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37<br />
NORTHERN MINERALS LIMITED<br />
DIRECTORS’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021<br />
On 17 February 2021 assay results from the remaining 72 holes drilled were announced. These results<br />
were from Area 5, Banshee South, Banshee West, Dazzler/Iceman, Toad and regional exploration.<br />
Infill and extension drilling results from Dazzler (14m @0.76% TREO from 25m and 6m @1.41% TREO<br />
from 12m) confirmed the mineralisation to the southeast of the main high-grade zone at Dazzler and<br />
indicated the potential to increase the existing Dazzler Mineral Resource.<br />
In the Banshee area, widespread low-grade mineralisation intersected at Banshee West (13m @0.43%<br />
TREO from 23m) and Banshee South (19m @ 0.33% TREO from 11m) suggests a significant<br />
mineralised system in this area.<br />
Similarly, at Area 5, widespread low-grade mineralisation was intersected (6m @0.44% TREO from 7m<br />
and 2m @ 0.69% TREO from 49m).<br />
Three holes drilled as follow-up to the first five drill holes at the new Toad prospect returned a best<br />
intersection of 6m @ 0.78% TREO from 49m.<br />
The second phase of the exploration program including an additional 12,000m of reverse circulation<br />
drilling, aimed at expanding the inventory of near-surface resources in the Browns Range Dome<br />
commenced post reporting period in July 2021 with a 12-week campaign. This will include a combination<br />
of follow-up holes at the Banshee West and Toad prospects, drill investigation in the vicinity of the<br />
Gambit and Gambit West deposits, and at the Rogue prospect, and drill testing at greenfield targets<br />
including the Ripcord, Pulse and Quicksilver prospects.<br />
The combined results from the <strong>2020</strong>-21 RC drilling campaigns will support the scope of the current<br />
feasibility work for the commercial-scale beneficiation plant.<br />
CORPORATE<br />
R&D Funding<br />
In early 2019, the Company lodged a formal appeal with AusIndustry regarding its initial decision that<br />
the Company’s activities were ‘ineligible R&D claims’ for the 30 June 2017 (“FY17”) and 30 June 2018<br />
(“FY18”) financial years. On 24 February <strong>2020</strong> the Company was advised that AusIndustry had<br />
completed a review of its initial decision and subsequently found that most of the Company’s R&D<br />
activities for these periods were in fact eligible.<br />
In August <strong>2020</strong>, the Company announced that it had reached a settlement agreement with the<br />
Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that settled all matters relating to the FY17 and FY18 R&D tax offset<br />
claims. The settlement agreement also documented the agreed refundable R&D offset claim for 30<br />
June 2019 (“FY19”) financial year as well as a framework for reviewing the Company’s refundable R&D<br />
offset claim for FY20. In September <strong>2020</strong> the Company received A$10.0 million in cash as well as the<br />
settlement of all outstanding ATO debt.<br />
In November <strong>2020</strong>, the Company received a further A$8.7 million for its <strong>2020</strong> financial year refundable<br />
Research and Development tax offset for its eligible R & D work as well as a further A$0.3 million in<br />
relation to prior years.<br />
Capital Raising<br />
The Company received A$6.57 million in the first quarter of the 2021 financial year completing the A$22<br />
million capital raising announced in the previous financial year (20 April <strong>2020</strong>).<br />
On 16 February 2021 the Company announced it had entered into subscription agreements with various<br />
sophisticated and institutional investors in Australia, the United States and Europe to raise A$20.0<br />
million (before costs) under a private placement. EAS Advisors, LLC acted as the Company’s placement<br />
agent and financial advisor.<br />
The placement was oversubscribed and was priced at a 5.8% discount to the 11 February 2021 closing<br />
price of A$0.052 and a 6.1% discount to the Company’s 10-day trading VWAP. The placement<br />
consisted of the issue of 408,163,265 fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.049 per share. This along with<br />
5<br />
NORTHERN MINERALS _ ANNUAL REPORT 2021