Nemaska Lithium Corporate Presentation - February 2015 Guy Bourassa President and CEO
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Forward-looking Statements During the course of this presentation, Nemaska Lithium Inc. will make a number of statements with regard to the Company’s projects, business strategy and plan, which could be construed as forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. It is uncertain if further work will in fact lead to production of a mineral resource or in an increase and/or discovery of minerals on the properties. 2
Nemaska Lithium Overview • Advanced lithium company with high-grade mining assets and patent pending processes to produce high purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate using electrolysis. • Key asset: Whabouchi – a world class lithium deposit – North America’s richest hard rock lithium deposit - average grade 1.53% Li2O – 2nd richest and largest deposit in the world with 27.3 MT Proven and Probable Reserves – Advanced stage of mine permitting (CEA and COMEX) • Focused on Lithium Hydroxide: – Lithium hydroxide growth projected to outpace all other lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate • Competitive production cost for lithium hydroxide and carbonate competitive as per Feasibility Study 4
Nemaska Lithium Achieving Milestones Defines a World Class Deposit First NI 43-101 Compliant Resource Calculation in 2010, updated in 2011, updated in 2012 and 2014 Produces High Quality Product From Metallurgical Pilot Tests Produces 6% spodumene concentrate from Whabouchi in 2010 Produces battery grade lithium carbonate in 2010 and battery grade lithium hydroxide 2013 Attracts Strategic Investor Investment from largest Chinese transformer of spodumene concentrate - Tianqi Group Demonstrates Competitive Advantage Over Competition Release positive Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2012 Releases positive Feasibility Study 2014, validates Nemaska’s low cost production of high purity lithium hydroxide Becomes a Market and Customer Driven Company Makes strategic decision to focus on growing lithium hydroxide market rather than lithium carbonate Develops proprietary technologies to produce highest quality lithium compounds at competitive prices Signs Off Take Agreement and Collaboration Agreement with Clariant Canada Sign First Nations Impact and Benefit Agreement (Chinuchi agreement in November 2014) 5
Nemaska Lithium Upcoming Milestones • Achieve Market Penetration – Build a Phase 1 plant to: • Shorten time to market with product by producing lithium hydroxide and carbonate samples • Engage customers with product in advance of building the mine and commercial hydromet plant • Customer evaluation can take up to 12 to 18 months, Phase 1 Plant will produce enough product to enable customers to use and test product – Sign Commercial Off-Take Agreements • Start Commercially Producing Lithium Hydroxide and Lithium Carbonate – Complete mine permitting Q2-2015 – Attract a strategic partner to participate in the financing of commercial production – Put financing in place and begin construction of mine, concentrator and hydromet plant Q4-2015 6
Very Good Location and Jurisdiction • Top ranked mining jurisdiction – Safe, Secure Location – Supportive Government that funds the exploration to development • Established infrastructure in place at mine site: – Affordable and available power – Knowledgeable workforce – Established lodging • Mine and concentrator located in Nemaska • Concentrate trucked to Chibougamau, transferred to rail to Valleyfield for processing 7
Grade is KING + Low levels of Mica, Sodium and Potassium Reserves Resources Category Tonnage (Mt)* Li2O (%) Category Tonnage (Mt)* Li2O (%) Open pit Proven 11.7 1.58 Measured 12.998 1.60 Probable 8.3 1.46 Indicated 14.993 1.54 Proven and probable 20.0 1.53 M+I 27.991 1.57 Underground Inferred 4.686 1.51 Proven 1.6 1.27 Probable 5.7 1.29 Proven and probable 7.3 1.28 10
Mine Expansion Potential • Optimal open Pit Design • Underground Mine expansion potential • 26 Year initial Mine Life • Competitive with all other spodumene producers 11
Valleyfield Strategic Location • The hydromet plant located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC Perron Industrial and Port Park • Site selected for its excellent infrastructure: – serviced by two railway systems for both Canada and the USA – access to major sea port – pool of skilled workers from the Montreal area • State of the art hydromet plant to use Nemaska’s proprietary process to convert spodumene concentrate into the purest lithium hydroxide on the market 12
Receive and Ship to Anywhere in the World 13
Low Costs, Highest Quality C$3,450/t US$3,105/t Remove Remove Remove impurities Lithium Fe, Al, Si, to ppb Hydroxide Ca, Mg Cu levels Monohydrate Lithium Primary Secondary Lithium Ion Membrane Sulfate Impurity Impurity Hydroxide Exchange Electrolysis Solution Removal Removal Solution C$4,190/t $US3,771/t Lithium Carbonate 14
Feasibility Study Highlights Expected Mine Life and pay back period 26 years with 3.7 years pay back period Life of Mine Revenue $6.9 Billion (average of $267M/yr for 26 yr) Cash Flow $3.4 Billion net of CAPEX (average of $151M/yr before initial CAPEX) Pre-Tax After tax NPV $924M 8% Discount $580M 8% Discount $680M 10% Discount $412M 10% Discount Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 25.2% 21% Total Initial Capital Costs of $521 Million C$448M in CAPEX + (C$52M in Contingency and C$21M in Working Capital) Average Cost Per Tonne Spodumene Concentrate Nemaska Hard rock (Chinese converters) Brines South America average C$189/t (US$170/t) FOB US$200/t FOB Greenbushes Whabouchi Mine Mine N/A C$239/t (US$215/t) CIF US$425/t CIF Chinese plant Valleyfield (average) Average Cost Per Tonne Lithium Hydroxide C$3,450/t (US$3,105/t) US$5,700/t FOB US$4,000/t FOB FOB Valleyfield Average Cost Per Tonne Lithium Carbonate C$4,190/t ($US3,771/t) US$5,000/t FOB US$3,250/t FOB FOB Valleyfield Yearly average production ≈213,000 tonnes of concentrate (6%) ≈28,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide ≈3,250 tonnes of lithium carbonate Exchange Rate $C to $US 1 : 0.9 Sales Prices FOB Valleyfield Lithium Hydroxide US$8,000/t, Lithium Carbonate US$5,000/t 15 (All calculations assume a 6% Li2O spodumene concentrate) (All figures are quoted in $CDN, unless otherwise specified)
Why Lithium Hydroxide ? 16
Impact of Tesla Gigafactory (first of..) 17
EV Battery Pack Trends1 » Tesla Model S » Chevrolet Volt – 60 kWh – 16 kWh – Nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) – LMO by LG Chem 18650 cells by Panasonic – Uses lithium carbonate/hydroxide – Uses lithium hydroxide – Estimated cost of cells: $9,600 – Estimated cost of cells: $25,000 – Estimated cost of pack: $17,000 – Estimated cost of pack: $40,000 » Nissan LEAF » Toyota Plug-in Prius – 25 kWh – 4.4 kWh – LMO cells by AESC – NCA cells by Panasonic – Uses lithium carbonate/hydroxide – Uses lithium hydroxide – Estimated cost of cells: $11,000 – Estimated cost of cells: $3,500 – Estimated cost of pack: $16,000 – Estimated cost of pack: $8,000 (1) Source : Medium- to Long-Term Outlook on xEVs and the Secondary Battery Market. Navigant Research presentation at Battery Japan 2014. February 27, 2014. 18 ©2014 Navigant Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Few Newcomers & Less Capacity = Coming Shortage SignumBox estimates adjusted by Nemaska to reflect expected lesser or delayed capacity by Newcomers and overstated Chinese Capacity for battery grade Lithium Hydroxide 19
Next Steps – Phase 1 Plant • Phase 1 plant (500 t/y lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate) is designed be a module of the larger commercial hydromet plant – Off-take agreement with Clariant Canada Inc. for the sale of lithium hydroxide, including collaboration for regeneration of lithium sulfate rejects – Produce commercial samples for other potential clients – Sign off-take agreements Pilot Scale Plant In Lab Testing – Phase 1 Plant will be a Small Scale Commercial Version Currently in discussions with strategic partners, Governments 20 ©2014 Navigant Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. 20
Financing Options Mine and Hydromet Plant • Excellent NPV, IRR and payback period for this project • Currently in discussions with large end users looking to secure long term supply agreements – With FS results out we are in a position to further these discussions • Will contemplate debt and equity combination – Up to 70% in debt or off-take agreements or some combination thereof – Equity will not need to be secured until we have finalized the debt arrangements – End users/strategic partners are also interested in taking an equity position 21
Current Capital Structure (February 27, 2015) Shares outstanding 191 596 104 Warrants and options Options (average price $0.29 8 831 075 Warrants (average price $0.24) 41 911 155 Fully diluted 242 338 334 Distribution on a fully diluted basis Management ≈12 % Tianqi ≈8 % Institutional investors ≈30 % Retail ≈50 % 22
Management and Board of Directors Guy Bourassa, President and CEO Mr. Bourassa is President and CEO since Nemaska’s inception in 2008. He brings more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry to this role. Among other things he was instrumental in identifying and negotiating the acquisition of the Whabouchi lithium property and securing over $35 million through financings in the capital markets to develop this project. Through his leadership, the Company brought an historical lithium showing to a world class deposit and has developed new innovative processes of producing high purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, which should allow Nemaska to become a world leader in these lithium compound markets. Mr. Bourassa is a recognized leader in the lithium industry having spoken at several international lithium and mining conferences and events. Mr. Bourassa holds a law degree from Université Laval. Michel Baril, Chairman of the Board and President of the Audit Committee Mechanical engineer, with over 30 years of experience in management. Mr. Baril was an executive with Bombardier Inc. Presently he acts as director of numerous public and private companies. Steve Nadeau, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Nadeau is a member of the Ordre des CGA du Québec as well as the CGA Association of Canada since October 1998. Prior to joining Nemaska, Mr. Nadeau held several senior financial positions at company producing products related to the granite industry, electronics and automotive field. Mr. Nadeau is also Chief Financial Officer of Monarques Resources Inc. Jean-François Magnan, Eng. M.Sc. Technical Manager. Mr. Magnan is a professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the metallurgical industry. During his career, he held several positions within the lithium industry including: R&D Advisor, R&D Project Manager, Consultant and Quality Control Metallurgist. He also acted as Project Manager for Phostech Lithium Inc. in 2000 and 2001. Mr. Magnan is the author/inventor of several patents in the lithium rechargeable batteries field. He holds a Master's Degree in Materials Engineering from Laval University. 23
Management and Board of Directors Paul-Henri Couture, Director Mr. Paul-Henri Couture has over 35 years of experience as a financial management and investment professional. He has held senior positions at the Caisse de dépôt and placement du Québec and at Sentient Asset Management Canada. During his tenure at the Caisse, Mr. Couture led a team responsible for a $3 billion investment portfolio with a focus on financial institutions and natural resources sectors. While at the Caisse, Mr. Couture also launched two innovative mining funds: Groupe Sodémex Inc. and MinQuest Capital. He built and developed a $3-billion portfolio in turnarounds and corporate restructurings. Mr. Couture is President of Minvest Capital, a business providing management and investing consulting services. Vivian Wu, Director Ms. Vivian Wu is Vice President (Corporate Development) of Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group Co., Ltd., an integrates company group involved in three main business areas: lithium compounds, minerals and agricultural machinery. Ms. Wu is also a director of Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Inc., a lithium chemical producer using spodumene concentrate. Gordon Gao, Director Mr. Gordon Gao is Vice President of TQC Equipment Inc. (TQCE), the Canadian subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group Co., Ltd.. Before joining TQCE in 2009, he worked as an international business manager of Chengdu Enwei Group Co., Ltd. from 2002, which is specialized in medicine and health products. Mr. Gordon Gao holds a Bachelor degree of Economics of East China Normal University, Shanghai, China (2000). René Lessard, Director Mr. Lessard was the Sales Manager of Campagna Motors Inc. from September 2008 to October 2009. From October 2004 to October 2007, he was a sales manager of T-Rex Vehicles Inc. From February 2001 to July 2004, he was the Sales Manager of Distribution GLR inc. in Québec City. From March 1997 to October 2000, he was a sales representative of Ray-Flammes Inc. of Quebec City. Judy Baker, Director Ms. Baker holds an Honours B. Sc. Geological Engineering in mineral resources exploration and a MBA. She most recently was the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Canada Lithium Corp. (now RB Energy) Ms. Baker was instrumental in restructuring the company and strategically positioning it in the lithium business. Ms. Baker is the past President and CEO of Superior Copper Corporation (previously Cenit Corporation). 24
Conclusion – Why Nemaska Emerging leader in growing high value market segment - lithium hydroxide North America’s richest deposit, 2nd richest and largest in the world State of the art processes of producing lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate - leading advantage over peers Production costs compares favourably with competitors Well located in Quebec year round access to infrastructure, shipping ports, rail access to North American markets, long term contract for electricity – $0.05 KWh in Quebec lowest cost electricity globally Upcoming near term catalysts for the Company Phase 1 plant Permitting 25
Thank you! Wanda Cutler, Investor Relations wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com www.nemaskalithium.com TSX-V NMX
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