Unfortunately, I cannot see KoBold increasing its bid, or negotiating with AVZ at the moment.
On 17 July 2025, it inked a deal with the DRC for a range of items, including the acquisition and exploitation of the southern part of Manono (RD), and exploration rights to large swathes of prospective territory. It signed this agreement with the DRC, because it was clearly getting a good commercial deal...way more than just RD alone. Doubtless, the deal also came with a number of sweeteners and cost-offsets for KoBold, which AVZ could not possibly counter.
As we are all well aware, the DRC refuses AVZ a seat at the negotiating table because it believes that AVZ no longer has any rights over Manono (PR13359). They were all corruptly extinguished through a range of govt decisions stretching back to Feb 2022 when the MoM cancelled AVZ's mining rights. The restoration of these rights is being fought via ICC and ICSID arbitrations.
Notwithstanding the ongoing ICC and ICSID arbitrations, unfortunately the DRC holds all the regulatory, and licencing cards. It clearly has the ability to determine the success or otherwise of any venture undertaken by KoBold or anybody else in the DRC. While distasteful and disappointing, it makes commercial sense for KoBold to engage with the DRC, rather than AVZ.
Cheers
F