Brazil Potash Establishes Advisory Board Chaired by Mayo Schmidt
AMAZONAS, Brazil, July 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
-- Brazil Potash Corp. (“Brazil Potash” or the “Company”) is
excited to announce the formation of an advisory board to provide
further sector, Brazil country and investor relationship expertise
as the Company advances the Autazes potash project (the “Project”)
to construction. The advisory board will be Chaired by Mayo Schmidt
and includes the following highly notable individuals: Kátia Abreu,
Luis Adams, Helio Diniz, Maria Claudia Guimaraes, Cidinho Santos,
and William Steers.
The following is some background on the vast
experience brought by Brazil Potash’s Advisory Board.
Mayo Schmidt – former Chairman & CEO
of Nutrien, former CEO Viterra, and former CEO Hydro
One
Mr. Schmidt has led a distinguished career that
includes global multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, building high
performance teams, transformational leadership and initial public
offerings of private companies. In 2022, Mr. Schmidt retired from
Nutrien Inc., the largest potash producer globally with ~US$25
billion market capitalization, having served as Chairman of the
Board and transitional President & CEO. In 2018, Mr. Schmidt
was appointed by Agrium as Chairman of the Merger Committee between
Agrium and Potash Corporation leading to the formation of Nutrien
Inc.
Mr. Schmidt is also the former President, CEO
and Director of Viterra Inc., which he grew from a market
capitalization of $54 million to $7.3 billion in less than ten
years through a series of 24 acquisitions establishing a presence
in 14 countries. Earlier in his career, Mr. Schmidt held a number
of key management positions, largely in the agricultural sector
working for companies such as General Mills Inc. and ConAgra
Inc.
Kátia Abreu – Former Brazil Minister of
Agriculture & Senator
Mrs. Abreu is a Brazilian businesswoman, cattle
rancher and politician. She was Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture,
Livestock and Supply from 2003-2007 and Senator for the state of
Tocantins from 2007-2023. In 2018, as part of Ciro Gomes' campaign,
she was a candidate for Vice President of Brazil. Mrs. Abreu is the
former head of the largest farm lobbying group in Brazil, the
National Agriculture and Livestock Confederation, which represents
more than one million producers across 27 states.
Luis Adams – Former Brazil Attorney
General
Mr. Adams is a Partner in the Litigation,
Arbitration and Compliance practice at Tauil Chequer Advogados,
associated to Mayer Brown law firm based on Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Prior to joining Mayer Brown, Mr. Adams was appointed by Brazil
President Lula to be the Attorney General in October 2009 and he
remained in this position under subsequent President Dilma until
March 2016. As Attorney General, Mr. Adams led major cases in the
judiciary including coordination of an environment agreement
between the Brazilian Government and Samarco, Vale and BHP. Mr.
Adams also has extensive tax experience, having worked as counsel
for the Federal Treasury at the Brazil Ministry of Finance for 24
years.
Helio Diniz – Founder of Brazil
Potash
Mr. Diniz has 40 years of experience with
exploration and mining activities and is one of the founders of
Brazil Potash where he served for several years as Managing
Director. Mr. Diniz started his career with GENCOR South Africa
where he was involved in the evaluation and development of the Sao
Bento gold mine in Brazil which operated for 25 years. In 1999 he
joined Noranda Mining as country manager Brazil and following the
merger of Noranda and Falconbridge Ltd his team discovered the
world class Araguaia Nickel Deposit (over 100 million tonnes, 1.5%
Ni). He then went on to work for Xstrata (now Glencore) as Managing
Director Brazil. He left Xtrata in 2007 and joined Forbes &
Manhattan Inc. to set up several companies, such as potash – Brazil
Potash, phosphate – Aguia Metais, gold – Belo Sun Mining and oil
shale – Irati Petroleo e Energia Ltda. Currently he is the founder,
President and Director of Lithium Ionic.
Maria Claudia Guimaraes – Former
Executive Officer at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in
Brazil
Mrs. Guimaraes has 36 years of experience in the
financial markets having served as Managing Director at Bank
of America Merrill Lynch and BankBoston. She also held senior
management positions at ING Bank N.V. and ABN AMRO Bank,
always focusing on the mining & metals, oil & gas and
energy sectors. Mrs. Guimaraes is an independent director at
Patria Latin American Opportunity Acquisition Corp and
previously served as an independent director at multibillion dollar
market capitalization company’s such as Petrobras. Mrs. Guimaraes
was a partner of the KPC multi-family office, which was sold to
Brainvest Wealth Management in 2023. Mrs. Guimaraes is the founder
of Baobá Investimentos, who act as a strategic and financial
advisor for companies.
Cidinho Santos – Former Senator for Mato
Grosso State (largest farming region in Brazil)
Mr. Santos is a Brazilian investor and
businessman focused on the agricultural sector. Mr. Santos
represented the state of Mato Grosso in the Federal Senate from
2012 to 2019 and served three terms as Mayor of the Municipality of
Nova Marilandia located in Mato Grosso State. He is the co-owner of
two successful Brazil-based agricultural companies, Unibras
Industria e Comercio de Biodiesel Ltda. and Unioa Avicola
Agroindustrial Ltda. Unibras Industria e Comercio de Biodiesel
Ltda. is involved in the production of biodiesel whereas Unioa
Avicola Agroindustrial Ltda. is a poultry processor.
William Steers – Former Director of
Petro Rio S.A. & Docs Investimentos S.A. Brazil
Mr. Steers has over 30 years of experience in
capital markets and project development primarily in Brazil. He was
a director and senior manager at Docas Investimentos S.A., a
Brazilian investment group involved in real estate, ship building,
telecommunications, and oil and gas. Additionally, Mr. Steers has
served as an independent director at several natural resource
companies including Petro Rio S.A., Brazil’s largest independent
private oil and gas company.
Brazil Potash’s Executive Chairman Stan Bharti
commented, “Brazil Potash has assembled a very impressive advisory
board with extensive depth of networks in the fertilizer sector,
Brazil’s government and the investment community that will
contribute meaningfully to transitioning our construction ready
Autazes Project into the next major potash producer. Each advisory
board member is a skilled leader with a strong network that will
provide good advice and insights to our international board of
directors with majority having on-the-ground presence in the
heartland of Brazil’s farming community, Mato Grosso.”
Having domestic Brazilian potash production is
expected to be game changing for global food security given Brazil
is one the world’s largest net exporters of agricultural goods but
is exposed as the country imports over 95% of its needs when
potentially one of the world’s largest potash basins is sitting in
its backyard being developed by Brazil Potash.
About Brazil Potash
Brazil Potash has advanced its large-scale
development stage potash project to a near construction ready
state. Brazil is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing
consumers of potash but imports 98% of its needs at high cost. As a
result, over 1.3 million tonnes of Greenhouse Gas emissions are
unnecessarily generated from maritime transportation and potash
production in jurisdictions with higher emission factors.
Brazil Potash’s sylvanite ore body is in Brazil beside a major
river, which management anticipates will enable the company to
extract, process and deliver potash for the same cost that
importers pay for transportation alone. The company has
completed a feasibility study, EISA and obtained the majority of
the permits required for project construction.
For more information, please
contact:
Brazil Potash Investor Relations
info@brazilpotash.com
Cautionary
Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements, other than
statements of historical fact,
contained in this press release
constitute “forward-looking
statements” and are based on
the reasonable expectations,
estimates and projections of
the Company as of the
date of this press release.
The words “plans,” “expects,”
or “does not expect,”
“is expected,” “budget,”
“scheduled,” “estimates,” “forecasts,”
“intends,” “anticipates,” or
“does not anticipate,” or
“believes,” or variations of
such words and phrases
or statements that certain
actions, events or results
“may,” “could,” “would,”
“might,” or “will be
taken,” “occur” or “be
achieved” and similar
expressions identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements
include, without limitation,
statements regarding the Brazil Potash
advisory board, the roles and expertise of the advisory board
members, the status of the Company’s project, government
regulation and environmental regulation. Forward-looking statements
are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by the
Company as of the date
of such statements, are
inherently subject to
significant business, economic
and competitive uncertainties
and contingencies. The Company
disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements,
except to the extent
required by applicable law.
The reader is cautioned
not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking
statements.