CORPORATE PROFILE Corporate Fact Sheet
Transcription
CORPORATE PROFILE Corporate Fact Sheet
Corporate Fact Sheet As at May 25, 2015 TSX and NYSE MKT: AVL CORPORATE PROFILE Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a mineral development company focused on rare metals and minerals in Canada. Its 100% owned flagship Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements (“REE”) Project at Thor Lake, NWT is the most advanced large heavy rare earth elements (“HREE”) development project in the world outside China. Initial production is scheduled for 2018, subject to arranging off-take commitments and project financing for construction to begin in 2015. Avalon’s portfolio includes five other rare metals and minerals projects of which the Separation Rapids Lithium and East Kemptville Tin-Indium Projects are also at an advanced stage. Avalon is adequately funded, has no debt and its work programs are progressing. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. Capital Structure As of May 11, 2015 Trading Symbol Canada Trading Symbol US NYSE MKT: AVL Shares Issued & Outstanding* 141,943,258 Fully Diluted* 160,424,350 Market Cap US$37 million (S/O @$0.26) Year High/Low US$0.73 - US$0.16 Cash Reserves C$5 million (no debt) Institutional Holdings: UBS, Empery, CPP, Global X, Carnegie, Hancock, DFA, Chilton & others (As at April 28, 2015) Investment Highlights Avalon offers diversified exposure to a broad range of rare metals and minerals (including tin) that are critical raw materials for clean technology Nechalacho Project, with a completed feasibility study, an approved Environmental Assessment and a rare earth oxide refining solution in place, is uniquely positioned to bring a new supply of the scarce, yet vital heavy rare earths to the market East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project was re-activated in 2014 and is advancing steadily with a new NI 43-101 resource estimate and a conceptual redevelopment study completed in early 2015 Separation Rapids Lithium Minerals (Petalite) Project is advancing due to new demand from the glass-ceramics industry for the petalite product and for its potential to produce high purity lithium chemicals for the growing rechargeable battery market TSX: AVL Critical Five: Neodymium, Dysprosium, Terbium, Europium and Yttrium Sustainability Reporting Critical Raw Materials Demand for HREE is growing rapidly because of their application in high strength permanent magnets, now vital in automotive technology, wind turbines and many other consumer electronic products Due to lead toxicity concerns, tin is now used to make lead-free solders, found on all electronic circuit boards. This application now accounts for over 50% of global tin demand. China dominates the world’s production of many of the world’s critical metals and minerals including HREE and tin; the need for new suppliers of HREE to emerge outside of China continues to grow In December 2014, Avalon released its third Sustainability Report which includes a self-assessment of sustainability performance in accordance to the Global Reporting Initiative G4 core level and the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining standards. The report can be downloaded from Avalon’s website. PROJECT SUMMARY Avalon’s mineral property assets are all 100% owned and all located in Canada. Avalon’s primary focus has been the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project. Located at Thor Lake, NWT, it is a world class resource of rare metals and minerals being developed primarily for its potential to produce significant quantities of heavy rare earth elements. Avalon has invested over $100 million to date in taking the Project through completion of a comprehensive Feasibility Study. This study yielded a pre-tax IRR of 22.5% and NPV at a 10% discount rate of $1.351 billion, based on a $1.575 billion capital cost estimate. The Nechalacho deposit is unique in its enrichment in the critical HREE such as terbium and dysprosium, which, along with neodymium, are a needed for high strength permanent magnets used in energy- efficient motors and generators. The very large Basal Zone of the Nechalacho deposit contains Measured and Indicated Resources of 61.90 million tonnes grading 1.64% TREO (total rare earth oxides) and 21.53% HREO/TREO (heavy rare earth oxides as a percentage of TREO) at the new Base Case US$345 Net Metal Return (“NMR”) cut-off value. Within this deposit, there are an estimated 21.27 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Resources at the US$800/tonne NMR cut-off grading 2.20% TREO and 25.19% HREO/TREO, illustrating the presence of large, high grade sub-zones within the deposit. The deposit is also enriched in tantalum, niobium and zirconium, which all represent potential valuable by-products. Project engineering, permitting and product marketing are well underway. The Environmental Assessment was approved by the Federal Government in November 2013. Community consultation work is also progressing well. An updated Feasibility Study is being prepared and the permitting process is expected to be completed in 2015. In March 2014, Avalon entered into a 10-year binding toll-refining and strategic partnership agreement with Solvay. The agreement removes CAPEX for a refinery from the economic model and reduces Project risk in meeting product quality and delivery expectations of consumers. At Separation Rapids, located near Kenora, Ontario, Avalon is developing a world-class lithium minerals (petalite) deposit. Petalite is used directly in the glass industry to make thermal shock resistant glass-ceramics and new demand for petalite has emerged from that industry. A high purity petalite concentrate was produced from a bulk sample processed in 2014 which received initial approval from prospective customers in the glass industry. Initial leach tests have successfully demonstrated the potential to recover high purity lithium chemicals for rechargeable battery applications. The next steps include extracting a larger bulk sample to produce additional petalite concentrate samples for industry evaluation and conduct further testwork on recovering lithium chemicals. At East Kemptville, located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Avalon is evaluating the potential for redeveloping a past producing tin mining operation as a new producer of tin, copper, zinc and indium. In 2014, a 1,000 metre confirmation drilling program was completed. A new 43-101 compliant resource estimate was completed in 2014 and conceptual redevelopment plan completed in February 2015. In 2015, Avalon will be proceeding with metallurgical process testwork and a diamond drilling program to better define the known tin resource and test the potential to expand the resource at depth. Experienced Management Team Donald S. Bubar, P. Geo., President and CEO Jim Andersen, CA, CPA, CPA (Illinois), VP, Finance, Corporate Secretary and CFO David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), SVP, Metallurgy and Technology Development William Mercer, PhD, P. Geo., VP, Exploration Pierre Neatby, BA Econ, VP, Sales and Marketing Mark Wiseman, BSc, MBA, VP, Sustainability Gerry Leipert, BSc, P. Eng, Sr. Project Manager Cindy Hu, CA, CPA, CPA (Illinois), Controller Melanie Smith, LL.B, Senior Legal Counsel Investor Relations Contact Ron Malashewski Manager Investor Relations [email protected] The technical information contained in this document has been reviewed and approved by Bill Mercer, Ph.D., P.Geo. (ON), P.Geo. (NWT), Vice President Exploration of Avalon and Donald Bubar, P.Geo. (ON), President and CEO of Avalon, the qualified persons for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. For additional information on the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project, see the technical report entitled “Technical Report Disclosing the Results of the Feasibility Study of the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project, ” dated May 31, 2013 and effective April 17, 2013. This document contains or incorporates by reference “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation, which may not be based on historical fact. Readers can identify many of these statements by looking for words such as “believe”, “expects”, “will”, “intends”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “continues” or similar words or the negative thereof. Statements that are not based on historical fact contained in this presentation, including through documents incorporated by reference herein, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results reflected in the forward-looking statements . Such forwardlooking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and include, among other things, statements regarding targets, estimates and/or assumptions in respect of reserves and/or resources , and are based on estimates and/or assumptions related to future economic, market and other conditions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation, are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, including significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and/ or assumptions include, but are not limited to: grade of ore; rare earth and by-product commodity prices; metallurgical recoveries; operating costs; achievement of current timetables for development; strength of the global economy; availability of additional capital; and availability of Avalon Rare Metals Inc. 130 Adelaide Street West, Suite 1901 Toronto, ON Canada M5H 3P5 T: (416) 364-4938 www.avalonraremetals.com supplies, equipment and labour. Factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, achievements, developments or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, among others, but are not limited to, market conditions, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, the impact of proposed optimizations at the Company’s projects, actual results of exploration activities , mineral reserves and mineral resources and metallurgical recoveries, discrepancies between actual and estimated production rate, mining operational and development risks and delays, regulatory restrictions (including environmental), activities by governmental authorities, financing delays, joint venture or strategic alliances risks, or other risks in the mining industry, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company’s annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis and Annual Report filed with the securities regulatory authorities in all provinces and territories of Canada, other than Québec, and available at www.sedar.com. Most of the foregoing factors are beyond Avalon’s ability to control or predict. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which these forward-looking statements are based will occur. The forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s plans, estimates, projections and views only as of the date hereof. The forward looking statements contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding the Corporation’s expected financial and operating performance, and the Company’s plans and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities law.