Israeli tech firm HUB Cyber Security Ltd (NASDAQ: HUBC) is advancing a strategy to enter the critical minerals space. This will be possible through its planned acquisition of Ferrox Critical Minerals — a mining company that just identified antimony at its flagship Tivani project in South Africa.
In a joint news release on Mar. 4, HUB and Ferrox announced the addition of the strategic mineral alongside the site’s titanium, iron and vanadium resources. The addition allows the project to produce this valuable metal alongside the others without requiring entirely new infrastructure. Ferrox is targeting production in 2027 and the project is scheduled to have a 20-year lifespan.
This deal ranks as a top priority for HUB because owning a permitted, large-scale critical minerals project like Tivani adds tangible, asset-backed value to the company’s balance sheet. It is part of a diversification strategy that extends HUB’s portfolio beyond pure cybersecurity.
HUB agreed to acquire Ferrox in an all-stock deal valued at approximately US$125 million last month by signing a term sheet.
The cybersecurity firm specializes in delivering services such as military-grade protection, secure confidential computing and AI-powered data systems. These tools protect sensitive information for governments, banks and large enterprises around the world.
The Tivani project and phased acquisition
Tivani already has mining rights, environmental approvals, water permits and rail access for efficient transport. More than US$70 million has gone into advancing the project to its current ready-for-construction phase.
Alongside newly defined antimony mineralization the deposit’s 519 million tons of ore is rich in iron and titanium, supported by standard industry assessments. Ferrox anticipates that the operation will generate US$29 million in free cash flow during its first year of production.
HUB’s takeover of Ferrox is proceeding in steps. The first will see that HUB receives a 19.9 per cent stake after signing final documents, followed by providing additional shares linked to project milestones such as reaching production targets.
Ferrox had previously planned to complete an initial public offering on the TSX or Nasdaq later this year, but these plans have since been shelved as the HUB acquisition progresses. Investors will soon be able to gain exposure through HUB stock. Regulator and shareholder approval for the merger is still pending.
Read more: NevGold’s stock growth secures junior spot on 2026 TSX Venture 50 list
The strategic importance of antimony
HUB, investors and stakeholders pursue antimony because it ranks as a defence-critical mineral with supply heavily concentrated in a handful of countries. Mainly China, which creates significant risks for Western defence and tech industries.
The metal improves the strength of alloys used in aircraft and missiles, enhances performance in semiconductors and electronics, provides fire resistance in materials, and plays a role in military equipment such as night-vision devices and certain batteries. Considering the ongoing conflict in Iran and geopolitical tensions abroad, it is clear that the metalloid has been increasingly attracting attention.
This was evidenced earlier this month when the United States Department of War invested US$27 million into United States Antimony Corp (NYSEAMERICAN: UAMY) to expand its mining, refining and processing capabilities. Overall, the antimony market shows increasing momentum as the United States works to develop its own reliable sources.
In addition to larger cap companies that Washington has been attracted to like Perpetua Resources Corp (TSE: PPTA) (NASDAQ: PPTA), junior mining companies active in the country are becoming imperative for developing new antimony deposits that the country needs.
American Tungsten & Antimony Ltd (OTCMKTS: ATALF) (FRA: 4VZ), NevGold Corp (CVE: NAU) (OTCMKTS: NAUFF) (FRA: 5E50) and Locksley Resources Ltd (OTCMKTS: LKYRF) (ASX: LKY) (FRA: X5L) are a few that have been making considerable progress at their respective sites in Utah, California and Nevada.
These developments reflect a broader effort to reduce reliance on concentrated foreign supplies, which makes HUB’s move to enter the antimony sector through Tivani a well-timed addition.
Read more: NevGold discovers transformational oxide gold-antimony structure at Limousine Butte
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