{"id":910762,"date":"2025-11-17T09:44:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/iperionx-response-to-short-seller-report\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T09:44:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T14:44:02","slug":"iperionx-response-to-short-seller-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/iperionx-response-to-short-seller-report\/","title":{"rendered":"IperionX Response to Short Seller Report"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IperionX Limited (IperionX) (NASDAQ: IPX, ASX: IPX)<\/strong> notes the short seller report released by Spruce Point Capital Management. Consistent with recommended disclosures on short-selling campaigns under ASIC\u2019s guidance in Information Sheet 255, IperionX\u2019s response is focused on\u00a0material, verifiable facts\u00a0relevant to investors and continuous disclosure obligations.<\/p>\n

IperionX maintains confidentiality, data-security and intellectual-property controls that meet the stringent contracting requirements of the U.S. Department of War (DoW). IperionX remains focused on executing the commercial scale-up of titanium production and manufacturing in Virginia.<\/p>\n

Spruce Point Capital did not engage with IperionX management at any time before releasing its short seller report, and the Company has no record of any attempted outreach by phone or email. Spruce Point Capital has never visited, or requested to visit, IperionX\u2019s titanium manufacturing operations in Virginia.<\/p>\n

IperionX will continue to update the market as required in accordance with ASIC, ASX and SEC obligations.<\/p>\n

\n VALIDATION OF IPERIONX\u2019S PATENTED TECHNOLOGIES AND U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX\u2019s titanium technologies have been evaluated and supported through multiple U.S. Government programs including ARPA-E, DPA Title III, IBAS and, most recently, a U.S. Army led SBIR Phase III contract for procurement-ready titanium products.<\/p>\n

These funding programs involve competitive selection processes, detailed technical due diligence, and ongoing reporting to DoW subject-matter experts who assess process performance, production quality and technology maturity. IperionX\u2019s advancement through successive U.S. Government awards reflects the increasing readiness of its technology platform and its strategic relevance for the U.S. titanium supply chain.<\/p>\n

IperionX\u2019s multi-year U.S. Government support and third-party validation includes:<\/p>\n

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\n ARPA-E Program (2014) <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

ARPA-E, the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s advanced research agency, provided funding to the University of Utah to scale the titanium technologies from laboratory bench scale to pilot-scale production.<\/p>\n

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\n The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) \u2018Reprocessing of Metallic Scrap and Waste Powders\u2019 Grand Challenge (2023) <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX won the AFRL Reprocessing of Metallic Scrap and Waste Powders Grand Challenge, for technology and processes that could transform scrap titanium into high-quality titanium metal powders.<\/p>\n

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\n Winner of R&D 100 award (2023) <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX and the HAMR technology inventor Dr. Zak Fang were recognized with the R&D 100 Award, acknowledging the breakthrough potential of their titanium production process. Assessed by an independent panel of leading experts, the R&D 100 Award is among the most respected global innovation accolades, awarded only to technologies that demonstrate exceptional technical merit, differentiation, and measurable advantages over existing processes.<\/p>\n

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\n Defense Production Act Title III \/ DPA Investment Program (2023) <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX received a U.S. DoW award of\u00a0US$12.7 million\u00a0\u201cto increase titanium production for defense supply chains,\u201d specifically to commission and scale its Virginia facility to 125 metric tons per annum (tpa) of titanium.<\/p>\n

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\n IBAS (Industrial Base Analysis & Sustainment) Program (2025) <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX received a U.S. DoW award of US$47.1 million\u00a0to strengthen the U.S. Defense Industrial Base by accelerating development of a resilient, low-cost, and fully integrated U.S. mineral-to-metal titanium supply chain.<\/p>\n

Under the IBAS program, the DoW allocated US$5 million to accelerate the Titan Critical Minerals Project, funding a Definitive Feasibility Study to achieve \u2018shovel-ready\u2019 status by mid 2026. With all major development permits received, Titan Project stands as a potential near-term, strategic source of rare earths, titanium and zircon critical minerals for the United States.<\/p>\n

The DoW has since\u00a0obligated multiple tranches\u00a0of funding under this IBAS award, including\u00a0US$12.5 million (August 2025), US$25 million (September 2025) in addition to the US$5 million\u00a0for the Titan Critical Minerals Definitive Feasibility Study.<\/p>\n

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\n SBIR Phase III Program (2025)<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX was awarded a U.S. Army Phase III SBIR IDIQ contract of up to US$99 million, applicable for procurement-ready technologies that U.S. Government agencies can utilize for procurement task orders, on a\u00a0sole-source\u00a0basis without further competition. IperionX\u2019s first U.S. Army task order under the SBIR III has already been issued.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The SBIR program is executed under open competition and routinely applies standards more rigorous than those used in traditional acquisition programs. Phase I and II agreements focus on the competitive development, testing, and evaluation of commercially relevant technologies. SBIR Phase III represents the program\u2019s most advanced phase. During Phase III, the U.S. Government transitions into production contracts to facilitate commercialization. Attainment of Phase III status typically signifies that a company has met extensive technical, testing, and competition requirements, secured recurring funding support from U.S. Government end-users over multiple selection stages, and demonstrated operational or near-operational performance.<\/p>\n

\n OPERATING FOCUS AND NEAR-TERM PRIORITIES <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX reiterates 2026 priorities as previously disclosed.<\/p>\n

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\n Virginia: Commission industrial scale titanium production capacity <\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

The Virginia Titanium Manufacturing Campus has completed commissioning, with titanium products advancing through customer qualification phases. Process and operational enhancements have recently increased projected nameplate capacity from 125 tpa to 200 tpa.<\/p>\n

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\n Virginia: Titanium production capacity scale-up to ~1,400 tpa by mid-2027 (U.S. DoW co-funded)<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

The IBAS-funded expansion of IperionX\u2019s Virginia operations to lift nameplate titanium capacity by 7x to ~1,400 tpa by mid-2027 is now underway. The estimated US$75 million cost of the program is supported by IBAS funding commitments already secured.<\/p>\n

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\n Customer programs and revenues<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX is actively working on SBIR Phase III task orders for manufactured titanium components, drawing on its integrated powder metallurgy, forging, and additive manufacturing technology platform to deliver high-performance, low-cost titanium solutions for the U.S. military.<\/p>\n

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\n Cost curve and competitiveness<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX is advancing a structured process optimization program to continue to drive down projected unit costs and further increase yields. Current cost targets and timelines remain consistent with prior disclosures.<\/p>\n

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\n Titan Critical Minerals Project (Tennessee)<\/em>
\n <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

The Titan Definitive Feasibility Study continues to advance with U.S. Government funding support, accelerating work toward \u2019shovel-ready\u2019 status. Titan Project is positioned as a potential near-term strategic supplier of rare earths (including heavy rare earths), titanium and zircon, supporting U.S. critical mineral security. Progression to development will be dependent on completion of the DFS, expected by mid-2026, and the arrangement of appropriate project finance.<\/p>\n

\n ADDRESSABLE MARKETS AND PRODUCT SALES STRATEGY <\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

While spherical titanium powder remains a product offering for select customers, IperionX\u2019s largest addressable market and core growth opportunity is high-performance, near-net-shape and finished titanium components for high-volume end markets such as fasteners, automotive, consumer electronics, and defense.<\/p>\n

Leveraging low-cost HAMR titanium powder and advanced HSPT forging technologies, the Company aims to deliver high-value components at materially lower cost structures. This vertically integrated approach supports competitive U.S. production across the full titanium value chain – from scrap or minerals through to finished titanium parts – addressing growing demand for resilient, sustainable and domestically sourced titanium.<\/p>\n

IperionX has already manufactured and delivered titanium fasteners at the request of U.S. Army leadership. This successful initial deployment provided third-party validation of both the technical performance and cost advantage of HAMR and HSPT processes, and is driving additional commercial opportunities across the defense, oil & gas, automotive, and aerospace sectors.<\/p>\n

\n SALES CONTRACTS<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

IperionX has secured multiple commercial agreements for its manufactured titanium products, as set out in the Company\u2019s ASX and SEC disclosures. The prioritization of each program shifts over time to reflect customer scale, strategic importance, and alignment with U.S. Government funding and capability objectives. Representative agreements include:<\/p>\n