United States Antimony soars after proposed acquisition of Australian miner Larvotto Resources
United States Antimony Corp. is up after revealing a proposal to purchase Australian miner Larvotto Resources in an all-stock deal.
US Antimony has already acquired 10% of the company in the open market.
Larvotto is planning on developing Australia’s largest deposit of antimony, a metalloid that’s used in ammunition, batteries, and certain semiconductor products. Antimony is not a rare earth, but is considered strategically important and its production has been dominated by China.
“Our proposal to combine with Larvotto reflects our deep commitment to build a world class industry player in the critical minerals space and our strong conviction in the strategic and cultural fit between the two organizations as well as our countries,” Chairman and CEO Gary Evans said. “We see this as a compelling opportunity for Larvotto shareholders to participate in the upside of a larger, more diversified group — one with financial strength, global reach, and top tier technical capabilities.”
US Antimony has rallied strongly in recent months as the US government began to accumulate equity positions in critical minerals producers and investors tried to identify future potential targets for government investment. Those gains kicked into high gear last week after JPMorgan announced plans to invest billions in critical minerals and other industries key to America’s economic security and resiliency.
William Blair analyst Neal Dingmann initiated coverage of USAC with an “outperform” rating on Monday, suggesting that the US government may also take a position in the firm, per Bloomberg.