Sale of Tundulu REE Project to AuKing
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX Announcement
17 April 2026
Sale of Tundulu REE Project to AuKing Mining for up to 5.55 million,
Strengthening Funding and Strategic Focus
Highlights
• Binding agreements executed to divest 100% of the Tundulu Rare Earth Elements (REE)
Project in Malawi to AuKing Mining Limited (ASX:AKN).
• Total consideration value of $5.55 million, comprising staged cash and equity.
• Non-dilutive funding expected to fully support Tusker’s planned exploration and
development programs through 2026.
• Capital to be redirected to its core rutile and heavy mineral sands portfolio in Malawi and
Cameroon, where the Company holds district-scale tenements with confirmed high-grade
mineralisation and proximity to infrastructure.
• Tusker retains ongoing exposure to Tundulu REE upside via equity in AuKing, maintaining
leverage to rare earth markets, which are currently benefiting from strong macro tailwinds.
• Transaction enables a dedicated owner to advance the REE potential of Tundulu, unlocking
value without further capital commitment from Tusker.
• The transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent typical for this type of transaction
• Engage with this announcement at the Tusker Minerals Investor Hub.
Tusker Minerals Ltd (ASX: TSK, ‘Tusker’ or ‘Company’), an African-focused explorer advancing a
portfolio of critical mineral assets, is pleased to announce it has entered into a binding agreement to
divest its 100% interest in the Tundulu Rare Earth Elements (REE) Project located in southern Malawi
to AuKing Mining Limited (ASX: AKN) (“AuKing” and “AKN”).
Strategic Rationale: Funding & Focus
This transaction represents a disciplined capital allocation decision that strengthens Tusker’s
balance sheet while sharpening its strategic focus toward assets with the strongest near-term discovery
and development potential and highest strategic relevance to global critical mineral supply chains.
The sale delivers:
• Immediate and deferred cash inflows to extend the Company’s funding runway
• Non-dilutive capital, avoiding equity dilution to existing shareholders
• Increased capacity to accelerate development of Tusker’s core rutile and HMS portfolio,
where management sees the strongest near-term value creation
Tusker’s projects in Malawi and Cameroon comprise district-scale tenements with high-grade
mineralisation and proximity to infrastructure, positioning the Company to benefit from growing
demand for titanium feedstocks.
At the same time, the Company retains equity exposure to Tundulu through AuKing shares and
performance rights, preserving upside to the rare earth sector without additional capital outlay.
The Tundulu project, a known carbonatite complex enriched in REE, niobium, and gallium, has
demonstrated significant potential through historical drilling and recent sampling programs. The
divestment follows a strategic review initiated in late 2025, which evaluated options to unlock value from
Tusker’s Malawi REE assets while enabling greater focus on the Company’s titanium-rich mineral sands
portfolio.
Chief Executive Officer, Cliff Fitzhenry, commented:
“This transaction reflects disciplined capital allocation, enabling Tusker to prioritise advancement of its
high-grade rutile and heavy mineral sands assets in Malawi and Cameroon, where we see the strongest
near-term value creation.
The divestment delivers non-dilutive funding expected to support our activities through 2026, while
retaining meaningful exposure to Tundulu’s upside via our shareholding in AuKing.
We believe this approach maximises value for shareholders by focusing our resources on our highest-
priority assets while maintaining leverage to the rare earth sector.”
Terms of the Transaction
The divestment provides a total consideration value of $5.55 million in non-dilutive consideration,
strengthening Tusker’s balance sheet and extending the Company’s funding runway through 2026. This
allows Tusker to accelerate exploration and development activities across its core projects while
maintaining a disciplined capital structure.
Importantly, Tusker will also receive equity consideration in AuKing Mining, providing the Company
with ongoing exposure to the development potential of the Tundulu project and the broader rare
earth market, while enabling a dedicated owner to progress the asset.
Under the proposed divestment, AuKing will acquire 100% of the Tundulu REE Project from Tusker's
wholly owned subsidiary, Green Exploration Limited, for total consideration comprising:
• $50,000 non-refundable cash deposit (already paid);
• A$1,000,000 cash at completion;
• A$1,250,000 in AKN shares to be issued at completion, subject to any required AKN
shareholder approval, with a 12 month voluntary escrow;
• A$1,100,000 cash payable six months after completion;
• A$1,100,000 cash payable 12 months after completion; and
• A$1,000,000 in AKN performance rights, convertible into AKN ordinary shares upon satisfaction
of the agreed JORC-compliant resource milestone of at least 25 Mt @ 1.25% TREO, subject to
any required AKN shareholder approval.
For facilitating the transaction with AuKing, the Company will pay Moa Mining Pty Ltd (a company
associated with Matt Horgan) with a facilitation fee of 4% of the consideration paid.
-ENDS-
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Tusker Minerals.
More information
Mr Daniel Smith Mr Cliff Fitzhenry Jessica Fertig
Executive Chairman Chief Executive Officer Media and Investor Relations
dan@tuskerminerals.com cliff@tuskerminerals.com jessica@taumedia.com.au
About Tusker Minerals
Tusker Minerals is an African-focused explorer advancing a world-class portfolio of critical mineral
assets across Cameroon & Malawi. Tusker’ projects include the Central Rutile Project and Douala Basin
HMS Project in Cameroon and the Machinga HREE Project, and Salambidwe Project in Malawi.
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