge across its two main debt instruments of 5%.

AMG Engineering signed $81 million in new orders during the third quarter of 2023, 51% higher year-to-date in 2023 than in the same period in 2022, driven by strong orders of remelting and heat treatment furnaces, representing a 1.02x book to bill ratio. AMG’s order backlog was $341 million as of September 30, 2023, the highest in AMG’s history for the second straight quarter. This is largely driven by the aerospace market, which is experiencing strong growth. Our third quarter 2023 order intake remains at a very high level, reaching $323 million year-to-date.”

Strategic Highlights

The Supervisory Board has authorized the implementation of a new corporate structure, which will be operational January 1, 2024. The present segmental reporting structure will be replaced by three corporate entities: AMG Lithium BV, AMG Vanadium BV, and AMG Technologies (AG/GmbH). Each entity will have its own leadership team and operating management.

Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, said, “The three new 100% owned subsidiaries AMG Lithium, AMG Vanadium, and AMG Technologies, have very specific trends and business models, and require very different management skill sets. They will each be managed by newly installed Management Boards, which will exercise their control through respective Supervisory Boards that will reflect corporate governance principles that currently apply to AMG Critical Materials NV.

This updated structure will enable AMG to realize strategic, operational, and risk management synergies that will improve decision making, as well as strengthen the resiliency of the organization. This new structure will decrease the potential for overreliance on individual executives, improve succession planning, and improve collaboration throughout the organization. Additionally, the new structure will create strategic flexibility for various forms of equity diversification.”

Lithium

• In Brazil, the lithium concentrate plant shutdown to facilitate the expansion from 90,000 tons to 130,000 tons will take place in the first quarter of 2024 due to delivery delays of electronic components for processing automation. This will negatively impact second quarter sales volumes. We expect to produce at full run rate capacity, which is 130,000 tons per year, starting in the third quarter of 2024.
• AMG Brazil’s project with Grupo Lagoa will begin basic engineering in December 2023. From present data, we conclude that the plant will confirm the main assumptions for the construction of a 150,000-ton lithium concentrate plant at the site.
• AMG’s lithium hydroxide refinery’s first 20,000-ton module in Bitterfeld, Germany, is in the initial phases of commissioning and the ramp-up and the qualification process is planned for the second and third quarters of 2024. We expect to produce approximately 7,000 tons of qualified battery-grade lithium hydroxide in 2024 which is not included in our EBITDA guidance for 2024. We expect to produce and sell a full 20,000 tons in 2025.

Vanadium

• The spent catalyst roasting facility in Zanesville, Ohio operated at full capacity for the third quarter and outperformed our roasting facility in Cambridge, Ohio. The Zanesville melt shop has operated at full capacity utilization and the Vanadium team is focused on increasing operational availability, optimizing cycle time and increasing yield.
• AMG’s innovative lithium vanadium battery (“LIVA”) projects are integral for industrial power management applications and accelerate the industrial energy transition. The batteries are currently under various stages of bidding and development. One is operational, three are under construction, and 13 are in bidding and development stages, with a total megawatt hour (MWh) capacity of 379 MWh.
• The vanadium electrolyte plant at AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany is under construction. The target capacity is 6,000 m³ vanadium electrolyte, the equivalent of approximately 100 MWh, which will serve the electricity storage market, including a vertical integration into LIVA batteries. Production is expected to start in the first quarter of 2024.
• Applying a newly developed process technology, AMG Titanium in Nuremberg, Germany has started to process spent roasted catalyst to V₂O₅.
• Shell & AMG Recycling’s (“SARBV”) project development of a closed loop circular recycling facility in the Middle East is progressing. Phase I of the “Supercenter” project, a hydrometallurgical facility to process vanadium-containing gasification ash, is under a long-term contract with Aramco. The gasification ash will be processed into vanadium oxide and then to vanadium electrolytes for use in batteries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Phase I is expected to reach FEL3 status by the end of the year. The “Supercenter” concept also includes spent catalyst recycling projects, fresh catalyst production, and the manufacturing of vanadium batteries. The Phase I facility will also produce 6,000 m³ of electrolyte, which will support 100 MWh of vanadium redox flow battery capacity annually. In addition, a LIVA Hybrid Energy Storage System and a Fresh Catalyst R&D facility will be part of Phase 1.

Financial Highlights

• Cash from operating activities was $25 million in the third quarter of 2023, and $178 million on a year-to-date basis, compared to $111 million for the first nine months of 2022.
• AMG’s liquidity as of September 30, 2023 was $542 million, with $347 million of unrestricted cash and $195 million of revolving credit availability.
• Annualized return on capital employed was 28.4% for the first nine months of 2023, compared to 29.5% for the same period in 2022.
• AMG Engineering’s order backlog of $341 million as of September 30, 2023, the highest in AMG’s history, was driven primarily by the aerospace industry.

Key Figures

_Notes:

_{(1)   EBIT is defined as earnings before interest and income taxes. EBIT excludes restructuring, asset impairment, inventory cost adjustments, environmental provisions, exceptional legal expenses and other exceptional items, equity-settled share-based payments, and strategic expenses.
(2)   EBITDA is defined as EBIT adjusted for depreciation and amortization.}

Operational Review

AMG Clean Energy Materials

AMG Clean Energy Materials’ revenue decreased 25% compared to the third quarter of 2022, to $140 million, driven mainly by decreased prices in both lithium and vanadium as well as lower volumes in lithium concentrate, partially offset by increased volumes in vanadium. Ferrovanadium production increased 48% versus the third quarter of 2022.

Gross profit for the quarter decreased 60% compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the lower sales prices. The primary driver is the lithium price decline. Also, vanadium gross profit was lower due to fixed price inventory being processed from global sources. All other existing contracts are under indexed prices. We are working towards long-term contracts similar to our Cambridge model.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2023 were higher than the same period in 2022 at $15 million, mainly driven by the increase in headcount related to the lithium and vanadium expansion projects, as well as higher employee benefit costs.

The third quarter 2023 EBITDA decreased 53%, to $39 million, from $84 million in the third quarter of 2022, due to the decline in metal prices as noted above.

During the third quarter of 2023, a total of 16,012 dry metric tons (“dmt”) of lithium concentrates was sold. The third quarter experienced lower sales volumes due to shipping schedule variances noted in the second quarter. The average realized sales price was $2,395/dmt CIF China for the quarter. The average cost per ton for the quarter was $529/dmt CIF China. The cost per ton is lower than the second quarter due to higher sales volumes of tantalum concentrate in the current quarter.

In 2024, we anticipate the cost per ton to rise due to unabsorbed costs during the ramp-up as well as lower relative tantalum sales volumes offsetting higher spodumene production. It is important to note that AMG is one of the lowest cost mines in the world and we plan to maintain that position.

AMG Critical Minerals

AMG Critical Minerals’ revenue for the third quarter of 2023 decreased by 38%, to $53 million, mainly due to lower volumes across the segment largely driven by the silicon metal plant operating one furnace during the quarter, as discussed in detail below. The slowdown in the European industrial economy also continued to negatively impact the segment.

Gross profit of $7 million in the third quarter of 2023 was $6 million higher compared to the same period last year, largely due to the significant increases in gas and electricity costs experienced in the third quarter of 2022.

SG&A expenses in the third quarter of 2023 of $7 million were in line with the same period in 2022.

The third quarter 2023 EBITDA decreased 83% compared to the same period in 2022, to $1 million, due to silicon shutdown as well as the slowdown in the end-use markets for the segment in the current quarter.

AMG Silicon operated one of four furnaces throughout the third quarter and plans to operate one furnace for the remainder of 2023. The operational parameters of the silicon business will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Due to the noted interruptions in AMG Silicon’s operations, the financial impact of the business will be excluded from EBITDA during this period of abnormal operations. However, AMG Silicon generated $10 million in cash flow from operating activities during the quarter driven by the receipt of energy sales made in the fourth quarter of 2022.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ third quarter 2023 revenue increased by $24 million, or 16%, compared to the same period in 2022. This improvement was driven by strong revenues in our engineering unit, as well as higher sales volumes of titanium alloys and chrome metal, partially offset by lower chrome metal pricing.

SG&A expenses increased by 10% in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, due to additional personnel at AMG Engineering and AMG LIVA corresponding to the record order backlog and business development, respectively.

AMG Critical Materials Technologies’ EBITDA was $13 million during the quarter compared to $12 million in the same period of 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher profitability in Engineering and Titanium, partially offset by lower chrome margins driven by continued sequential decline in chrome price in the third quarter of 2023.

AMG Engineering signed $81 million in new orders during the third quarter of 2023, driven by strong orders of remelting and heat treatment furnaces, representing a 1.02x book to bill ratio. Order backlog was $341 million as of September 30, 2023, the highest in AMG’s history.

AMG Engineering has been selected by PCC’s TIMET to supply the vacuum melting and re-melting furnaces for their new, state-of-the-art Titanium melt facility in Ravenswood, West Virginia. AMG’s scope includes several vacuum arc re-melting, electron beam welding, and electron beam melting furnaces, signifying one of the largest orders in all of AMG Engineering’s history.

Financial Review

Tax

AMG recorded an income tax expense of $13 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $39 million in the same period in 2022. This variance was mainly driven by lower profitability in the current quarter.

AMG paid taxes of $33 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to tax payments of $10 million in the third quarter of 2022, primarily due to the timing lag in tax payments relative to tax expense recognition.

Exceptional Items

AMG’s third quarter 2023 gross profit includes exceptional items, which are not included in the calculation of EBITDA.

A summary of exceptional items included in gross profit in the third quarters of 2023 and 2022 are below:

Exceptional items included in gross profit

AMG Vanadium had a $1.3 million non-cash expense during the third quarter of 2023. This is a result of inventory cost adjustments associated with declining prices and an increased inventory position of spent catalyst as we diversify our sourcing strategy which has been adjusted in EBITDA.

SG&A

AMG’s third quarter 2023 SG&A expenses were $43 million compared to $37 million in the third quarter of 2022, with the increase largely attributable to higher personnel costs driven by increased hiring in our Lithium, Engineering, and LIVA businesses.

Liquidity

AMG continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and adequate sources of liquidity during the third quarter. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $347 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and $195 million available on its revolving credit facility. As such, AMG had $542 million of total liquidity as of September 30, 2023.

Net Finance Costs

AMG’s third quarter 2023 net finance cost was $9 million compared to $14 million in the third quarter of 2022. This decrease was mainly driven by foreign exchange gains of $3 million during the quarter primarily due to non-cash intergroup balances and higher interest income earned on an increased cash and cash equivalents balance in the third quarter 2023 compared to the third quarter of 2022. Additionally, in today’s rising rate environment, AMG continues to benefit from its low-cost fixed-rate debt facilities. AMG has an average interest rate charge across its two main debt instruments of 5%.

Outlook

Since the end of July when we issued the previous 2023 EBITDA guidance of between $350 million and $380 million, market prices for spodumene and lithium carbonate have decreased by 50% and 43%, respectively. Given these price decreases, AMG’s new EBITDA guidance for the full year 2023 is approximately $320 million.

Considering the ramp-up of the strategic projects explained above, as well as the volatility of our key material prices, specifically lithium, it is challenging to provide firm guidance for 2024. The recent fall in lithium prices has surprised every industry participant. Establishing the cause of the fall in prices and projecting future movements involves analyzing both the Chinese lithium industry as well as broader macroeconomic factors in China.

Given the difficulty of this analysis, and despite certain signs that the lithium supply and demand picture remains strong, there is high uncertainty with regard to near-term pricing dynamics. Therefore, utilizing today’s depressed price levels, AMG’s EBITDA will be approximately $200 million in 2024 with a stronger performance in the second half of the year.

Profit for the period to adjusted EBITDA reconciliation

_{Notes:
(1)   The Company is in the initial development and ramp-up phases for several strategic expansion projects, including the joint venture with Shell, the LIVA Battery System, and the lithium expansion in Germany, which incurred project expenses during the quarter but are not yet operational. AMG is adjusting EBITDA for these exceptional charges.}

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Press Release

AMG Critical Materials N.V. Announces Interim Dividend

Jul 26, 2023

Amsterdam, 26 July 2023 (Regulated Information) — AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) declares an interim dividend of €0.40 per ordinary share, from an interim dividend of €0.30 per ordinary share in the prior year.

The interim dividend of €0.40 per ordinary share, in respect of the period from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023, is payable on August 9, 2023 to shareholders of record as of August 1, 2023. The ex-dividend date will be July 31, 2023. Dutch withholding tax will be deducted from the dividend at a rate of 15%.

This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

About AMG

AMG’s mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG’s products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO₂ in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO₂ reduction in a variety of other end use markets.

AMG Clean Energy Materials segment combines AMG’s recycling and mining operations, producing materials for infrastructure and energy storage solutions while reducing the CO₂ footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG Clean Energy Materials segment spans the vanadium, lithium, and tantalum value chains. AMG Critical Materials Technologies segment combines AMG’s leading vacuum furnace technology line with high-purity materials serving global leaders in the aerospace sector. AMG Critical Minerals segment consists of AMG’s mineral processing operations in antimony, graphite, and silicon metal.

With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan (www.amg-nv.com).

For further information, please contact:
AMG Critical Materials N.V.        +1 610 975 4979
Michele Fischer
mfischer@amg-nv.com

Disclaimer

Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

Attachment

• Interim Dividend 2023