Corporate Governance Statement 2024
Overview
The Board of Directors ("the Board") of Energy Transition Minerals Ltd (ACN 118 463 004) ("the Company") is responsible for the overall corporate governance of the Company, and it recognises the need for the highest standards of ethical behaviour and accountability. It is committed to administering its corporate governance structures to promote integrity and responsible decision-making. Accordingly, the Company has, where appropriate, sought to adopt the 'Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations' (4th Edition) ("Recommendations") published by the ASX Corporate Governance Council.
The corporate governance principles and recommendations adopted by the Company may depart from those generally applicable to ASX-listed companies under ASX Recommendations where the Board considers compliance is not appropriate having regard to the nature and size of the Company's business.
The Company sets out below its "if not why not" report in relation to those matters of corporate governance where the Company's practice departs from the ASX Recommendations to the extent that they are currently applicable to the Company.
This statement is current as at 28 March 2024 and has been approved by the Board.
Corporate Governance Statement 2024
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
Principle 1: Lay solid foundations for management and oversight | |||
1.1 | A listed entity should have and disclose a board charter setting out:
| Y | The Company has adopted a Board Charter. A copy of the Board Charter is available at:CorporateGovernance (etransmin.com) Under the Board Charter, the Board is responsible for the overall operation and stewardship of the Company and its subsidiaries and, in particular, is responsible for:
The Board meets on a regular basis to review the Company's performance against its goals, both financial and non-financial. The responsibilities of Senior Management, including the Managing Director, are set out in their respective job descriptions. |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
1.2 | A listed entity should:
| Y | The board undertakes appropriate checks prior to appointing a person or putting a person forward as a candidate for election, as a director. These include checks as to the person's character, education, criminal record, bankruptcy history, experience, and ability to add value to the board. As a matter of practice, the Company includes in its notices of meeting, a brief biography of each Director who stands for election or re-election. The biography sets out:
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1.3 | A listed entity should have a written agreement with each director and senior executive setting out the terms of their appointment. | Y | The Company seeks to engage or employ its directors, and other senior executives, under written agreements which set out the key terms and otherwise govern their engagement or employment with the Company. The Company's Managing Director and all other senior Executives are employed pursuant to a written employment agreement with the Company, and each Non-Executive Director is engaged under a letter of appointment. |
1.4 | The company secretary of a listed entity should be accountable directly to the board, through the chair, on all matters to do with the proper functioning of the board. | Y | In accordance with the Board Charter, the Company Secretary reports directly, and is accountable to the Board, through the Chair in relation to all governance matters. The Company Secretary advises and supports the Board members on general governance matters, implements adopted governance procedures, and coordinates circulation of meeting agendas and papers. |
1.5 | A listed entity should: (a) have and disclose a diversity policy; | Y | The Company's recruitment policy is merit based. The most appropriate person for the position is employed regardless of gender, age, ethnicity and cultural background. The Company's Diversity policy is on the Company's website:Corporate Governance (etransmin.com) |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
| The positions held by women in the Company (including subsidiaries) at 31 December 2023 include 2 corporate positions, approximately 22% of all staff are women. The Company is not a 'relevant employer' under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth). Given the Company's current size and relatively low number of employees, the Company to date has not implemented a monitoring and evaluation policy to assess the Company's measurable objectives in all relevant areas of the business around diversity. The Directors are aware of their responsibility to the community, the staff, and the Company. | ||
1.6 | A listed entity should:
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| The Board undertakes an annual performance evaluation of itself that:
The small size of the Board and the nature of the Company's activities make the establishment of a formal performance evaluation at the present time unnecessary. Performance evaluation is a discretionary matter for consideration by the entire Board. The Board reviews the |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
undertaken in the reporting period in accordance with that process. | performance of management, Directors, and the Board as a whole, in the normal course of events. | ||
1.7 | A listed entity should:
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| The Company has a process for the evaluation of its key executives. As with the evaluation of Directors, performance evaluation for key executives is a discretionary matter for consideration by the entire Board. The Board reviews the performance of the executives and management as a whole in the normal course of events. |
Principle 2: Structure the board to be effective and add value | |||
2.1 | The board of a listed entity should: (a) have a nomination committee which:
(b)if it does not have a nomination committee, disclose that fact and the processes it employs to address board succession issues and to ensure |
| The Company does not have a nomination committee. The full Board considers the matters and issues that would otherwise be addressed by a nomination committee. Under the Board Charter, candidacy for the Board is based on merit against objective criteria with a view to maintaining an appropriate balance of skills and experience. As a matter of practise, candidates for the office of Director are individually assessed by the Chair and the Managing Director. The candidate is then considered by the entire Board before appointment or nomination, to ensure that they possess the relevant skills, experience or other qualities considered appropriate and necessary, to provide value and assist in the advancement of the Company's operations. The Board considers that, given the current size and scope of the Company's operations, efficiencies or other benefits would not be gained by establishing a separate nomination committee. The Board would reconsider the requirement for, and benefits of, a separate nomination committee as the Company's operations grow. |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
that the board has the appropriate balance of skills, knowledge, experience, independence and diversity to enable it to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively. | |||
2.2 | A listed entity should have and disclose a board skills matrix setting out the mix of skills that the board currently has or is looking to achieve in its membership. | Y | The Company has prepared a board skills matrix setting out the mix of skills that the board currently has or is looking to achieve in its membership. Refer to Appendix A. Under the Company's Board Charter, the Board is also required to consider the Board Composition in assessing potential board candidates within the context of a candidate's ability to provide an appropriate balance of skills to the Board, taking into consideration the requirements of the Company's Diversity Policy. |
2.3 | A listed entity should disclose:
| Y | The Company has three directors who satisfy the criteria for independence as outlined in ASX Recommendation 2.3, being Ms Sara Kelly, Mr Mark Saxon, and Mr Aris Stamoulis. The Board currently comprises the following members: Ms Sara Kelly - Non-Executive Chair Ms Kelly has been a non-executive Chair since her appointment to the Board on 14 August 2023. The Board (excluding Ms Kelly) considers Ms Kelly to be independent as Ms Kelly does not hold shares in the Company and has not been involved in the day-today management of the Company or held an executive position with the Company within the last 3 years. Mr Daniel Mamadou Blanco - Managing Director Mr. Mamadou Blanco was appointed as Managing Director on 6 December 2021. The Board (excluding Mr Mamadou Blanco) considers Mr Mamadou Blanco to be non-independent as he is an executive director of the Company. Mr Xiaolei Guo - Non-executive Director Mr Guo was appointed as a non-executive director on 12 October 2017. The Board (excluding Mr Guo) considers Mr Guo to be non-independent as Mr Guo represents a substantial shareholder, Le Shan Shenghe Rare Earth Company Limited. |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
Mr Mark Saxon - Non-executive Director Mr Mark Saxon has been a director since 24 August 2022. The Board (excluding Mr Saxon) considers Mr Saxon to be independent as Mr Saxon holds a less than substantial number of shares in the Company and has not been involved in the day-today management of the Company or held an executive position with the Company within the last 3 years. Mr Aris Stamoulis - Non-executive Director Mr Aris Stamoulis has been a director since 12 March 2024. The Board (excluding Mr Stamoulis) considers Mr Stamoulis to be independent as Mr Stamoulis does not hold shares in the Company and has not been involved in the day-today management of the Company or held an executive position with the Company within the last 3 years. | |||
2.4 | A majority of the board of a listed entity should be independent directors. | Y | The Board comprises a majority of "independent directors". There are currently three directors who satisfy the criteria for independence for the purposes of ASX Recommendation 2.3, being Ms Sara Kelly, Mr Mark Saxon and Mr Aris Stamoulis. |
2.5 | The chair of the board of a listed entity should be an independent director and, in particular, should not be the same person as the CEO of the entity. | Y | The Chair of the Company, Ms Sara Kelly, is an independent director in accordance with the criteria for independence as outlined in ASX Recommendation 2.3. Daniel Mamadou Blanco is the Company's Managing Director. |
2.6 | A listed entity should have a program for inducting new directors and provide appropriate professional development opportunities for directors to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge needed to perform their role as directors effectively. | Y | New Directors are provided with a comprehensive welcome pack, introduced to the staff, and given a thorough explanation of the Company's affairs and procedures. The Directors are from diverse backgrounds and have developed varied personal experiences that add to the combined skill base of the Board. The Board seeks to ensure that all of its members understand the Company's operations and encourages direct interaction with senior management when required. Directors are encouraged t o attend on behalf of the Company and otherwise, technical and commercial seminars and industry conferences which enable them to maintain their understanding of industry matters and technical advancements. |
Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
Principle 3: Instill a culture of acting lawfully, ethically and responsibly | |||
3.1 | A listed entity should articulate and disclose its values. | Y | The Board has adopted a Values Statement (Statement of Values), the values apply to the Company and all subsidiaries and are a minimum standard of behaviour that is expected from the Company's directors, senior executives and employees. Energy Transition Minerals Ltd core values are to:
A copy of the Company's Statement of Values is available on the Company's website. Corporate Governance (etransmin.com) |
3.2 | A listed entity should:
| Y | The Board has established a Directors' Code of Conduct and a Code of Business Conduct (together, the "Codes"). The Codes aim to develop a consistent understanding of, and approach to, the desired standards of conduct and behaviour which the directors, officers, managers, employees, and consultants of the Company are expected to comply. The Board believes that the success of the Company has been and will continue to be, enhanced by a strong ethical culture within the organization. The Codes sets out the Company's policies on various matters, including the following:
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Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
The Codes also outline the procedure for reporting any breaches of the Codes and the possible disciplinary action the Company may take in respect of any breaches. In addition to their obligations under the Corporations Act in relation to inside information, all directors, employees, and consultants have a duty of confidentiality to the Company in relation to confidential information they possess. In fulfilling their duties, each director dealing with corporate governance matters may obtain independent professional advice at the Company's expense, subject to prior approval of the Chair, whose approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Copies of the Codes are available at:Corporate Governance (etransmin.com) | |||
3.3 | A listed entity should:
| Y | The Company has implemented a Whistleblower Protection Policy (Whistleblower Policy), the Policy supplements the Company's Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies. The aim of the Whistleblower Policy is to encourage staff to report any behaviour they suspect to be in breach of the Company's Code of Conduct, any other Company's policies, or unethical or illegal activities. The Whistleblower Policy provides the following guidance:
A copy of the Whistleblower Policy is available at:Corporate Governance (etransmin.com) |
3.4 | A listed entity should:
| Y | The Company has implemented an Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy, the Policy supplements the Company's Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policies and other relevant policies and codes. The aim the policy is to:
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Principle | ASX Recommendation | Conform (Y/N) | Disclosure |
A copy of the Anti-bribery and Corruption policy is available at:Corporate Governance(etransmin.com) | |||
Principle 4: Safeguard the integrity of corporate reports | |||
4.1 | The board of a listed entity should:
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| The Company does not have a separate audit committee. In March this year, the Board resolved to undertake the obligations and duties of the audit committee. The Board comprises of four Non-Executive Directors (three of which are considered independent) and an Executive Director. The full Board sit as the audit committee when reviewing the half year and annual accounts and considering the auditors reports. In its role of the audit committee, the Board also:
The Board considers that, given the current size and scope of the Company's operations and that only one Director holds an executive position in the Company, efficiencies or other benefits would not be gained by establishing a separate audit committee at present. As the Company's operations grow and evolve, the Board will reconsider the appropriateness of forming a separate audit committee. Details relating to the number of audit committee meetings and the attendance at the meetings held in 2023, are included in the Company's Annual Report. |
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Energy Transition Minerals Ltd. published this content on 28 March 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 March 2024 10:11:31 UTC.