Strategic, Non-Retail Engagement
Finova’s engagement in rare earths and critical minerals is focused on strategic, physical assets in non-retail, off-market contexts where governance, jurisdiction, and regulatory alignment are central.
This is not speculative commodity trading or junior mining promotion.
Engagement is selective and reflects the strategic, geopolitical, and regulatory sensitivities associated with these materials.
Scope of Engagement
Finova may engage in rare earth and critical mineral contexts involving physical material relevant to industrial, technological, defence, or energy-transition use cases, including for example lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, manganese, neodymium, dysprosium, and praseodymium, where engagement is structured and lawfully supported.
Engagement is typically characterised by:
- strategic or institutional end-use considerations,
- complex jurisdictional and licensing environments, and
- heightened sensitivity around origin, export controls, and national interest.
Retail investment schemes, promotional mining opportunities, and exchange-traded exposure fall outside this scope.
Physical Assets and Supply Context
Finova’s engagement is limited to physical materials and does not extend to:
- equity promotion or capital raising for mining ventures,
- speculative trading in mineral-linked financial instruments, or
- exchange-based commodity exposure.
Where relevant, engagement may involve:
- material at specific stages of processing,
- controlled supply arrangements, or
- strategic stockpiles held for industrial or institutional use.
Origin, Processing, and Legitimacy
Rare earths and critical minerals present particular risks relating to:
- origin and extraction practices,
- processing and refinement stages,
- concentration of supply chains, and
- misrepresentation of material specification or availability.
Finova approaches these contexts with an emphasis on:
- clarity of origin and processing history,
- lawful authority to extract, process, and supply,
- consistency of technical and commercial information, and
- alignment with applicable export, licensing, and trade controls.
Engagement does not proceed where these elements cannot be reasonably established.
Jurisdictional and Regulatory Considerations
Rare earths and critical minerals are frequently subject to:
- export controls and licensing regimes,
- sanctions and trade restrictions, and
- national security or strategic resource frameworks.
These considerations vary materially by jurisdiction and by mineral type.
Finova’s engagement is therefore informed by:
- awareness of applicable laws and regulatory frameworks, and
- proportional verification aligned to the risks presented.
Further detail on these considerations is addressed within Governance & Compliance.
Structured, Disciplined Engagement
Where alignment exists, Finova’s role is to support structured, disciplined engagement in sensitive and strategic contexts.
This may include:
- supporting clarity between counterparties,
- ensuring governance and regulatory expectations are understood, and
- reducing the risk of uncontrolled circulation or misrepresentation.
What This Is Not
To avoid misalignment, it is important to be clear about what Finova does not do in this area.
Finova does not:
- promote or market mining projects or junior exploration ventures,
- act as a commodities trader or broker,
- engage in speculative or exchange-based mineral trading, or
- participate in retail investment schemes linked to critical minerals.
Indicative, Not Exhaustive
The above is indicative of Finova’s engagement in rare earths and critical minerals rather than exhaustive.
Exceptional or non-standard contexts may be considered on a case-by-case basis where alignment clearly exists. Such consideration should not be assumed.
Clarity First
Rare earths and critical minerals sit at the intersection of industry, geopolitics, and regulation.
Where alignment exists, engagement proceeds thoughtfully.
Where it does not, clarity is provided early.