Global investment advisory firm Appian Capital Advisory has inked a strategic investment in and joint development agreement with Urbix to develop a project to build and operate a commercial scale graphite processing facility.
Once operational the processing facility will produce Coated Spherical Purified Graphite (CSPG) from natural graphite concentrate feed supplied by Graphcoa, another Appian investee company located in Brazil.
Urbix is an innovator focused on developing and optimizing technology for the efficient production of graphite products. The company possesses proprietary technology which utilizes a sustainable, environmentally friendly approach for the production of graphite products.
As part of the transaction, Appian’s investment into Urbix will help fund the construction of a commercial scale demonstration module, development activities and customer engagement outlined in the joint development agreement required to achieve a Final Investment Decision (FID) for construction of the facility. Upon a positive FID, Appian and Urbix intend to establish a JV to construct and operate the facility.
Founder and CEO of Appian Michael W. Scherb says the investment and joint development agreement mark a significant advancement towards establishing a vertically integrated graphite company in the Americas.
“This synergistic partnership will leverage Appian’s deep construction and operating expertise and Urbix’s innovative and proprietary processing technology to supply high-quality CSPG to North American battery gigafactories“
“This synergistic partnership will leverage Appian’s deep construction and operating expertise and Urbix’s innovative and proprietary processing technology to supply high-quality CSPG to North American battery gigafactories.
I look forward to closely collaborating with Urbix, Graphcoa, and all stakeholders in the United States and Brazil across the graphite value chain to meet growing demand for independent supply of these materials.”
Through its investment, Appian will obtain 2 of 7 board seats at Urbix.
The deal announcement coincided with the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney this week. Mining.com.au is an official media partner of IMARC.
Appian is the investment advisor to long-term value-focused private capital funds that invest solely in mining and mining-related companies.
The deal follows extensive engagement with Urbix and is a strong fit with the firm’s investment strategy. The transaction is expected to, among other aspects, strategically position Urbix to establish a fully integrated graphite anode material supply chain in the Americas to provide North American battery gigafactories with security of supply.
The deal is also poised to strengthen Appian’s exposure to the rapidly growing market for graphite anode material and aligns with the firm’s focus on developing projects that produce the commodities required to accelerate the energy transition.
It will allow for active collaboration with Urbix facilitating the application of Appian’s technical and project management expertise to optimize the development of the facility. The transaction will also augment Appian’s presence in the US, which remains one of the world’s most technologically innovative jurisdictions.
Appian is a global investment advisor in the metals and mining industry, with experience across South America, North America, Australia, and Africa and has a global operating portfolio overseeing nearly 7,000 employees.
Appian has a global team of 81 experienced professionals with presences in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Lima, Belo Horizonte, Montreal, Dubai, Johannesburg, and Perth.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Graphcoa
