Minnesota Commitment | Global Opportunity Summer 2016 Cautionary - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Minnesota Commitment | Global Opportunity Summer 2016 Cautionary - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Minnesota Commitment | Global Opportunity Summer 2016 Cautionary Statement This presentation contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet Mining Corp. (PolyMet)s operations in the future.


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Minnesota Commitment | Global Opportunity

Summer 2016

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Cautionary Statement

This presentation contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet Mining Corp. (“PolyMet”)’s operations in the future. Forward- looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible,” “projects,” “plans,” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could,” or “should” occur or be achieved or their negatives or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding our beliefs related to the expected project timelines, exploration results and budgets, reserve estimates, mineral resource estimates, continued relationships with current strategic partners, work programs, capital costs and expenditures, actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation, the market price of natural resources, estimated production rates, costs, ability to receive environmental and operating permits, construction costs and hours created, job creation and other economic benefits, or other statements that are not a statement of fact. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse general economic conditions, operating hazards, inherent uncertainties in interpreting engineering and geologic data, fluctuations in commodity prices and prices for operational services, government regulation and foreign political risks, fluctuations in the exchange rate between Canadian and US dollars and

  • ther currencies, as well as other risks commonly associated with the industry. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing

PolyMet or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying its predictions. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this presentation, PolyMet has made numerous assumptions, regarding, among other things: the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that PolyMet has received is reliable, and is based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry

  • standards. While PolyMet considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies.

PolyMet’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and PolyMet does not assume any

  • bligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to PolyMet’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 6-K providing information with respect to our operations for the three months ended April 30, 2016 for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements. PolyMet’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). All amounts are in U.S. funds.

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A Minnesota Copper Growth Story

§ NorthMet Project:

  • Measured & Indicated 694M tons @0.74% CuEq
  • Mine Plan 224M tons @0.77% CuEq

§ EIS is complete – State of Minnesota has validated § Next steps include federal Records of Decision, permits and construction § Commercial production expected ~24 months after receiving permits § NorthMet cash flows remain attractive at current commodities prices § Continued support from Glencore – financial, commercial and technical § Construction financing is on-going

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The NorthMet Project

§ Established within the Duluth Complex, adjacent to the Mesabi Iron Range. § Final EIS is complete and validated. § PolyMet controls 100% of the NorthMet project. § MN is geopolitically stable and mining friendly. § Skilled mining community in place. § Experienced management team with a track record of permitting, building and operating responsible mining operations.

20 Year Operating Plan | 224M Tons 32,000 Tons/Day Production Plan

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Existing tailing facility Cliff NR – Northshore Mine Waste Rock Storage Existing Plant Site Rail Line

North

EAST PIT WEST PIT

6 miles

PolyMet – NorthMet Mine Operation

The NorthMet Project

§ Using existing Erie Plant and infrastructure located near the ore body and connected by existing rail. § Low cost for production of Cu makes this an attractive & competitive project. § PolyMet controls 100% of the mineral resource. § Offtake agreements in place with Glencore for all Cu | Ni concentrate production. § ~1,000 total jobs created in MN.

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Experienced Leadership

Jon Cherry, President, CEO, Director

Leader in mining environmental policy and new mining projects, 20 years with Rio Tinto in the U.S.; 25 years experience in the industry

Brad Moore, VP Environmental & Gov. Affairs

Permitting and regulatory expert, former senior Minnesota government official

Douglas Newby, Chief Financial Officer

Mine finance expert, former Chairman/CEO of Western Goldfields (now New Gold) ~30 years experience

Andrew Ware, Chief Geologist

Expert on the Duluth Complex and the mid-Continent Rift, broad experience in SE Asia and Mexico. 25 years with Rio Tinto

Jim Tieberg, Mine Manager

Over 20 years experience in mine operations, engineering, drilling/blasting & tailings basin construction.

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§ 1 § 2 § 3 § 4 § 5 § 6

Geopolitical Landscape

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  • Final EIS demonstrates

project can meet regulatory standards State & Federal Regulatory Agencies

  • Support the project

Local Communities

  • Committed to following

the process MN Governor

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EPA Rating

EPA EIS rating scale

LO:

Lack of Objections

EC:

Environmental Concerns

EO:

Environmental Objections

EU:

Environmentally Unsatisfactory 2009 EPA Rating

EC-2 * NorthMet Project * MN Light Rail Project * MN St. Croix River Bridge

2014 EPA Rating

3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1

typically conservation & wilderness projects

* 2012 Mount Hope * 2012 Hollister Silver * 2012 Rosemont Copper

EPA Comment On Draft Of Final EIS

“Our extensive discussions with the co-lead and cooperating agencies have helped to resolve virtually all of our previous comments, and to review important questions about project modeling.”

— EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, 08/05/2015

8 * 2013 Haile Gold

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Path To Permits

Final EIS 2015 Records of Decision State Permits Federal Permits Adequacy Decision 2016

Construction

SDEIS 2013 Draft EIS 2009 EIS Scoping 2005

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

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The NorthMet Resource

Tonnage Million ST Tonnage Million MT % Copper Cu Equivalent Million Pounds Cu Equivalent *

Mineral Resource ** Measured Indicated M+I 203 492 694 184 446 630 0.79% 0.72% 0.74% 3,204 7,052 Inferred 230 208 0.75% 3,446 Reserves 275 249 0.79% 4,340

* Metals converted to copper based on 2008 DFS update metals prices ** $7.42/Net metal value cut-off – January 2013, 43-101 ($1.25/lb copper) 20 Year Mine Plan subject to permit applications ($1.25/lb copper)

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Unit 4/5 Unit 6 Unit 1 Unit 7 Unit 2/3

Section 35400ME (Looking North East)

Pit wall

0.5 CuEq and Above 0.25 to 0.5 CuEq

World Class Copper District

§ Di Disseminated, Polymetallic De Deposit § Lo Low Str trip (waste te:ore) Rati tio (1.4:1 life-of

  • f-mi

mine), § Mi Minimal Over-Bu Burden § Ba Based on $1.25/Pound Copper / cut-of

  • ff grade

NorthMet Ore Body

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Investment to date

Strategic Alliance With Glencore

§ Financial support $205M to date § Commercial offtake agreement in place § Technical support

Glencore Support

$ in Millions $34.9M $96M $13M

Equity at $1.38/share weighted average Glencore loan facility: $59M Glencore convertible debt: $37M @ 1.29/share

$30M

Purchase of all 9.2 million shares previously owned by Cliffs Natural Resources 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

$59M $96M $13M $37M

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Shareholder Data

Share & Balance Sheet Information

Share price (NYSE MKT: PLM) as of 5/25/16 US $.83 Share price (TSX: POM) as of 5/25/16 C $1.07 Common shares outstanding 277.7M Fully diluted shares:

§ Float: 60.0% § Glencore: 34.1% § Management: 5.9%

334.9M Market capitalization US $230M *Cash and cash equivalents $4.8M *Total non-convertible debt $49.8

*Figures are as of the most recent financial statement, including subsequent loan drawdown

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Summary

§ M+I 694M tons @0.74% CuEq | Mine Plan 224M tons @0.77% CuEq § EIS Complete – next steps include permits and construction § Experienced management team with proven track record § NorthMet Project economics remain attractive § Construction financing is on-going

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