TSX-listed Giyani Metals has appointed Nicola Spooner to the Giyani Board of Directors, with immediate effect, and announced the appointment of strategic advisors.
Board of director appointment
Spooner has 30 years’ experience in the provision of E&S advisory services to the natural resources and clean energy sectors. She is an experienced team leader having led multiple Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and E&S Due Diligence assignments across the globe. Prior to joining Giyani, Spooner established the international environmental, social and governance practice for Hatch Associates (UK) and is founder of her own practice, Green Business Consulting. She is an expert in the E&S requirements of the international lending community, specifically Equator Principles and the IFC Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability, and has advised multiple international financial institutions and mining and metals businesses on their decarbonization and sustainability strategies.
She joins the board immediately and will serve as the chair of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee, replacing John Petersen who will remain on the committee, and will join the Technical, HSE & Sustainability Committee. Following the appointment of Spooner, the Board will comprise seven directors, six of whom are independent.
Appointment of HCF International advisers
Giyani also announces the engagement of HCF to provide a strategic funding review to assist the Company in analyzing various funding options for its flagship K.Hill Battery Manganese Project. HCF is a leading independent corporate finance advisory boutique based in London, UK with a primary focus on the mining and metals sector. HCF provides strategic and financial advice to companies across the project life cycle and has extensive financing and technical experience as well as expertise in the funding of critical minerals projects.
The company is currently in discussions with a number of financial institutions with respect to the funding of the development of K.Hill and HCF will work with Giyani to review and evaluate optimal solutions for its future project funding requirements.
Appointment of Renmark Financial Communications
Renmark is a full-service investor relations firm representing small, medium and large cap public companies trading on all major North American exchanges. Under the engagement, Renmark will be paid a monthly fee of CAD9,000, starting August 1, 2022, for an initial period of five months ending on December 31, 2022, and on a rolling monthly basis from then on. Renmark will assist with investor relations support, such as the organization and administration of roadshows.
Renmark does not have any direct or indirect interest in Giyani, its securities or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.
Robin Birchall, CEO of the company, commented:
“Firstly, on behalf of the Giyani team, I would like to welcome Nicola and express how incredibly pleased we are for her to join our company. Her significant expertise in the E&S sector will also help support the efforts of Marion Thomas, our VP of ESG, in maintaining our focus on sustainability as we develop the K.Hill Battery Manganese Project into a responsible, low-carbon producer of battery materials for the electric vehicle market. With the impending release of our feasibility study for K.Hill and construction of our demonstration plant, Giyani has entered into a critical phase of its development. The appointment of Nicola, along with the engagement of HCF and Renmark, as strategic financial and investor relations advisors respectively, demonstrates how we are priming the company for the exciting months ahead.”