Rio2 Announces Board Renewal and Environmental Stewardship Award
Board-linked equity awards include 100,000 restricted share units and 200,000 options exercisable at C$2.94 per share.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Rio2 (RIOFF) appointed Deborah Starkman and Maria (Ria) Sanz as independent directors, with Starkman also chairing the audit committee. Ram Ramachandran and Sidney Robinson retired from the board effective November 11, 2026.
The board approved 100,000 restricted share units and 200,000 stock options in connection with the appointments. The options carry a C$2.94 exercise price, a stated 10% premium to the November 11 closing price of C$2.67, and expire five years from grant. The restricted share units are subject to vesting provisions.
Rio2 also received the 2026 Robert E. Leckie Award for environmental stewardship for Indian River remediation in Yukon, ahead of reactivating exploration at its Kalzas Tungsten Project.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.200,000 stock options create potential dilution at C$2.94 per share, expiring five years from grant.
- Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.100,000 restricted share units add potential dilution, subject to vesting provisions.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 12, 2026) - Rio2 Limited (TSX: RIO) (OTCQX: RIOFF) (BVL: RIO) ("Rio2" or "the Company") today announced that Ram Ramachandran and Sidney Robinson have retired from Rio2's Board of Directors, effective November 11, 2026. Mr. Ramachandran joined Rio2 Limited on April 21, 2017, and has been an invaluable member of the Board since then, serving as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Health, Safety and Community Committee. Mr. Robinson also joined the Company on April 21, 2017, and served as a member of the Audit Committee, providing legal insight and sound business acumen.
Alex Black, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented, "While I am excited about the experience and perspective Deborah and Ria will bring to Rio2, the most difficult and genuinely sad aspect of this renewal is saying goodbye to Ram and Sidney. Both have been part of the Rio Alto Mining and Rio2 adventures for nearly 16 years, sharing in the challenges, milestones and successes that have shaped our companies over that long journey. Their steadfast support, wise counsel and commitment have meant a great deal to me and have contributed meaningfully to what we have achieved together. After so many years of working alongside Ram and Sidney, their departure marks the end of an important chapter for our board and for me personally. I want to express my sincere gratitude to both for everything they have given to Rio Alto and Rio2, and I wish them every success and happiness in whatever comes next."
The Board of Directors of Rio2 announces the appointment of Deborah Starkman, an experienced finance professional, as an independent director and chair of the audit committee, along with Maria (Ria) Sanz, a seasoned mining executive, as an independent director.
Deborah Starkman is a corporate director and former senior financial executive with over 30 years of experience in capital markets, financial services, asset management, and real estate. Most recently, Ms. Starkman served as Chief Financial Officer of Dream Unlimited Corp., a publicly traded real estate development and asset management company. Previously, she was Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of GMP Capital Inc., a publicly traded Canadian financial services firm. Earlier in her career, she was a Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets. Ms. Starkman currently serves on the boards of International Petroleum Corporation, Crombie REIT, and the Ontario Securities Commission. She previously served on the board of IAMGOLD Corporation, where she chaired the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and served on the Audit and Finance Committee and the Human Resources and Compensation Committee. Ms. Starkman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western University and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Windsor. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (FCPA, FCA), a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Ria Sanz is an accomplished global executive, bringing extensive experience from the mining (AngloGold Ashanti and Newcrest Mining), manufacturing (BOC Gases/Afrox and Sappi), construction (Bouygues/Basil Read), private healthcare (Afrox Healthcare), and banking (Investec Bank) industries. Since 1998, she has served on the executive committees of four publicly listed companies. Her expertise includes advising public boards, CEOs, and executive colleagues on governance, risk, sustainability, compliance, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, regulatory, and legal matters. She has led multi-jurisdictional and multidisciplinary teams across the globe for over twenty-five years and has mentored senior leaders for the past decade. Known for her strategic and commercial acumen, integrity, and collaborative approach, Ms. Sanz has consistently been entrusted by chairs and CEOs with sensitive board and executive responsibilities. Her expanding roles have extended well beyond the standard duties of a Chief Legal Officer. She has developed in-depth regulatory knowledge, having worked with companies listed on the JSE, TSX, NYSE, ASX, LSE, and on the Ghana and PNG Stock Exchanges, and has operated extensively throughout Africa, South America, North America, Europe/UK, and Australia.
2026 Robert E. Leckie Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship - Yukon
Rio2 is also proud to announce that it has been awarded the 2026 Robert E. Leckie Award for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship for its outstanding remediation work along the Indian River in the Yukon as a prelude to its reactivation of exploration at its Kalzas Tungsten Project. The Robert E. Leckie Awards are given to individual mining operators and mining companies for demonstrated excellence in environmental stewardship, outstanding social responsibility, and leadership and innovation in mining practices. The selection committee includes the Government of Yukon, the Yukon Chamber of Mines and the Klondike Placer Miners' Association.
Grant of Equity Incentive Awards
In connection with these appointments, the board of directors of the Company has approved the grant of 100,000 restricted share units (the "RSUs") and 200,000 stock options (the "Options"). The Options are issued in accordance with the Company's Stock Option Plan and the RSUs have been issued under the Company's Share Incentive Plan and are subject to vesting provisions. The Options are exercisable at a price of C
ABOUT RIO2 LIMITED
Rio2 is a diversified precious metals and copper producer focused on building and operating mines with a management team that has proven technical skills as well as a successful capital markets track record. The Company is currently producing gold at its Fenix Gold heap leach mine in Chile and copper/gold/silver at its recently acquired Condestable underground mine in Peru. Rio2 and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Fenix Gold Limitada and Compañía Minera Condestable S.A., are companies that operate with the highest environmental standards and responsibility, with the firm conviction that it is possible to develop mining projects that respect the three pillars (Social, Environment, Economics) of responsible development. As related companies, we reaffirm our commitment to apply environmental standards beyond those mandated by regulators, seeking to protect and preserve the environment in the territories where we operate.
To learn more about Rio2 Limited, please visit: www.rio2.com or Rio2's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF RIO2 LIMITED
Alex Black
Executive Chairman of the Board
Email: alex.black@rio2.com
Tel: +51 99279 4655
Kathryn Johnson
Executive Vice President, CFO & Corporate Secretary
Email: kathryn.johnson@rio2.com
Tel: +1 604 762 4720
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/323667
FAQ
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Who joined Rio2's board and who retired?
Deborah Starkman and Maria (Ria) Sanz joined as independent directors, and Starkman also became audit committee chair. Ram Ramachandran and Sidney Robinson retired effective November 11, 2026.
What equity awards did Rio2 approve for its board appointments?
Rio2 approved 100,000 restricted share units and 200,000 stock options in connection with the appointments. The options are exercisable at C$2.94 per share and expire five years from grant. The restricted share units are subject to vesting provisions.