Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Reports JOGMEC Establishes Special Purpose Company to Hold and Fund Combined Equity Interests in the Waterberg PGM Project
838 – 1100 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6
P: 604-899-5450
F: 604-484-4710
News Release No. 23-467
June 9, 2023
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Reports
JOGMEC Establishes Special Purpose Company
to Hold and Fund Combined Equity Interests
in the Waterberg PGM Project
(Vancouver/Johannesburg) Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (PTM:TSX; PLG:NYSE American)
(“Platinum Group ”, “PTM” or the “ Company”) reports that the Japan Organization for
Metals and Energy Security (“JOGMEC”) and Hanwa Co. Ltd. (“Hanwa”) have established a
special purpose company, HJ Platinum Metals Ltd. (“HJM”), to hold and fund their future
equity interest s in the Waterberg platinum group metals project (“Waterberg PGM
Project”). The combined interests of JOGMEC (12.195%) and Hanwa (9.755%) have been
consolidated into a 21.95% interest for HJM going forward, with JOGMEC to fund 75% of
future equity investments into HJM and Hanwa the remaining 25%.
Platinum Group President and CEO Frank R. Hallam said, “A Memorandum of Understanding
regarding cooperation on the Waterberg PGM Project was signed in Cape Town during May
2022. Since then, JOGMEC and Hanwa have undertaken a project-scheme reorganization
amongst themselves. With this reorganization now complete, o ur Japanese partners are in
position to continue their support towards a development plan for the Waterberg PGM Project.
Platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold (“PGMs”), as well as copper and nickel, are widely
used in Japanese industry, including use in fuel cells, automotive catalysis, and hydrolyzers,
and are expected to play a critical role in decarbonization. The Waterberg PGM Project holds1
large-scale, shallow PGM reserves and is expected to be a cost-competitive mine based on
bulk, mechanized mining methods. The Waterberg PGM Project is also expected to be a new
stable PGM supply source for Japanese industry upon the commencement of production.”
About the Waterberg PGM Project
The Waterberg PGM Project, discovered in 2011, is a bulk underground PGM deposit located
on the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, and is owned by Platinum
Group (37.05%), Mnombo Wethu Consultants (Pty) Ltd. (" Mnombo") (26.0%), Impala
Platinum Holdings Ltd. (15%) (“Implats”), and HJM (21.95%) through Waterberg JV
Resources (Pty) Ltd. (“Waterberg JV Co.). As a result of its equity interest in Mnombo, the
Company has an aggregate 50.02% direct and indirect interest in the Waterberg PGM Project.
1 Technical report entitled “Independent Technical Report, Waterberg Project Definitive Feasibility Study and Mineral
Resource Update, Bushveld Complex, South Africa” filed on SEDAR October 7, 2019, at www.sedar.com
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …2
Qualified Person
Rob van Egmond, P.Geo., a consultant geologist to the Company and a former employee, is
an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43 -101 Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Mr. van Egmond has reviewed, validated, and
approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release and has
previously visited the Waterberg Project site.
About Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. is the operator of the Waterberg PGM Project, a bulk underground
palladium and platinum deposit located in South Africa. The Waterberg PGM Project was
discovered by Platinum Group and is being jointly developed with Implats, Mnombo, JOGMEC
and Hanwa. Total expenditures on the property since inception from all investor sources to
February 28, 2023, are approximately US $82.9 million.
On behalf of the Board of
Platinum Group Metals Ltd.
Frank R. Hallam
President, CEO and Director
For further information contact:
Kris Begic, VP, Corporate Development
Platinum Group Metals Ltd., Vancouver
Tel: (604) 899-5450 / Toll Free: (866) 899-5450
www.platinumgroupmetals.net
Disclosure
The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept
responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this news release, which has been prepared by
management.
This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities
laws and forward -looking statements within the meaning of U.S. securities laws (collectively
“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words
such as: “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend ”, “estimate”, “may”, “plans”, “postulate” and
similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. All statements
that are not statements of historical fact are forward -looking statements. Forward -looking
statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the use of
metals in Japanese industry, JOGMEC, Hanwa or HJM being in position to continue their support,
future development and cost-competitiveness of the Waterberg PGM Project, JOGMEC or Hanwa
funding future equity investments into HJM and the Company’s other future plans and
expectations. Although the Company believes any forward-looking statements in this news release
are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations and assumptions in such statements
will prove to be correct.
The Company cautions investors that any forward -looking statements by the Company are not
guarantees of future results or performance and that actual results may differ materially from
PLATINUM GROUP METALS LTD. …3
those in forward -looking statements as a result of various factors, i ncluding possible adverse
impacts due the global outbreak of COVID-19, the Company’s inability to generate sufficient cash
flow or raise additional capital, and to comply with the terms of any new indebtedness; additional
financing requirements; and any new indebtedness may be secured, which potentially could result
in the loss of any assets pledged by the Company; the Company’s history of losses and negative
cash flow; the Company’s properties may not be brought into a state of commercial production;
uncertainty of estimated production, development plans and cost estimates for the Waterberg
PGM Project; discrepancies between actual and estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources,
between actual and estimated development and operating costs, between act ual and estimated
metallurgical recoveries and between estimated and actual production; fluctuations in the relative
values of the U.S. Dollar, the Rand and the Canadian Dollar; volatility in metals prices; the
uncertainty of alternative funding sources for Waterberg JV Co.; the Company may become subject
to the U.S. Investment Company Act; the failure of the Company or the other shareholders to
fund their pro rata share of funding obligations for the Waterberg PGM Project; any disputes or
disagreements with the other shareholders of Waterberg JV Co. or Mnombo; the ability of the
Company to retain its key management employees and skilled and experienced personnel;
conflicts of interest; litigation or other administrative proceedings brought against the Company;
actual or alleged breaches of governance processes or instances of fraud, bribery or corruption;
exploration, development and mining risks and the inherently dangerous nature of the mining
industry, and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks
and other risks and uncertainties; property and mineral title risks including defective title to
mineral claims or property; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation,
controls, regulations and pol itical or economic developments in Canada and South Africa;
equipment shortages and the ability of the Company to acquire necessary access rights and
infrastructure for its mineral properties; environmental regulations and the ability to obtain and
maintain necessary permits, including environmental authorizations and water use licences;
extreme competition in the mineral exploration industry; delays in obtaining, or a failure to obtain,
permits necessary for current or future operations or failures to comp ly with the terms of such
permits; risks of doing business in South Africa, including but not limited to, labour, economic and
political instability and potential changes to and failures to comply with legislation; the Company’s
common shares may be delist ed from the NYSE American or the TSX if it cannot maintain
compliance with the applicable listing requirements; and other risk factors described in the
Company’s most recent Form 40-F annual report, Annual Information Form and other filings with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC”) and the Canadian securities regulators,
which may be viewed at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com, respectively. Proposed changes in the
mineral law in South Africa if implemented as proposed would have a material adverse effect on
the Company’s business and potential interest in projects. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities
laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward -looking statement,
whether because of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
The technical and scientific information contained herein has been prepared in accordance with NI
43-101, which differs from the standards adopted by the SEC. Accordingly, the technical a nd
scientific information contained herein, including any estimates of mineral reserves and mineral
resources, may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies subject to
the disclosure requirements of the SEC.