** Shares of Australia's Tivan Minerals TVN.AX rise as much as 9.3% to A$0.235, their highest since September 11, 2015

** Critical minerals company signs binding agreement with ETFS Capital, which intends to become a strategic partner in co's Speewah fluorite project in Western Australia

** ETFS Capital to invest up to A$51.3 million ($33.45 million) as an equity interest in co's unit, for a 17.5% share in the Speewah project

** Deal also includes an A$11.3 million of acceleration funding to be provided by ETFS Capital in January 2026, and an A$10m overrun facility for additional capital

** YTD, TVN shares up 125%

($1 = 1.5337 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Shruti Agarwal in Bengaluru)

((Shruti.Agarwal@thomsonreuters.com))