TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company"), developer of the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana ("the Project" or "K.Hill"), announces that effective September 12, 2024, Charles FitzRoy has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President, replacing Danny Keating who is leaving the Company to pursue other opportunities.
Charles FitzRoy was appointed Head of Corporate Development & Strategy at Giyani in October 2023 where has been directly managing all OEM and off-taker relationships, which he first developed from his experience in the lithium sector. He is an experienced mining executive having previously been CEO of the lithium explorer/developer Bradda Head Lithium, which Charles took public on AIM and subsequently listed on the OTCQB and the TSX-V. During his tenure at Bradda Head, he led successful raises on the equity markets in Canada and the UK and also raised funds through the sale of a royalty. Charles brings a wide range of experience across the metals and mining sector having held positions at CMOC, Citi, BlackRock and Arden Partners. He holds degrees in Geology (BSc Hons) and Metals & Energy Finance (MSc) and is a fellow of the Geological Society and a professional member of MIMMM. Charlie also brings additional management experience from his five years of service in the British Military.
Mark Burnett, interim non-executive chairman of the board of directors, commented:
"We are very excited to appoint Charles as CEO at an important time for the Company. Since he joined the Company last year, the Board has been impressed with his strategic decision making and vision for the Company. He assumes the role as CEO with Giyani on a strong footing going forward, as we're on track to deliver the Demonstration Plant in Q4 this year and are progressing the DFS concurrently, for project financing in 2025."
Mr. FitzRoy commented:
"This is a very exciting time for Giyani as we look to finalize the delivery of the Demonstration Plant in Q4 and begin narrowing our focus towards commencing negotiating potential off-take agreements with key partners this year. There is much work to be done but we believe we have the right team to continue to advance the Company and K.Hill towards being a dominant producer of battery grade manganese in Africa. I look forward to working with the team on the ground in Botswana to progress the project towards the next phase."
About Giyani
Giyani is focussed on becoming the dominant western-world producer of sustainable, low carbon high purity battery grade manganese for the electric vehicle ("EV") industry. The Company has developed a proprietary hydrometallurgical process to produce battery grade manganese (HPMSM), a lithium-ion battery cathode precursor material critical for EVs.
The Company has secured US$26m in financing from two strategic partners, ARCH Sustainable Resources Fund LP1 and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa2, as it aims to progress the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana to construction by building and operating the Demonstration Plant and completing a Definitive Feasibility Study by H1 2025.
Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedarplus.ca and on Giyani Metals Corp. website at https://giyanimetals.com/.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp.
Mark Burnett, Non-Executive Chair
Contact:
Charles FitzRoy
Chief Executive Officer
cfitzroy@giyanimetals.com
+1 (289) 291-7632
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.
Forward Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur.
Such statements include without limitation: the Company the ongoing construction, commissioning and operation of the Demo Plant, installation of additional Process Modules, design and finalization of the lab, and timing thereof, completion and timing of the DFS or at all.
All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include anticipated operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs.
Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks related to exploration and development of natural resource properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding; commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions; risks related to the uncertainty of Mineral Resource calculations and the inclusion of Inferred Mineral Resources in economic estimation; risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to obtaining necessary licences and permits; risks related to Giyani's business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks related to the Company's mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and risks related to the Company's directors and officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information or statements.
Giyani's forward-looking information is based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Company's respective management on the date the statements are made, and Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's continuous disclosure documents which are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
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1 See press releases of the Company dated January 24, 2024 and February 21, 2024 for more information.
2 See press releases of the Company dated November 30, 2023 and April 24, 2024 for more information.
