Latest news with #DavidPark
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Standard Lithium Expands Leadership Team with Appointment of General Counsel
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. ('Standard Lithium' or the 'Company') (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, is announcing the appointment of Michael Lutgring as General Counsel, effective August 18, 2025. 'We are excited to have Michael join our senior leadership team,' said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. 'Michael's deep and wide-ranging experience will be critical as we strengthen our capabilities and bring further expertise in-house as we continue our growth and development as a public company.' Mr. Lutgring brings over two decades of legal and strategic advisory experience across corporate law, regulatory compliance and commercial transactions. Prior to joining Standard Lithium, Mr. Lutgring served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Albemarle Corporation, where he led legal support for global supply chain operations, manufacturing, engineering and corporate functions including human resources, information technology and risk management. Mr. Lutgring played a pivotal role in major corporate initiatives, including the $6.2 billion acquisition of Rockwood Holdings to enter the lithium business, as well as the $3.2 billion divestiture of Chemetall Surface Treatment to BASF. Prior to Albemarle, Mr. Lutgring held senior legal roles at Amedisys, Inc., and practiced with respected law firms, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, securities and governance matters. He is recognized for his ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and align legal strategy with business objectives. About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol 'SLI'. Please visit the Company's website at Investor InquiriesDan RosenStandard Lithium Ltd.+1 604 409 8154investors@ Media Inquiriesmedia@ X: @standardlithiumLinkedIn: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain 'Forward-Looking Statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'target, 'plan', 'forecast', 'may', 'schedule' and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Standard Lithium Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
Achieved multiple critical milestones for development of the South West Arkansas ('SWA') Project Steadily progressing towards a Final Investment Decision for Phase 1 of SWA targeted by year-end 2025 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. ('Standard Lithium' or the 'Company') (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the three month period ended June 30, 2025. 'We have been working diligently alongside our joint venture partner Equinor to progress our lithium development projects and have achieved multiple key milestones in the second quarter as we advance those efforts,' said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. 'We completed all fieldwork required for the first phase of our SWA Project and are advancing off-take and project financing discussions ahead of a Final Investment Decision targeted by the end of this year. Additionally, in the third quarter we plan to release a Definitive Feasibility Study for SWA and a Maiden Inferred Resource Report on our East Texas properties. We expect both to further reinforce the conviction that our projects in the Smackover will deliver significant value to our shareholders, the communities that we work in, and will help to secure critical minerals production in the United States.' Highlights Subsequent to the Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated. Smackover Lithium Reports Highest Lithium Brine Grade in SWA Project AreaSmackover Lithium announced that it completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the SWA Project area. One sample recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area: 616 mg/L lithium in brine, while average lithium concentration in brine from the Lester well was 582 mg/L. This concluded all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project, which is targeting production capacity of 22,500 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate. Highlights From Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 Royalty rate approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the SWA ProjectThe Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission ('AOGC') unanimously approved the establishment of a 2.5% royalty rate for Phase I of the SWA Project. This was the first royalty rate for lithium from brine extraction to be approved by the AOGC, establishing an important precedent for lithium development companies operating in Arkansas and encouraging economic development of the state's significant lithium resource. Smackover Lithium's SWA Project receives special designationSmackover Lithium announced that its SWA Project was selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects, and the only Direct Lithium Extraction project, to be advanced under Executive Order 14241 – Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, announced by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council. Approval of brine production unit for Phase I of the SWA ProjectOn April 24, Smackover Lithium announced the brine production unit (Reynolds Brine Unit) for Phase I of it's SWA Project was unanimously approved by the AOGC with no objection or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community. Approval of the unit was a necessary statutory requirement for SWA Project development. Advancing next generation solid-state battery materials in partnership with Telescope Innovations companies developed a new conversion process that has been used to convert lithium hydroxide produced by Standard Lithium at its southern Arkansas Demonstration Plant into battery quality lithium sulfide, a key raw material required for many next-generation solid-state battery chemistries. This novel, low-temperature, patented process provides numerous potential advantages with respect to flexibility, quality, cost and safety. Strengthened senior management team with new VP appointmentsAppointed Daniel Rosen as Vice President of Strategy and Investor Relations and Tim Sobel as Vice President of Health, Safety, Social and Environment. The additions to the leadership team will strengthen the Company's capabilities and execution of its growth strategy on a path towards first production. Cash and working capital of $33.8 million and $30.6 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2025. The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of June 30, 2025. Consolidated Financial Statements This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the three month fiscal period ended June 30, 2025, which are available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at and on EDGAR at Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 Call and Webcast The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its three-month period ended June 30, 2025 on Wednesday, August 13th at 4:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial. Conference Call and Webcast DetailsStandard Lithium Q2 2025 Earnings Call and WebcastAugust 13, 2025 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (USA and Canada) Participant Information:Conference ID: 6017900 USA / International Toll: +1 (646) 307-1963USA - Toll-Free: (800) 715-9871Canada - Toronto: (647) 932-3411Canada - Toll-Free: (800) 715-9871 Attendee Webcast Link: About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the SWA Project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol 'SLI'. Please visit the Company's website at Investor InquiriesDaniel Rosen+1 604 409 8154investors@ Media Inquiriesmedia@ Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain 'Forward-Looking Statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'target, 'plan', 'forecast', 'may', 'schedule' and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project and Maiden Inferred Resource Report on the East Texas properties, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time Business News
11-08-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
AI-Powered Personalization: The Future of Employee Training Programs
David Park thought he knew his learning style. As a project manager at a Fortune 500 consulting firm, he'd completed dozens of training programs over his eight-year career. He considered himself a visual learner – someone who needed diagrams, charts, and infographics to absorb new information effectively. Then his company implemented an AI-powered learning platform that tracked how he actually engaged with content. The results surprised everyone, including David. The system discovered that while David clicked on visual elements first, he spent significantly more time with audio content. His quiz scores were highest after listening to podcast-style explanations. His retention rates peaked when he consumed content during his morning commute, not during scheduled work time as he'd always assumed. Within three months, David's learning velocity had increased by 60%. But here's the kicker – he wasn't the only one. Across his organization, the AI system was uncovering hidden learning patterns and optimizing development paths in ways human trainers never could. Welcome to the future of employee training, where artificial intelligence doesn't just deliver content – it understands how each individual learns best and adapts accordingly. Traditional corporate training operates on a fundamental assumption: what works for most people will work for everyone. This assumption has created generations of generic courses that bore some employees, overwhelm others, and leave many feeling like their time was wasted. The statistics are sobering. Research from the Corporate Learning Network shows that only 25% of employees find their company's training programs engaging. Even worse, just 12% apply new skills immediately after training completion. But what if training could be as personalized as Netflix recommendations or Spotify playlists? At pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, this isn't a hypothetical question anymore. Their AI-driven learning platform analyzes over 200 data points for each employee – everything from role requirements and career aspirations to learning pace and content preferences. When molecular biologist Dr. Sarah Chen needed to develop project management skills for a new leadership role, the system didn't enroll her in a generic management course. Instead, it created a customized learning path combining short video modules (matching her preference for visual content), case studies from pharmaceutical contexts (leveraging her existing domain knowledge), and peer discussions with other scientist-managers (addressing her need for relevant role models). 'It felt like having a personal learning coach who actually understood my background and goals,' Dr. Chen explains. 'Instead of sitting through irrelevant examples about manufacturing or retail, every case study resonated with my daily challenges.' The results speak volumes. Pfizer's personalized learning approach has increased skill application rates from 15% to 67%. More importantly, employees report feeling more confident and prepared for new responsibilities. Every person's brain processes information differently. Some learners need multiple exposures to new concepts before achieving mastery. Others grasp ideas quickly but struggle with long-term retention. Still others learn best through trial and error rather than theoretical instruction. Traditional training programs can't account for these differences. AI-powered systems excel at identifying and adapting to individual learning patterns. At technology company Adobe, their machine learning algorithms track micro-behaviors that reveal how employees learn. The system notices if someone re-watches video segments, how long they spend on different question types, whether they seek additional resources, and when they take breaks. Software engineer Miguel Rodriguez discovered he was what the system labeled a 'spiral learner' – someone who needs to encounter concepts multiple times in different contexts before achieving fluency. Traditional courses frustrated Miguel because they presented information once and moved on. The AI system adapted by providing multiple touchpoints for key concepts. Miguel would encounter new programming frameworks first through brief overviews, then through hands-on exercises, later through peer discussions, and finally through real project applications. 'It stopped feeling like I was slow or struggling,' Miguel recalls. 'The system just gave me information in the way my brain needed to receive it.' Perhaps the most powerful aspect of AI-driven training is its ability to predict learning needs before they become urgent. Instead of reactive training – addressing skill gaps after they impact performance – AI enables proactive development. At logistics company UPS, their predictive learning system analyzed patterns in customer complaints, operational challenges, and employee performance data. The system identified that customer service representatives would likely need enhanced problem-solving skills three months before peak shipping season, based on historical patterns and current business trends. Rather than scrambling to provide crisis training during busy periods, UPS could develop relevant skills during slower months when employees had more mental bandwidth for learning. The system's predictions proved remarkably accurate. Representatives who completed the recommended problem-solving modules handled 35% more complex customer issues during peak season without escalation to supervisors. But the real breakthrough came when the AI began identifying individual career trajectory patterns. The system could predict with 85% accuracy which employees were likely to seek promotion within the next 18 months, based on their learning engagement, skill development choices, and interaction patterns. This allowed UPS to provide targeted leadership development before employees even expressed interest in advancement opportunities. The result? Internal promotion rates increased by 40%, and employee satisfaction scores rose significantly. Static training content becomes outdated quickly. AI-powered systems can dynamically generate and update learning materials based on real-time business needs and individual progress. At financial services firm Goldman Sachs, their AI learning platform creates personalized case studies using current market conditions and each trader's specific portfolio challenges. Instead of learning from generic examples, traders practice with scenarios that mirror their actual daily decisions. The system continuously updates these scenarios based on market movements, regulatory changes, and individual performance patterns. A trader struggling with risk assessment receives more complex risk scenarios. Someone excelling at technical analysis gets advanced pattern recognition challenges. 'It's like having training that evolves with both the market and my personal development,' explains equity trader Lisa Kim. 'I'm not learning abstract concepts – I'm practicing exactly what I need to do better tomorrow.' The adaptive approach extends beyond content to delivery mechanisms. The AI notices if engagement drops during certain times of day, if particular content formats cause confusion, or if specific learning sequences prove more effective for different personality types. Leveraging formats like interactive videos can dramatically boost learner engagement by tailoring how content is experienced. As AI-driven training rapidly evolves to deliver deeply personalized experiences, the need for continuous validation and optimization becomes critical. This is where AI agentic test automation is making a profound impact. In modern employee learning platforms, where content adapts to unique learner patterns, schedules, and business needs, automated AI agents now play a central role in ensuring that every training path remains effective and engaging. Rather than relying solely on traditional manual reviews, AI agentic test automation actively simulates diverse learner interactions across personalized modules. These AI systems test new content formats, timing, and delivery methods, instantly flagging what truly resonates with employees and where engagement drops off. For organizations, this means potential issues in adaptive learning journeys are detected and resolved before they disrupt the learner experience. By embedding AI agentic test automation within personalized training ecosystems, companies can maintain high-quality, up-to-date content that accurately responds to each employee's evolving needs. Platforms offering interactive learning solutions help scale this personalization with dynamic content that adapts in real time. Whether it's optimizing delivery during a morning commute or refining test questions for specific learning styles, smart automation amplifies the impact of AI-driven personalization. The result is greater learning outcomes and the ability to scale innovation across employee development programs. The most sophisticated AI training systems don't just track learning activity – they connect learning outcomes to actual job performance. This creates powerful feedback loops that continuously refine training effectiveness. At consulting firm Deloitte, their AI platform correlates training completion with project outcomes, client feedback scores, and peer evaluations. The system can identify which specific learning modules correlate with improved performance and which might be ineffective time investments. When consultant Jennifer Walsh completed a negotiation skills program, the AI system tracked her performance in subsequent client interactions. It noticed that while her overall negotiation outcomes improved, she still struggled with objection handling in technical discussions. The system automatically recommended supplementary content focused specifically on technical objection handling, drawing from Deloitte's knowledge base and external resources. More importantly, it connected Jennifer with internal mentors who had successfully navigated similar challenges. 'It's like having a learning system that actually pays attention to whether I'm getting better at my job, not just whether I completed a course,' Jennifer explains. Implementing AI-powered learning isn't without obstacles. The most significant barrier is often data quality and privacy concerns. AI systems need substantial data to function effectively, but employees may be uncomfortable with detailed tracking of their learning behaviors. At healthcare organization Kaiser Permanente, they addressed privacy concerns by implementing 'learning data sovereignty' – employees maintain control over their learning data and can adjust privacy settings based on their comfort levels. The system provides value even with limited data by focusing on aggregated pattern recognition rather than individual behavior tracking. Employees who choose higher data sharing receive more personalized recommendations, while privacy-conscious users still benefit from improved content curation. Another challenge is avoiding AI bias in learning recommendations. If historical data shows that certain demographic groups received different training opportunities, AI systems might perpetuate these inequities. Technology company Microsoft addressed this by implementing 'fairness constraints' in their learning algorithms. The system actively promotes diverse learning paths and career development opportunities, using AI to identify and correct historical biases rather than amplify them. Despite the technological sophistication, successful AI-powered training still requires human insight and oversight. The most effective systems combine AI's pattern recognition capabilities with human coaches and mentors who provide context, motivation, and emotional support. At manufacturing company Boeing, their hybrid approach pairs AI-driven skill gap analysis with human career coaches. The AI identifies what employees need to learn, while human coaches help them understand why it matters and how it connects to their career aspirations. Assembly line supervisor Carlos Mendez credits this combination with helping him transition into quality management. 'The AI showed me exactly what technical skills I needed to develop,' he explains. 'But my coach helped me understand how to position myself for the role and navigate the organizational dynamics.' This human-AI collaboration proves particularly crucial for soft skills development. While AI can identify communication or leadership skill gaps through performance data, human coaches provide the nuanced feedback and practice opportunities needed for improvement. Traditional training metrics – completion rates, satisfaction scores, quiz results – become less relevant in AI-powered systems. Instead, organizations focus on business impact metrics that demonstrate actual skill application and performance improvement. At retail giant Walmart, they measure 'learning-to-performance correlation' – the relationship between specific learning activities and measurable job outcomes. Their AI system tracks which training modules correlate with improved customer service scores, increased sales performance, or reduced safety incidents. The insights have been revolutionary. They discovered that their most expensive leadership development programs had minimal impact on actual management effectiveness, while peer mentoring programs showed strong performance correlations. This data-driven approach to training ROI has shifted Walmart's learning investment strategy dramatically. They now allocate resources based on proven performance impact rather than traditional training industry best practices. The future of AI-powered training extends beyond individual learning optimization. Emerging systems can predict organizational skill needs, identify knowledge gaps before they impact performance, and even simulate how different training strategies might affect business outcomes. At consulting firm Accenture, they're piloting 'organizational learning intelligence' – AI systems that analyze market trends, client demands, and competitive landscapes to predict what capabilities their workforce will need 12-18 months in advance. This foresight enables proactive skill development rather than reactive training. Instead of scrambling to upskill employees when new technologies emerge, they can prepare their workforce for future challenges while current expertise is still valuable. The implications are profound. Organizations with sophisticated learning intelligence will adapt faster to market changes, develop competitive advantages through superior workforce capabilities, and create more fulfilling career experiences for their employees. AI-powered personalization isn't a future concept – it's reshaping employee development right now. Organizations that embrace these capabilities are seeing measurable improvements in learning effectiveness, skill application, and business performance. But success requires more than just implementing new technology. It demands a fundamental shift in how organizations think about learning – from standardized programs to personalized journeys, from generic content to adaptive experiences, from training completion to performance transformation. David Park, the project manager we met earlier, summarizes the change perfectly: 'I spent years trying to fit into training programs that weren't designed for how I actually learn. Now the training fits me. It's not just more effective – it's actually enjoyable.' That transformation – from frustrating obligation to engaging opportunity – represents the true promise of AI-powered learning. When technology serves human potential rather than constraining it, remarkable things become possible. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Standard Lithium Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results
Achieved multiple critical milestones for development of the South West Arkansas ('SWA') Project Steadily progressing towards a Final Investment Decision for Phase 1 of SWA targeted by year-end 2025 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. ('Standard Lithium' or the 'Company') (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the three month period ended June 30, 2025. 'We have been working diligently alongside our joint venture partner Equinor to progress our lithium development projects and have achieved multiple key milestones in the second quarter as we advance those efforts,' said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. 'We completed all fieldwork required for the first phase of our SWA Project and are advancing off-take and project financing discussions ahead of a Final Investment Decision targeted by the end of this year. Additionally, in the third quarter we plan to release a Definitive Feasibility Study for SWA and a Maiden Inferred Resource Report on our East Texas properties. We expect both to further reinforce the conviction that our projects in the Smackover will deliver significant value to our shareholders, the communities that we work in, and will help to secure critical minerals production in the United States.' Highlights Subsequent to the Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated. Smackover Lithium Reports Highest Lithium Brine Grade in SWA Project AreaSmackover Lithium announced that it completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the SWA Project area. One sample recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area: 616 mg/L lithium in brine, while average lithium concentration in brine from the Lester well was 582 mg/L. This concluded all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project, which is targeting production capacity of 22,500 tonnes per annum of battery-quality lithium carbonate. Highlights From Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 Royalty rate approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for the SWA ProjectThe Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission ('AOGC') unanimously approved the establishment of a 2.5% royalty rate for Phase I of the SWA Project. This was the first royalty rate for lithium from brine extraction to be approved by the AOGC, establishing an important precedent for lithium development companies operating in Arkansas and encouraging economic development of the state's significant lithium resource. Smackover Lithium's SWA Project receives special designationSmackover Lithium announced that its SWA Project was selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects, and the only Direct Lithium Extraction project, to be advanced under Executive Order 14241 – Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, announced by the U.S. Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council. Approval of brine production unit for Phase I of the SWA ProjectOn April 24, Smackover Lithium announced the brine production unit (Reynolds Brine Unit) for Phase I of it's SWA Project was unanimously approved by the AOGC with no objection or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community. Approval of the unit was a necessary statutory requirement for SWA Project development. Advancing next generation solid-state battery materials in partnership with Telescope Innovations companies developed a new conversion process that has been used to convert lithium hydroxide produced by Standard Lithium at its southern Arkansas Demonstration Plant into battery quality lithium sulfide, a key raw material required for many next-generation solid-state battery chemistries. This novel, low-temperature, patented process provides numerous potential advantages with respect to flexibility, quality, cost and safety. Strengthened senior management team with new VP appointmentsAppointed Daniel Rosen as Vice President of Strategy and Investor Relations and Tim Sobel as Vice President of Health, Safety, Social and Environment. The additions to the leadership team will strengthen the Company's capabilities and execution of its growth strategy on a path towards first production. Cash and working capital of $33.8 million and $30.6 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2025. The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of June 30, 2025. Consolidated Financial Statements This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the three month fiscal period ended June 30, 2025, which are available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at and on EDGAR at Three Month Period Ended June 30, 2025 Call and Webcast The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its three-month period ended June 30, 2025 on Wednesday, August 13th at 4:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial. Conference Call and Webcast DetailsStandard Lithium Q2 2025 Earnings Call and WebcastAugust 13, 2025 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (USA and Canada) Participant Information:Conference ID: 6017900 USA / International Toll: +1 (646) 307-1963USA - Toll-Free: (800) 715-9871Canada - Toronto: (647) 932-3411Canada - Toll-Free: (800) 715-9871 Attendee Webcast Link: About Standard Lithium Ltd. Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company's flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the SWA Project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol 'SLI'. Please visit the Company's website at Investor InquiriesDaniel Rosen+1 604 409 8154investors@ Media Inquiriesmedia@ Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain 'Forward-Looking Statements' within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'target, 'plan', 'forecast', 'may', 'schedule' and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project and Maiden Inferred Resource Report on the East Texas properties, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Ghost Wedding by David Park review – a thought-provoking novel about the power of the past
Time is layered in Northern Irish writer David Park's latest novel. The past ever present, it underpins but also threatens to undermine the two protagonists. The story opens in present-day Belfast, with Alex, a man caught up in wedding plans. He loves his Ellie, but doesn't love all the fuss over venues and seating arrangements. The pair are paying a visit to the Manor House, a grand hotel outside the city; Ellie has her heart set on the boathouse by the lake for their reception, and wants Alex to feel the same excitement. This first chapter finds him distracted, though. Impatient with deadlines and invitations, but also keen just to be married; more specifically, to let go of his old life and his old pals from his single days. We're not told why, only that he is tired of 'all the pretences and games' and that marriage represents his 'best opportunity to loosen the connection'. Chapter two returns us to the same place but a century earlier. The Manor House is home to the Remingtons, and the lake and boathouse of Ellie's future dreams are as yet under construction, under the supervision of George Allenby. A young architect, George is also a veteran of the first world war. The fighting is not long over and he, too, would rather put his past behind him. But the lake excavation and the daily sight of his workers in the mud and rain is proving an awful reminder of the trenches. There, he was an officer; here he is once again in charge of men. George is sorely aware of their toiling, and the precarity of their employment set against the wealth of the Remingtons. George's employers are new money, and he finds himself embarrassed at their ambitions to pass as landed gentry. He knows the lake he is constructing is part of this: a charade doomed to failure. Returning to Alex, we find he is also uncomfortable in his work. He's employed by his father in property development. Regeneration in 21st-century Belfast provides riches for some, Alex included, but he sees those left behind, not least the tenants in the shopfronts his father lets out. Among them is a barber and a tattoo artist; Alex pays them visits as landlord, but strives to be more than that, to make human connections. So Ghost Wedding is about class and power as well as the past. This finds its best expression in George's story, in the relationship that develops between him and Cora, one of the Manor House maids. What starts as an allyship against the housekeeper – and against the awful Remington Junior – soon becomes more than that, with Cora visiting George at the cottage in the grounds where he is billeted. She's a gift to him – and to the book. Her sharpness is beguiling, as are her appetites, her humour, her determined independence. Park is one of those rare and precious male writers – like Roddy Doyle, like Colum McCann, who have both championed his work – who write women well. Park describes George falling for Cora extremely well too. Will this love prove impossible? It's beautifully drawn and perfectly chosen for a novel that wants its characters – and readers – to see beyond boundaries. Above all, Park wants us to look beyond the now: beyond 'the calendar on the kitchen wall that pretends to control the space of days wherein we live'. Alex and Ellie are to marry by the lake that George is excavating while he falls in love with Cora; these couples are separated by a century, and by nothing at all: prey to the same dilemmas, hemmed in by the same structures. The past isn't past. When Alex visits his father's building projects, lying empty and derelict, he finds a kind of peace there; but Park fills the rooms for his readers, bringing us the spirits and stories of Titanic dockyard workers, and seamen who crewed the supply boats in wartime. Conflict and shipbuilding are the twin forces that have shaped Belfast and the lives of its people, and Park excels at making this tangible. Alex himself is less finely drawn. We know there's a darkness in his past; that something unspeakable took place, in a tent, at a festival. We learn there was a young woman – too drunk, too high, and left too vulnerable. But what part did Alex play there? And what of his old friends he wants to discard? They and his memories are rather too thinly dispersed through the book to provide drive. It's a hinterland left underexplored, and one that feels less integrated with the novel as a whole. But in George and Cora, and in the Belfast ghosts, there is more than enough to move us – and to prompt thought. 'Time shuffles itself lightly, like a pack of cards. Who can tell what sequence it will deal? Who can tell what will fall across our future days?' Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Ghost Wedding by David Park is published by Oneworld (£16.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
