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PANTHER METALS
PLC
("Panther" or the "Company")
(Incorporated in the Isle of
Man with company number 009753V)
11 April 2024
Appointment of Strategic
Advisor
Panther Metals Appoints
Melissa Sanderson as Strategic Advisor for Government Relations and
ESG
Panther Metals PLC (LSE:PALM) the
company focused on developing Canada's next VMS camp and graphite
deposit, is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa
Sanderson in the role of Strategic Advisor for Government
Relations, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to the
Company.
Melissa 'Mel' Sanderson combines
over three decades of experience in geostrategic planning, Ethical
Sustainable Growth (ESG), and cultural integration. Fluent in five
languages Mel's wide ranging expertise spans the mining industry,
critical minerals strategy, international diplomacy, and
sustainable development. Currently leading MECA Consulting and
contributing her knowledge as a Professor at Thunderbird School of
Global Management at Arizona State University, Mel holds
significant roles on various public market Boards, driving ESG and
decarbonisation efforts.
CEO, Darren Hazelwood, commented:
"The global macroeconomic resource dynamic has undergone a
rapid transformational change over the last few years, with an
increasing need to balance the supply of raw materials with the
requirement to do so in a sustainable and ethical manner. These
changes are materially impacting the junior exploration sector, and
I believe it's at this point that certain exploration companies
such as Panther, will see a steep valuation renaissance as we
successfully address the new paradigm.
We
bear witness to an increasingly urgent governmental drive at
international, national and provincial levels, to support the move
to net zero via the discovery of sustainable resources. Against
this backdrop, Panther Metals recognises that opportunities emerge
during transformational periods, and embracing change and
positioning at the forefront, is paramount to a successful growth
business strategy.
Governments, manufacturers, major miners, and trading houses
have all entered the market to support and address the burgeoning
commodity deficits, offering both technical and financial support
and moving explorers' funding reliance away from the traditional
equity markets.
Navigating the halls of power in Washington, Ottawa, London
and Brussels, and understanding the nuances required to efficiently
deliver positive results for a junior explorer is almost impossible
and until now, only the mining majors have had a
voice.
Our appointment of Melissa "Mel" Sanderson, a global ESG
powerhouse with the political connections and business acumen to
develop the required diplomatic connections, is at this point in
our Company growth, extraordinary. In sporting terms, Accrington
Stanley have just signed Lionel Messi!
Mel has already provided important guidance and support, and
the whole Board looks forward to working together with her, on our
journey of discovery at a time when Panther Metals emerges from
some tough market conditions in great shape, and becomes more
dynamic, flexible, and aggressive.
On
behalf of the Company and our shareholders I welcome Mel into
Panther Metals and thank her for joining us as Strategic
Advisor."
Further Information
Mel is focused on leveraging her
extensive geostrategic training and experience in ESG to foster
sustainable success in medium to large mining companies.
Her previous US Foreign
Service career achievements amongst others include: facilitating
United States - Democratic Republic of Congo government relations;
managing the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) reduction treaties
in Russia; directing anti-drug measures in El Salvador; and
ensuring Poland's preparation for NATO membership.
Professional Experience:
·
President, MECA Consulting LLC
(6/2020 - Present): Specialises in government and public relations
with an emphasis on ESG, DEI, and diplomatic relations for resource
sector companies.
·
Professor of Practice, Arizona
State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management (05/2021
- Present): Educates future leaders about international
organisations including the United Nations, African Union, and
World Bank.
·
Partner, Africa-US Business Opportunities
(8/2020-Present): Identifies and assesses investment projects in
Africa, fostering mutual prosperity.
·
President, North America, American Rare Earths
Limited (01/2023 - 10/2023): Oversaw investor relations, business
transformation, and development.
· Freeport McMoRan
Inc (5/2010 - 6/2020): Led international affairs, merging public
and government relations with sustainable development.
·
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Inc (9/2006 -
5/2010): Served as Vice President for Africa, establishing the
government relations office in Kinshasa, DRC.
·
US Foreign Service (1985-2006): Held various
roles, focusing on counterterrorism, WMDs, trade negotiations, and
more across diverse global postings.
For full disclosure purposes Melissa
Sanderson holds the following current directorships and positions
of responsibility.
Advisor
|
Current directorships
|
Recent Memberships & Activities
|
Melissa
Sanderson
|
MECA Consulting LLC
(6/2020 - Present): President
American Rare Earths Limited
(11/2021 - Present): Director
Auxico Resources Canada Inc.
(09/2022 - Present): Non-Executive Director
Advance Metals
(05/2022 - Present): Director
Critical Minerals Institute
(11/2022 - Present): Director
|
Chair, Arizona District Export
Council (2016-2023)
Chair, Mining Committee, Arizona
Mexico Commission
(2017-2023)
Board Member, Arizona Council for
Economic Education
(2013-2023)
Co-Chair, Phoenix Committee on
Foreign Relations
(2017-2021)
|
In relation to the appointment the
Company today announces that Melissa Sanderson has been granted the
following Options:
Name
|
Number of New Options
Granted
|
Exercise Price per Ordinary
Share (pence)
|
Option Term from Grant
Date
|
Total Options Held Following
This Grant
|
Melissa
Sanderson
|
300,000
|
5.5
|
5
years
|
300,000
|
Following these Options, the Company
has granted options over an aggregate of 7,800,000 ordinary
shares.
For further information please
contact:
Panther Metals PLC:
Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive
Officer: +44(0) 1462 429 743
+44(0) 7971 957 685
Brokers:
Tavira Financial
Limited
Christopher James
Kipling
+44(0) 203
833 3743
SI Capital Limited
Nick
Emerson
+44(0) 1438 416 500
Axis Capital Markets
Limited
Ben Tadd
Lewis
Jones
+44 (0)20 3026 0449
Notes to Editors
Panther Metals PLC is an exploration
company listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
Panther is focussed on the discovery of commercially viable mineral
deposits. The Company's operational focus is on established mining
jurisdictions with the capacity for project scalability. Drill
targets are assessed rapidly utilising a combination of advanced
technologies and extensive geological data to decipher potential
commercial viability and act accordingly. Panther's current
geological portfolio comprises of three highly prospective
properties in Ontario, Canada while the developing investment wing
focuses on the targeting of nickel and gold in
Australia.
Obonga Project
Panther Metals acquired the Obonga
Greenstone Belt in July 2021 and have already identified five
prospective primary targets: Wishbone, Awkward, Survey, Ottertooth
and Silver Rim. A successful Phase 1 drilling campaign at Wishbone
in Autumn 2021 revealed the presence of significant VMS-style
mineralised systems on the property - the first such discovery
across the entire greenstone belt. Intercepts include 27.3m of
massive sulphide in hole one, and 51m of sulphide-dominated
mineralisation in hole two. Both drill holes contained multiple
lenses. Anomalous high-grade copper in lake sediment close to the
target area has also been identified, increasing confidence in the
prospectivity of the location.
Awkward is a highly anomalous
magnetic target, interpreted to be a layered mafic intrusion and
magmatic conduit based on mapped geology and airborne geophysics.
Historic sampling in the area returned anomalous platinum and
palladium (Pt, Pd) values, while historic drilling on the periphery
of the target intersected non-assayed massive sulphide and copper
(assumed to be chalcopyrite), non-assayed disseminated pyrite and
chalcopyrite in coarse gabbro, and non-assayed 'marble cake' gabbro
(matching the description of the Lac des Iles Mine varitexture
gabbro ore zone).
Two additional named targets, Survey
and Ottertooth, both displays further coincident magnetic and
electromagnetic anomalies and are adjacent to the contact between
intrusive and extrusive mafic rocks. Historic drilling at Survey
intersected several meters of massive sulphides in multiple
intersections (main parts of the anomaly remain untested) while
Ottertooth remains untested in its entirety.
Dotted Lake Project
Panther Metals acquired the Dotted
Lake Project in July 2020, it is situated approximately 16km from
Barrick Gold's renowned Hemlo Gold Mine. An extensive soil
programme conducted in 2021 identified numerous gold and base metal
targets, all within the same geological footprint. Following the
installation of a new trail providing direct access to the target
location, an initial drilling programme in Autumn 2021 confirmed
the presence of gold mineralisation within this system with
anomalous gold continuing along strike and present within the
surrounding area.
Manitou Lakes Project
The Manitou Lakes gold project is
located approximately 300km's east of Thunder Bay, Ontario and
covers a total area of around 98sq km's.
There are over 200 known gold
occurrences on the Manitou Lakes project area with the wider
Eagle/Manitou Lakes greenstone belt hosting numerous historic gold
producers and is prospective for Archean age orogenic gold and
associated base metal deposits.
Exploration work conducted by Shear
Gold on the Project to date has identified numerous gold bearing
structures and favourable geological host rocks through early-stage
mapping and surface sampling. The work has focussed on two target
areas, being the West Limb Gold Property and the Glass Reef Gold
Property, both of which host historic gold mines which have never
been systematically explored using modern techniques or drill
tested
Fulcrum Metals Plc
Fulcrum Metals PLC (LON: FMET) is an
AIM listed exploration company which finances and manages
exploration projects focused on Canada, widely recognised as a top
mining jurisdiction.
FMET currently holds a beneficial
100% interest in highly prospective gold and base metals projects
in Ontario and Uranium projects in Saskatchewan.
Fulcrum's strategy is to focus on
discovery and commercialisation of its Projects through targeted
exploration programmes. The primary focus is to make an economic
discovery on the flagship Schreiber-Hemlo Properties and
establishing the prospectivity of its wider Ontario and
Saskatchewan portfolio with a view to securing potential joint
venture and/or acquisition interest.
Panther Metals Plc own 20% of the
issued share capital of Fulcrum Metals Plc and a 2% NSR on the Big
Bear project.
Panther Metals Australia
Following the listing of Panther
Metals' Australian assets on the Australian Securities Exchange
("ASX") in December 2021. The ASX listing has provided the
Australian projects with the necessary capital to advance
drill-ready targets focused on nickel and gold (within the Tier 1
Mining Districts of Laverton WA and in the NT). Through this
spin-out Panther holds an attractive investment prospect, without
any disruption to the Company's capital structure and without any
financial obligations.
Conclusion
Panther Metals understand that the
commercial realities of building an exploration company requires
expertise in geology, finance, and the markets within which they
operate. The Company's extensive network of industry leaders allows
it to meet these objectives. Ultimately however, drilling success
is the only route to discovery: the fundamental objective of any
exploration company. Once Panther's world-class geological team
identify the anomalies, they work hard to get drilling. The drill
hole is the only place where substantial and sustained capital
growth originates and it's with that operational focus Panther
Metals will continue to advance.