Shares of Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) rose by up to 6.3% on Thursday, representing the largest single-day percentage advance for the stock since June 1. The move came after the company outlined plans to separate certain exploration holdings into a new listed entity focused on gold exploration.
Core Lithium said it will transfer exploration assets located in the Northern Territory and South Australia into a newly formed company called Axiant Resources. The business will be divested through an initial public offering, with Core Lithium indicating its intention to lodge a prospectus with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in the third quarter.
The corporate reshuffle includes board-level changes. Malcolm McComas has been appointed Chairman of Core Lithium. Greg English will retire from his current role at Core Lithium and will take on the role of Chairman at Axiant Resources.
Context and mechanics
The company described the transaction as a divestment and spin-out of select exploration assets into Axiant Resources. The vehicle will be positioned as a standalone gold exploration company and will be taken to market via an IPO process. Core Lithium specified that a prospectus will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission in the third quarter, signalling a formal step toward listing the new entity.
Market reaction
Investors responded positively on the day of the announcement, pushing Core Lithium shares to their highest intraday percentage gain since early June. The share movement coincided with the corporate restructuring and the naming of new chairmanship roles across the two entities.
Summary
- Core Lithium plans to spin out exploration assets in the Northern Territory and South Australia into Axiant Resources.
- The new company will be divested through an initial public offering, with a prospectus to be lodged in the third quarter with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
- Malcolm McComas has been named Core Lithium Chairman; Greg English will step down from his current role and become Chairman of Axiant.