Avalon Receives High-Ranking ESG Risk Rating
Avalon Receives High-Ranking ESG Risk
Rating
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 24, 2021) -
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
(TSX: AVL)
(OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") is pleased to report on its Environmental, Social and
Corporate Governance ("ESG") Risk Rating following an independent audit of the Company's business
practices and policies performed by Sustainalytics, a Morningstar company, as first announced on
November 3, 2020
. Avalon's overall management of material ESG issues is strong. No events or
policies were identified that may negatively impact stakeholders, the environment or the Company's
operations.
Sustainalytics is a leading ESG research, ratings and data firm. It assesses ESG risks of companies on
a scale of 0-100, with 0 indicating the lowest risk. In January 2021, Avalon received an ESG Risk Rating
of 28.9 in its industry, Diversified Metals, and ranked among the top 5% of 150 industry companies
analyzed globally. Avalon is among a growing number of companies focusing exclusively on clean tech
minerals development assessed per the Sustainalytics' ESG Risk Ratings methodology. It is due to this
focus on a variety of rare metals and minerals that it was classified as part of the Diversified Metals
industry group. While this relative ranking for Avalon is derived from a total score comparison with other
companies in the industry, the five peers identified in the summary ESG Risk Rating report are meant to
provide an overview per the market cap range than any direct score impact on Avalon's score.
While Avalon was classified as part of an industry group that includes mainly producing mining
companies, this simply reflects the fact that Sustainalytics has not previously provided an ESG risk rating
for a development stage company focused on critical minerals like Avalon.
Sustainalytics' ESG Risk Ratings provide investors with third-party validation of the company's
sustainability performance, along with insights into why certain ESG issues are considered material for a
company and how well a company is managing those risks. The benefits of obtaining an ESG Risk
Rating include the ability to provide better access to ESG investment capital, and the ability to gain
commercial benefit from the rating externally with creditors, suppliers and other stakeholders.
Comments Avalon's President and CEO, Don Bubar, "Avalon is pleased to be formally recognized as a
leader in ESG performance. This third-party validation of our business model for sustainable
development of critical minerals for clean technology will be an asset for us going forward, both in
attracting capital to and in attracting downstream consumers of our products looking for sustainably
produced materials."
About Sustainalytics
Sustainalytics, a Morningstar Company, is a leading ESG research, ratings and data firm that supports
investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment
strategies. For more than 25 years, the firm has been at the forefront of developing high-quality,
innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of global investors. Today, Sustainalytics works with
hundreds of the world's leading asset managers and pension funds who incorporate ESG and corporate
governance information and assessments into their investment processes. Sustainalytics also works
with hundreds of companies and their financial intermediaries to help them consider sustainability in
policies, practices and capital projects. With 16 offices globally, Sustainalytics has more than 650 staff
members, including more than 200 analysts with varied multidisciplinary expertise across more than 40
industry groups. For more information, visit
www.sustainalytics.com
.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in
sustainably-produced materials for clean technology. The Company now has four advanced stage
projects, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements,
tantalum, cesium and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on developing its Separation Rapids
Lithium Project near Kenora, Ontario while looking at several new project opportunities, including re-
activating its 100%-owned Lilypad Cesium-Tantalum Project in northwestern Ontario. Social
responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.
For questions and feedback, please email:
Donald Bubar
Avalon President and CEO
.
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that no events or policies were
identified that may negatively impact stakeholders, the environment or the Company's operations,
that the benefits of obtaining an ESG Risk Rating include the ability to provide better access to ESG
investment capital, and the ability to gain commercial benefit from the rating externally with creditors,
suppliers and other stakeholders and that the risk rating will will be an asset for Avalon, both in
attracting capital to and in attracting downstream consumers of Avlaon's products looking for
sustainably produced materials. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the
use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues",
"expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or
variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved".
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, Forward-
looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time
such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may
be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to the parties not successfully negotiating a definitive purchase and sale
agreement, the TSX not approving the transaction, the transaction not being completed on the terms
set out herein, or at all, the expected benefits of the transaction and future opportunities arising out of
the proposed acquisition not being realized, unanticipated market conditions, as well as those risk
factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and
Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at
www.SEDAR.com
.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking
statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the
Company's plans and objectives with respect to its proposed acquisition of 2333383 and may not be
appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-
looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are
contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/75338