Responsible management and oversight

At Exoben, our corporate governance is a cornerstone of our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth. We have developed a robust governance framework that is integral to our ability to manage risks effectively, seize emerging opportunities, and achieve our financial, environmental, and social goals.

Our governance structure is founded on the principles of transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. It is supported by a comprehensive suite of policies and practices that ensure our operations are aligned with legal standards and our internal benchmarks of excellence. This disciplined approach enables us to navigate the complexities of the energy sector and adapt to evolving market dynamics while staying true to our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

By prioritizing strong corporate governance, Exoben is not only positioned to meet our immediate objectives but also to build lasting value for our stakeholders. Our governance practices underpin our drive for excellence in every facet of our business, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for our company, our partners, and the communities we serve.

Governance

At Exoben, our corporate governance is a cornerstone of our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth. We have developed a robust governance framework that is integral to our ability to manage risks effectively, seize emerging opportunities, and achieve our financial, environmental, and social goals..

Our Board of Directors is deeply committed to advancing our sustainability agenda, driven by a crafted Corporate Governance Framework and Board Charter. These foundational documents clearly outline the responsibilities of our management and establish the highest standards for ethical and responsible behavior, ensuring that every decision aligns with our mission to lead in energy innovation.

The oversight of Exoben’s sustainability initiatives is a critical function, entrusted to a dedicated Director of Sustainability. This role is pivotal in steering our strategic direction, ensuring that our sustainability objectives are not only ambitious but also achievable. Under the guidance of this Director, our Senior Leadership team takes on the responsibility of operationalizing our sustainability strategy, ensuring it is fully integrated with our core values, Code of Conduct, and the detailed sustainability regulations that govern our industry.

Within this governance structure, the roles of our Group Manager of Corporate Services and our Manager of Sustainability are essential. They are tasked with embedding sustainable practices across all our operations, from lithium and sodium extraction projects to the development of advanced battery technologies like LithioX and SodioX, and the deployment of our ExoBoost network. Their efforts ensure that governance, social, and environmental considerations are not just theoretical but are actively driving performance and innovation in these key areas.

This comprehensive oversight framework guarantees that Exoben’s sustainability efforts are not only robust and effective but are also seamlessly aligned with our broader corporate goals. By fostering a culture of accountability and excellence, we ensure that our commitment to sustainability enhances our governance practices and propels us towards a future where our solutions lead the way in sustainable energy.

Governance and Oversight of the Board

Our Board of Directors is deeply committed to advancing our sustainability agenda, driven by a crafted Corporate Governance Framework and Board Charter. These foundational documents clearly outline the responsibilities of our management and establish the highest standards for ethical and responsible behavior, ensuring that every decision aligns with our mission to lead in energy innovation.

Our goal is straightforward: “to deliver meaningful value to all our stakeholders in a fair and equitable manner.” To achieve this, we focus on cultivating powerful, efficient, and enduring partnerships. These partnerships are integral to our ability to understand and meet the diverse needs and expectations of our stakeholders, including local communities, governments, investors, and employees. As we advance projects like the LithioX and SodioX battery technologies, as well as our pioneering ExoBoost network, these relationships enable us to align our innovations with the broader interests of those we serve.

Our structured engagement initiatives—such as regular stakeholder meetings, feedback mechanisms, community forums, and digital platforms—ensure that every voice is heard and valued in our decision-making processes. This inclusive approach not only improves the quality of our operational decisions but also reinforces our social license to operate. By integrating stakeholder insights into our strategy, we ensure that our business activities contribute positively to the communities in which we operate, while staying true to our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Stakeholder Engagement

We are committed to fostering transparent, honest, and continuous dialogue with our stakeholders, recognizing that this is vital for the early identification of opportunities and challenges. By maintaining this open line of communication, we can collaboratively develop innovative solutions, mitigating risks and maximizing the potential of our projects.

This engagement is central to building trust and understanding, which are crucial for effectively addressing the complexities of the energy landscape.

Our goal is straightforward: “to deliver meaningful value to all our stakeholders in a fair and equitable manner.” To achieve this, we focus on cultivating powerful, efficient, and enduring partnerships. These partnerships are integral to our ability to understand and meet the diverse needs and expectations of our stakeholders, including local communities, governments, investors, and employees. As we advance projects like the LithioX and SodioX battery technologies, as well as our pioneering ExoBoost network, these relationships enable us to align our innovations with the broader interests of those we serve.

Our structured engagement initiatives—such as regular stakeholder meetings, feedback mechanisms, community forums, and digital platforms—ensure that every voice is heard and valued in our decision-making processes. This inclusive approach not only improves the quality of our operational decisions but also reinforces our social license to operate. By integrating stakeholder insights into our strategy, we ensure that our business activities contribute positively to the communities in which we operate, while staying true to our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Ethical Conduct

Our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of honesty and integrity is at the heart of everything we do. We strictly adhere to the laws and regulations of every country where we operate, alongside international legal standards, ensuring that our operations are not only compliant but also exemplary in fostering trust among our stakeholders. This dedication to ethical conduct is crucial to maintaining our reputation and securing the long-term success of our innovative projects.

Our Ethical Conduct Framework is a robust set of guidelines that defines our approach to ethical decision-making and behavior. This framework is built on several key components:

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct is the foundation of our ethical practices, clearly defining the expectations for the behavior of all Exoben employees and executives. It ensures that our actions reflect our core values, from our groundbreaking battery technologies like LithioX and SodioX to our extensive sustainability initiatives.

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Compliance Policies

These policies cover a comprehensive range of legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring that our business practices adhere to anti-corruption laws, environmental regulations, labor standards, and more. Whether we are developing the next generation of energy solutions or expanding our ExoBoost network, compliance is integral to our operations.

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Training Programs

We prioritize continuous education for our employees, reinforcing our ethical standards and equipping our team to make responsible decisions. As we push the boundaries of innovation, ongoing training ensures that every team member is aligned with our ethical commitments.

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Reporting Mechanisms

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of our ethical conduct. We provide secure and accessible systems for employees and stakeholders to report unethical behavior without fear of retaliation, fostering an environment where integrity is paramount.

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Monitoring and Auditing

To ensure that we consistently meet our ethical standards, we conduct regular audits and monitoring. These processes help us identify areas for improvement and maintain the highest level of compliance across all our projects and initiatives.

Code of Ethics for the Business

Our Code of Ethics for the Business is a foundational document that encapsulates the core principles guiding Exoben’s operations, ensuring ethical, responsible, and lawful behavior from everyone connected to our company. This code applies not only to our employees at all levels but also to our directors, executive management, contractors, suppliers, and business partners acting on our behalf. It ensures that everyone, without exception, understands their role in upholding Exoben’s high ethical standards.

Key elements of our Code of Ethics include:

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Integrity and Fairness

All personnel are expected to carry out their activities with the utmost integrity and fairness, fostering a culture of honesty and trust that permeates every aspect of our business—from pioneering technologies like LithioX and SodioX batteries to our expansive ExoBoost network.

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Compliance with Laws

Strict adherence to all applicable laws and regulations is mandatory, with clear guidance provided for navigating complex legal environments, both locally and internationally. This commitment to compliance ensures that our innovative projects and global operations meet the highest legal standards.

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Respectful Workplace

Our code promotes a workplace where diversity is not only embraced but celebrated. Respect is fundamental to how we operate, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive environment that drives our success.

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Conflict of Interest Avoidance

Employees and associates are provided with clear guidance on identifying and avoiding potential conflicts of interest. This ensures transparency and fairness in all our business dealings, supporting Exoben’s reputation for ethical excellence.

Our Code of Ethics for the Business is a foundational document that encapsulates the core principles guiding Exoben’s operations, ensuring ethical, responsible, and lawful behavior from everyone connected to our company. This code applies not only to our employees at all levels but also to our directors, executive management, contractors, suppliers, and business partners acting on our behalf. It ensures that everyone, without exception, understands their role in upholding Exoben’s high ethical standards.

Anti-Corruption Measures and Bribery

Our Anti-Corruption Measures and Bribery (ACMB) Policy and Standards reflect our absolute commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards across all our operations. This policy unequivocally prohibits any form of bribery or corruption and mandates strict adherence to local anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in every country where we operate. Whether we are developing advanced energy solutions like LithioX and SodioX or expanding our ExoBoost network globally, this policy applies universally, ensuring that every aspect of our business is conducted with integrity and transparency.

Our ACMB Policy is designed to ensure a consistent and unwavering commitment to ethical business practices, no matter where we operate. By embedding these standards into the fabric of our global operations, we protect the integrity of our business, foster trust among our stakeholders, and contribute to a fair and transparent market environment. This policy is not just a set of rules—it is a reflection of Exoben’s core values and our dedication to conducting business with the highest level of honesty and respect.

Key Components of Our ACMB Policy

At Exoben, we uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy toward bribery and corruption. This unwavering stance reinforces our commitment to conducting business with the highest ethical standards, ensuring that integrity remains at the core of all our operations.

We invest in comprehensive training programs to ensure that every employee, regardless of their role or location, fully understands their responsibilities under our ACMB Policy. This training emphasizes the serious consequences of any breaches and equips our team with the knowledge to uphold our standards globally.

Our due diligence processes are rigorous and thorough, ensuring that all third parties are carefully vetted before we engage in any business relationships. This proactive approach helps us avoid any inadvertent associations with entities that might engage in corrupt practices, safeguarding Exoben’s reputation and operational integrity.

We employ robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, including regular audits, to identify and address potential violations of our anti-corruption policies. These measures are vital in maintaining compliance, allowing us to detect areas for improvement and ensure that our anti-corruption efforts are continuously effective.

Exoben provides a confidential reporting system for employees and third parties to report any suspected corruption or bribery. This system is designed to ensure that potential issues are addressed swiftly and effectively, with the assurance that all reports will be taken seriously and handled without fear of retaliation.

Transparency

We are unwavering in our commitment to upholding the highest standards of transparency across all facets of our operations. This dedication extends to both our financial performance and sustainability initiatives, ensuring that all aspects of our dealings are conducted with openness and clarity. We believe that transparent communication is essential, particularly in our interactions with stakeholders regarding financial and non-financial contributions, such as in-kind support, taxes, royalties, and payments made to government bodies.

We actively collaborate with governments to foster greater transparency in critical areas, including the flow of revenues, the specifics of mining contracts, and the identification of the beneficial ownership of license holders. These collaborative efforts are crucial for maintaining transparency and trust among the mining industry, governmental authorities, and the broader community. As we advance projects like the LithioX and SodioX battery technologies and our ExoBoost network, this transparency ensures that our activities are aligned with the interests of all stakeholders.

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The Management of Our Supply Chain

Our supply chain is a vital component of our operations, extending across multiple regions, including Africa, Europe, Asia, and North America. We source a wide range of products and services from these areas, including skilled labor, raw materials, direct and indirect materials, and various supplementary services. This extensive procurement network is essential not only for our day-to-day operations but also for driving our strategic initiatives, such as the development of advanced battery technologies and sustainable energy solutions.

Our suppliers are integral to our success, and they are carefully selected through our rigorous Contracts and Supply Framework. This framework is closely aligned with our core values, our Ethical Conduct Framework, and stringent environmental and social criteria. By adhering to these standards, we ensure that our supply chain supports our operational needs while also reflecting our unwavering commitment to ethical practices and sustainability.

The strength of our strategic initiatives is built on the robust partnerships we have cultivated with our suppliers and contractors. We are dedicated to developing long-term, stable, and cooperative relationships, especially with local suppliers located near our operational sites. By prioritizing these local partnerships, we not only streamline our logistical processes but also contribute to the economic development of the communities where we operate.

Our commitment extends to supporting local suppliers by helping them expand their capacities and generate more local employment opportunities. This approach not only builds a resilient local economy but also fosters community goodwill and supports sustainable development. Through these efforts, we aim to create a supply chain that is not only efficient and reliable but also socially responsible and beneficial to the communities in which we operate.

At Exoben, our supply chain management is about more than just operational efficiency; it is about fostering sustainable growth, promoting ethical practices, and ensuring that our operations contribute positively to the global and local communities we touch.

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Policies, Responsibilities, and Standards

At Exoben, we operate under a comprehensive framework of interconnected policies, management systems, and standards that govern and optimize our environmental and social performance. This framework is designed not only to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements but also to surpass them, aligning our operations with the highest standards of sustainability and responsible business practices.

A cornerstone of our framework is the integration of principles from the International Standard for Occupational Health and Safety. These principles are embedded into our policies and procedures, promoting the highest levels of safety and health across all our operational sites. This commitment to occupational health and safety is vital as we advance projects like our LithioX and SodioX battery technologies and expand our ExoBoost network.

Our dedication to environmental stewardship and social responsibility is further solidified through our rigorous adherence to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). These assessments are conducted in strict alignment with international standards, ensuring that each of our projects meets the commitments made during the planning phases. The ESIAs are crucial in identifying and mitigating potential environmental impacts and in enhancing the social well-being of the communities where we operate.

Through these policies and assessments, Exoben maintains a relentless focus on minimizing our environmental footprint and maximizing our positive impact on society. Our approach ensures that we meet not only our legal and ethical obligations but also contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts. By embedding these practices into every aspect of our operations, we ensure that our business is both responsible and beneficial, paving the way for a sustainable future.

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Assurance

We are deeply committed to the rigorous assessment and continuous improvement of our sustainability policies and standards. To ensure these policies and their implementation meet our stringent requirements, our Internal Audit department conducts thorough evaluations. These assessments are crucial in identifying any gaps or deficiencies within our sustainability frameworks, and when such issues are detected, we develop comprehensive management plans to address them effectively.

The Internal Audit department undertakes annual assurance activities that are planned and aligned with an internal audit plan approved by the Audit Committee. These activities are essential for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our internal processes and systems, ensuring that our sustainability initiatives are not only well-designed but also effectively executed.

Beyond our internal audits, we engage third-party assurance providers annually to evaluate our sustainability strategy and management systems at each operational site. This external review is critical for verifying the accuracy and reliability of our public disclosures regarding sustainability commitments and activities. It ensures that all statements made by Exoben reflect our true performance and alignment with our sustainability goals.

These third-party evaluations extend beyond our current operations to include our development projects. This comprehensive approach ensures that transparency and accountability are maintained across all stages of our operations, from initial development through ongoing execution. By engaging in these rigorous assurance processes, Exoben is committed to upholding and exceeding the expectations of our stakeholders, reinforcing our dedication to sustainability and ethical business practices.

Through continuous internal and external assessments, we strive to ensure the long-term viability of our projects and operations, contributing to a sustainable and responsible future. This commitment to rigorous assurance processes reflects Exoben’s core values and our determination to lead by example in the energy sector.

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  The Management of Risk and Opportunity

Our Risk Management Framework is crucial for safeguarding and enhancing both the economic and social value within our organization. This framework provides a standardized, organization-wide approach that enables us to efficiently identify, prioritize, and manage risks. It also ensures that resources are allocated effectively, allowing our operations to be both safe and successful.

The framework begins by identifying potential risks and then rigorously evaluating them based on their likelihood and potential impact. This comprehensive evaluation encompasses several critical impact areas:

Key elements of our Code of Ethics include:

We assess risks related to the health, safety, and well-being of our employees and contractors, ensuring that every individual involved in our operations is protected and supported.

We evaluate potential negative effects on the natural environment and implement proactive strategies to mitigate these risks. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is reflected in every decision, from raw material sourcing to waste management.

We identify and manage financial exposures that could affect our profitability and economic stability, ensuring that Exoben remains resilient in a dynamic market environment.

We consider the impacts of our operations on local communities, striving to enhance positive outcomes while minimizing any adverse effects. Our goal is to contribute meaningfully to the social and economic well-being of the regions in which we operate.

We actively manage risks that could impact our public image and the trust that stakeholders place in us. Our reputation is a valuable asset, and we work diligently to maintain and enhance it through transparent and ethical practices.

We ensure that all our operations comply with relevant laws and regulations to avoid legal penalties and compliance issues. Adherence to legal standards is non-negotiable and integral to our commitment to responsible business conduct.

By systematically addressing these areas, our Risk Management Framework not only protects Exoben’s assets and operations but also identifies opportunities for growth and improvement. This proactive approach enables us to turn potential challenges into strategic advantages, ensuring that Exoben continues to lead with innovation, integrity, and sustainability.

Metrics and Objectives

We annually establish a comprehensive set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are designed to elevate our performance by leveraging insights from industry benchmarks and peer evaluations. These KPIs are integrated into our Group and operational scorecards, ensuring that sustainability factors are a significant component of our overall performance assessments.

Our approach involves strategically distributing these KPIs across the organization, embedding them into the performance metrics for every employee and contractor. This systematic alignment ensures that every individual within Exoben is working toward our core objectives, contributing directly to our collective success.

To further reinforce this alignment, our scorecards are closely linked to executive remuneration packages. This connection is intentionally designed to incentivize high performance, ensuring that executive interests are aligned with both short-term achievements and long-term strategic goals. By tying compensation to key performance outcomes, we cultivate a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.

The comprehensive use of performance metrics enables us to not only monitor and assess operational effectiveness but also to drive meaningful improvements across all areas of our business. This approach encourages a holistic view of performance, one that encompasses financial results, operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. By integrating these elements into our performance evaluations, Exoben supports its commitment to excellence and sustainable growth.

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