Release Date: February 14, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• American Battery Technology Co (NASDAQ:ABAT) has successfully commercialized a system for recycling lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to produce battery-grade products from waste materials.
• The company has secured nearly $30 million in gross proceeds from equity and debt financing rounds, supporting the ramp-up of their first battery recycling facility.
• ABAT has received a $144 million grant from the US Department of Energy to construct a second battery recycling facility, highlighting strong governmental support.
• The company has achieved significant throughput increases at their first recycling plant, with a 350% rise in weekly throughput following recent enhancements.
• ABAT is actively engaging with universities and corporate partners to improve battery design for end-of-life recycling, positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable battery solutions.

Negative Points

• The company is still in the process of completing a pre-feasibility study for their lithium hydroxide refinery, indicating that full-scale operations are not yet imminent.
• Despite progress, ABAT's operations are heavily reliant on government grants and external funding, which may pose risks if such funding sources diminish.
• The company has intentionally planned downtime in operations to implement plant enhancements, which could impact short-term production and revenue.
• ABAT's financials indicate increased expenses due to ramped-up operations, which could pressure margins if not managed effectively.
• The company faces challenges in simultaneously funding and commercializing both their battery recycling and primary lithium mining businesses, which could strain resources.

Q & A Highlights

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with ABAT.

Q: Given that the company has two lines of business, can you share how it intends on simultaneously funding the commercialization of both? A: Ryan Meltzer, CEO and CTO, explained that having both a battery recycling and a primary mining business under one roof is rare but complementary. The cash flow from the battery recycling business, which is already generating revenue, helps fund the design and development of the primary lithium system. This synergy reduces the need for external funding as the revenue from recycling supports the lithium business until larger expenses arise for the lithium refinery.

Q: Are you seeing a slowdown in the electric vehicle market and the corresponding demand for battery minerals? If so, how does this affect ABT's ramp-up plans? A: Ryan Meltzer noted that despite perceptions of a slowdown, the electric vehicle market has seen substantial growth, with sales increasing from 13 million in 2023 to 17 million in 2024. There is a strong preference for sourcing battery minerals domestically, which aligns with ABT's strategy. The company continues to see growth and demand for US-based battery metals, supporting their ramp-up plans.

Q: How is ABT progressing with its lithium resource exploration and development? A: Ryan Meltzer highlighted that ABT has completed its fourth exploration program at the Tonopa flats lithium resource in Nevada. The company is gathering data for a pre-feasibility study to demonstrate the viability of a commercial-scale lithium hydroxide refinery. The exploration is nearly complete, and initial analysis is underway, with results expected soon.

Q: What improvements have been made to the battery recycling facility, and what impact have they had? A: Ryan Meltzer reported significant enhancements to the recycling facility, leading to a 225% increase in throughput in the first month post-improvements and a 350% increase in recent weeks. These upgrades have improved both throughput and product quality, and similar enhancements are planned for the second recycling facility.

Q: Can you elaborate on the recent financial performance and funding status? A: Ryan Meltzer stated that ABT has significantly reduced capital expenditures as the current recycling plant is operational. The company raised over $30 million in gross proceeds last quarter and has a cash balance of over $20 million. Additionally, ABT has secured over $200 million in undispersed but contracted grants and nearly $60 million in investment tax credits.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.