They can't. No-one is going to sell it to them.
Dathcom is the JV that is/owns the Manono project.
AVZ's interest in Manono is via GLH's stake in Dathcom, via AVZI.
GLH is a wholely owned subsidiary of AVZI.
Some of the ownership disputes are things like Cominiere selling 15% interest in the Dathcom JV to Dathomir.
You'd need all JV parties to agree, and they are all fighting.
When we say AVZ owns 75% of Dathcom, we mean GLH's 60% interest, plus the 15% that was also sold to Dathomir (Cong) in violation of our ROFR.
For CATH to get a stake directly in Dathcom, they'd have to buy it from Cominiere, Dathomir, or GLH. That would immediately start a shitfight, since thoses parties are currently at ICC/ICSID arguing over who owns what in Dathcom re: the ROFR and selling 15% to Dathomir. Also remembering that Cominiere is trying to dissolve the Dathcom JV.
AVZ would never sell any of GLH's stake in Dathcom JV to CATL. It would give them a direct ownership stake and voting power.
Keeping them as a minority stake in GLH allows AVZ to remain in control.
Easier for CATL to buy a indirect stake in GLH, which owns at least 60% undisputed (as long as Cominiere/DRC aren't successful in dismantling the Dathcom JV), and possibly 75% if we get the 15% through ROFR.
So CATL taking an indirect stake in GLH means they are confident/hoping/hedging that:
- The Dathcom JV stays intact
- GLH owns at least 60%, and hopefully 75% of Dathcom
- AVZ get a license to mine via the Dathcom JV, maintaining the value in Dathcom via some sort of deal or legal win, whichever comes first.
This is a Good Thing (tm).
The funding supplied to get this indirect stake is helpful because it supplies funding for:
- litigation, ICC/ICSID fees, operational/working capital, and
- demonstrated ability to fund mining, which is required to get the exploitation permit. This is an important point that people forget.
This is a Really Good Thing (tm).
Where things get sticky are conditions around release of funding after the initial $10M and when repayment of funds becomes due. We don't have the details around that, but I'm pretty sure it will be covered off. There are still negotiations going on we aren't aware of.
One thing for sure is Cominiere will be very unhappy at this turn of events, and that alone gives me warm fuzzies.