Standard Lithium Retains BNP Paribas to Lead Debt Advisory Services for First Commercial Project

Exclusive Financial Advisor for Limited Recourse Debt Financing to Fund Majority of First Commercial Project

EL DORADO, Ark., May 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), a leading near-commercial lithium company, has signed a mandate with BNP Paribas (BNP) to act as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in connection with limited recourse debt financing. The debt financing will be used to fund the majority of the Company’s proposed first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A Project, located near El Dorado in southern Arkansas. BNP Paribas is a global leader in the financial advisory and project financing role for battery and critical mineral projects.

Dr. Andy Robinson, President of the Company, commented, “We are delighted to start this engagement with BNP Paribas. Standard Lithium is in the closing stages of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for our first commercial project, the Lanxess 1A project. As we move towards commercialization, we have kicked off the necessary financial processes to ensure the most capital efficient way to fund our first full-scale project. BNP brings an excellent track record of advising and securing debt financing for similar sustainable, battery and critical mineral projects, and we look forward to working closely with them as we endeavor to secure project financing for construction anticipated to begin next year.”

Antonio Pichardo, Director at BNP Paribas, said, “We are pleased to partner with Standard Lithium for this landmark debt financing. This new project is a testament to their commitment to environmental protection and demonstrates that we can meet the growing demand for lithium. BNP Paribas is determined to strengthen our climate action, in order to help our clients and our world to face the challenges of the future. We are looking forward to helping establish Standard Lithium as a leading producer of responsible lithium for the rapidly growing electric vehicle market.”

About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is the European Union’s leading bank and key player in international banking. It operates in 65 countries and has nearly 185,000 employees, including more than 145,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkey, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability.