Cerrado Gold Inc · TSXV:CERT

Cerrado Gold — Investor Presentation (September 2025)

62 slides from Cerrado Gold's investor presentation, September 2025

  1. Slide 1: Driving Substantial Cash Flow With Limited Dilution

    Driving Substantial Cash Flow With Limited Dilution Fully funded, Multijurisdictional, Precious Metals Producer, with Critical Mineral Upside TSX-V: CERT | OTCQX: CRDOF September 2025 Au Ag Gold Silver Cu Zn Pb Sn Fe Copper Zinc Lead Tin Iron

  2. Slide 2: Disclaimers

    DISCLAIMERS OTCQX: CRDOF TSX-V: CERT All figures in US$ unless otherwise noted This presentation contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information con

  3. Slide 3: Investment Highlights

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS TSX-V: CERT Precious Metals Production • Gold Production ~55Koz over next three years based on recent PEA at MDN with exploration and expansion potential. • Cash flow: ~$50M/year and free cash flow of ~$25M/year @ $2100 Au1(PEA 2024), with significant leverage to S

  4. Slide 4: Fully funded, Diversified Commodity and Multijurisdictional Producer

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS TSX-V: CERT Fully funded, Diversified Commodity and Multijurisdictional Producer Production Growth Precious Metals Focus Value Proposition Lagoa Salgada & MDN LoM Commodity Exposure1 Proforma Market Cap: SEPTEMBER 2025 C$142.0M 54,494 55-60,000 CASH: US$14.5M 52,50

  5. Slide 5: Exceptional NAV Growth - Proforma NAV

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS TSX-V: CERT Exceptional NAV Growth - Proforma NAV (US$M – 100% Basis) 1 Production (Au Equivalent) Current 2027 2030 SEPTEMBER 2025 55,000 oz 97,000 oz 328,000 oz Longer Term Critical Current and Near-Term Precious and Critical Minerals Production Minerals Optional

  6. Slide 6: Driving Substantial Cash Flow with Limited Dilution

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS TSX-V: CERT Driving Substantial Cash Flow with Limited Dilution Production (Au Equivalent) Current 2027 2030 SEPTEMBER 2025 55,000 oz 97,000 oz 328,000 oz Longer Term EBITDA Current and Near-Term EBITDA Optionality $488M/annum EBITDA 1,2 CORPORATE PRESENTATION Mont

  7. Slide 7: A Year of Transition

    OTCQX: CRDOF A YEAR OF TRANSITION TSX-V: CERT Driving Cerrado’s Value Proposition FCF1 Significant leverage to Minera Don Nicolas = $25M/year higher gold price SEPTEMBER 2025 @2,100 Au Heap Leach & Underground Underground Production Surface Exploration Exploration Targeting LOM (20,000 Metre Program

  8. Slide 8: Minera Don Nicolas: Extensive and Underexplored Land Package

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT Extensive and Underexplored Land Package Largest land package in the prolific Deseado Masiff (330K hectares) Steady state production of ~55koz Au equiv. per year through to 2028 SEPTEMBER 2025 Mineral Resources M&I: 490Koz, Inferred: 121Koz Exploration to

  9. Slide 9: Well-Trodden Path to Production Growth and Resource Expansion

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT Well-Trodden Path to Production Growth and Resource Expansion 23% 9% 6Moz 13% 64% Underground continued to UG & HL contributed grow post acquisition SEPTEMBER 2025 majority of increase 5.9Moz in Resources 6.0Moz 91% 14% 13% 5Moz 73% 5.2Moz 14%  MDN remain

  10. Slide 10: Track Record of Operational Improvement and Competitive Costs

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT Track Record of Operational Improvement and Competitive Costs Operating History Post Acquisition Competitive Producer in Argentina Amongst Peers Increased Production & Lower Costs AISC 2024 SEPTEMBER 2025 70,000 $2,000 55-60,000 $1,800 $1,734 54,494 $1,973

  11. Slide 11: Minera Don Nicolas – Current Production

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS – Current Production TSX-V: CERT Argentina PEA Highlights Average Annual Gold Equivalent Production (ounces) 55,869 SEPTEMBER 2025 • Gold Production of ~55Koz until 2028 based on recent PEA Mine life (years) - Mine Plan start Date 1 April 2024 5.0 • Life of Mine avera

  12. Slide 12: Underground Growth Opportunity

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT Underground Growth Opportunity  Underground access commenced in June 2025 Preliminary Testing of UG potential at Paloma pit  Underground operations expected to contribute production with ramp-up during Q3 2025 SEPTEMBER 2025  Drilling to date only to a

  13. Slide 13: 2025 Drilling Program

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT 2025 Drilling Program The Paula/Andrea–La Verde SEPTEMBER 2025 Trend is over 10 km long 2025 Drilling Targets 1. Reyna – Princesa Veins 2. Sulfuro East Vein 3. North Extension Sulfuro and Rocio Veins CORPORATE PRESENTATION 4. South Extension Sulfuro Vein 5

  14. Slide 14: 2025 Drilling Program: Sulfuro East Vein

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT 2025 Drilling Program “Sulfuro East” Vein SEPTEMBER 2025 Drills Projects CORPORATE PRESENTATION Ramp Down from the Bottom of the pit 14

  15. Slide 15: Numerous Open Pit & Underground Opportunities

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS EXPLORATION TSX-V: CERT Numerous Open Pit & Underground Opportunities Paloma Norte Paula Andrea Chispas SEPTEMBER 2025  Drilling at Reyna /  High exploration  On Strike to Cerro Princess Target has potential, for deeper- Morro’s high-grade commenced seated, large h

  16. Slide 16: Lagoa Salgada: Near Term Production & Cash Flow

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Near Term Production & Cash Flow • 80% ownership of Lagoa Salgada VMS Project with a Post-tax NPV8% of US$147 million and a 39% IRR in current Feasibility Study1,3 • Adds substantial precious and critical metals exposure at spot prices2 SEPTEMBER 20

  17. Slide 17: Lagoa Salgada VMS Project

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Portugal Lagoa Salgada LoM Revenue by Commodity (%) at Spot Prices2 • Developing the next VMS Deposit with District Scale Discovery and Exploration Potential on Iberian Pyrite Belt 42% SEPTEMBER 2025 • July 2023 Feasibility Study outlined a NPV 8% p

  18. Slide 18: Rapidly Progressing to Production

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Rapidly Progressing to Production Lagoa Salgada Timeline to Production 2025 2026 2027 2028 SEPTEMBER 2025 Program Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Exploration Drilling Updated Metallurgical Work Expected to further enhance economics Updated Re

  19. Slide 19: Rapidly Advancing an Optimized Feasibility

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Rapidly Advancing an Optimized Feasibility Optimization Strategy to Increase NPV, Reduce Capex and Operating Costs SEPTEMBER 2025  Phase II Metallurgical Program being conducted by Wardell Armstrong Metallurgy  Targeting increases recoveries, High

  20. Slide 20: Portugal – Lagoa Salgada VMS Project

    TSX-V: CERT CORPORATE PRESENTATION SEPTEMBER 2025 OTCQX: CRDOF Portugal LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT 20

  21. Slide 21: Mont Sorcier Project – Optionality for the Long Term

    MONT SORCIER PROJECT – Optionality for the Long Term OTCQX: CRDOF TSX-V: CERT Green Steel and Direct Reduction Iron (“DRI”)  Located 11km from Chibougamau, in Cree traditional territory, Quebec SEPTEMBER 2025  Site located only 25km from public rail head  >300km of underutilized existing common c

  22. Slide 22: Mont Sorcier Iron Ore Project: PEA Summary

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER IRON ORE PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Canda PEA Summary (July 2022) $US Million Production Summary Unit LOM Total / Avg. • Targeted to be a green steel producer with production at a minimum of 5mpta of high grade, high purity, green Direct Reduction Iron concentrate to Annual Produc

  23. Slide 23: Well Defined Resources with Upside to Mine Life

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Well Defined Resources with Upside to Mine Life and/or Production Rate Updated Metallurgy Confirms Ability to Produce 67% Fe Concentrate with Sub 2.5% Silica & Alumina SEPTEMBER 2025 Resources  Significant Indicated Resource in place to Backstop Feasibi

  24. Slide 24: Well-Funded to Delivery

    OTCQX: CRDOF WELL-FUNDED TO DELIVERY TSX-V: CERT 1. Cash Balance SEPTEMBER 2025 Expected to grow in H2 2025 through cash flow from higher production rates including budgeted capital US$14.5mm expenditures and debt reduction program 3. Free Cash Flow +US$25mm Free cash flow of ~$25 million per year b

  25. Slide 25: Project Finance Support in Place

    OTCQX: CRDOF PROJECT FINANCE SUPPORT IN PLACE TSX-V: CERT Export Credit Agency Project Financing Structure ECA Supported Project Financing Structure Potential Offtake Partners SEPTEMBER 2025 Lagoa Salgada Debt Mont Sorcier Steel Producers Equity Benefits of ECA Supported Project Financing • Typicall

  26. Slide 26: History of Leadership

    HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP OTCQX: CRDOF TSX-V: CERT Multiple Mines Built, Expanded and Restructured : 2.4x for shareholders in under 2 years : +25x return to founders and still growing 4.0 Volume ('000s) SMT Share Price (C$) Mar 2017 • Mark resigns 3.5 5.0x Production Growth 270,000 2006 as CEO SEPTEMBER

  27. Slide 27: Capital Structure

    CAPITAL STRUCTURE OTCQX: CRDOF TSX-V: CERT (As at September 9, 2025) TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE CERT ANALYST COVERAGE SEPTEMBER 2025 Share Price C$1.06 BROKERAGE ANALYST TARGET PRICE 52 Week (Low-High) C$0.19 – C$1.07 Red Cloud Tim Lee C$1.70 Shares Outstanding 134.0 million HC Wainwright Heiko Ihle C$1.6

  28. Slide 28: Investment Highlights – Proforma Company

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS – Proforma Company TSX-V: CERT Building Shareholder Value by Driving Substantial Cash Flow Mont Sorcier Steady State Gold Producer Quebec, Canada • Gold Production of ~55Koz over next four years based on recent PEA with exploration SEPTEMBER 2025 and expansion pote

  29. Slide 29: Appendix - Operations

    L CERRADO GOLD ING. Appendix - Operations

  30. Slide 30: Minera Don Nicolas

    MINERA DON NICOLAS Stable Precious Metals Production and Cashflow in the Deseado Masiff

  31. Slide 31: Positive PEA and Mineral Resource Estimate

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT Positive PEA and Mineral Resource Estimate PEA Base Case1 Average Annual Gold Equivalent Production (ounces) 55,869 Mine life (years) - Mine Plan start Date 1 April 2024 5.0 SEPTEMBER 2025 Total Gold Equivalent Production (ounces) 279,345 NPV @ 5% discount

  32. Slide 32: CIL and Heap Leach Production

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERA DON NICOLAS TSX-V: CERT CIL and Heap Leach Production Hub and Spoke Production  Additional 165koz Las Calandrias HL Project Model of lower grade SEPTEMBER 2025 Paloma Calandrias resources added (High-grade OP&UG) (HL) to the mine plan  Additional 5 years of low-cost production

  33. Slide 33: Mineral Resources

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERAL RESOURCES TSX-V: CERT Minera Don Nicolas Project – Effective Date: April 1, 2024 Grade Values Metal Content Mine Classification Tonnage Au Ag Au Ag kt g/t g/t k oz k oz SEPTEMBER 2025 Measured 5,192.24 0.91 17.07 151.32 2,849.04 Calandrias Sur ¹ Indicated 7,642.16 1.02 14.16 249

  34. Slide 34: Mineral Resources Notes

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERAL RESOURCES NOTES TSX-V: CERT Minera Don Nicolas Project – Effective Date: April 1, 2024 Notes to Mineral Resources Mineral Resource estimates were prepared by the May 10, 2014 edition of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (or CIM) Definition Standards for

  35. Slide 35: Lagoa Salgada Project

    LAGOA SALGADA PROJECT Uncovering The Next World Class VMS Deposit in the Iberian Pyrite Belt with near-term production potential PIN

  36. Slide 36: Critical Metals Production

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Critical Metals Production Zn Zinc’s global demand is expected to steadily increase while supply is expected to continue to fall Cu Copper Supply and Demand Gap (2030- Zinc Copper 2050) systematically starting in 2025 creating a 6.9 Mil tonne SEPTEM

  37. Slide 37: Uncovering the next World Class VMS Deposit

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT PIN Uncovering the next World Class VMS Deposit District Scale Discovery PAYBACK UNDER 2 YEARS  Iberian Pyrite Belt (“IBP”) is the largest VMS district; host to many world class deposits that SEPTEMBER 2025 O c e a n continue to grow  Initial anch

  38. Slide 38: Large Underexplored Land Package with significant future Potential

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Large Underexplored Land Package with significant future Potential REGIONAL RESIDUAL BOUGUER GRAVITY MAP Strong Correlation between Induced Polarization SEPTEMBER 2025 (IP) results and mineralization North Zone (massive suphide) 8 km Anomaly Central

  39. Slide 39: Mineral Reserves

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERAL RESERVES TSX-V: CERT Lagoa Salgada Project – Effective Date: July 24, 2023 Mineral Reserves by Domain Mass NSR Cu Pb Zn Sn Ag Au Zone Lithology (kt) ($/t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) SEPTEMBER 2025 Gossan 1,197 84 0.10 2.39 0.41 0.25 51.72 1.02 Transition 883 107 0.98 2.23 0.23

  40. Slide 40: Mineral Resources

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERAL RESOURCES TSX-V: CERT Lagoa Salgada Project – Effective Date: July 24, 2023 Mineral Resources by Domain Mass NSR Zn Pb Cu Sn Ag Au ZnEq Zone Category (kt) ($/t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) SEPTEMBER 2025 Gossan 1,890 109 0.46 2.51 0.10 0.26 44.4 0.86 8.38 Transition 920 108

  41. Slide 41: Lagoa Salgada Feasibility Study

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY TSX-V: CERT Robust Economics Demonstrated for Venda Nova, Stated on a 100% Basis Feasibility Study Key Highlights* July 2023 Project IRR after-tax 39% SEPTEMBER 2025 NPV8% after-tax $147 million Payback period 2 years Mine Life 14.5 years All

  42. Slide 42: Clear and Transparent Permitting – Well Advanced

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT PIN Clear and Transparent Permitting – Well Advanced Definitive Exploitation Rights Issued Nov 8, 2021 Project Of National Interest Issued April 4, 2022 SEPTEMBER 2025  Contract term for 20 years renewable for two extension periods of 15  PIN reco

  43. Slide 43: Gravity Survey Results Identify High Impact Exploration Targets

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Gravity Survey Results Identify High Impact Near Deposit Massive Sulphide Exploration Targets Current Drilling Intercepted a New Stringer Zone at Depth New High Resolution Gravity Survey SEPTEMBER 2025 Target 1: SW North Zone Target  Bulge in the g

  44. Slide 44: Copper Potential largely untouched

    OTCQX: CRDOF LAGOA SALGADA VMS PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Copper Potential largely untouched NORTH ZONE SEPTEMBER 2025 SOUTH ZONE North Zone is Open and Copper Rich • Met_MS_05: 10.0m @ 3.08% Cu Inventory of Inferred Resources ST_27 CORPORATE PRESENTATION • Met_MS_02: 6.0m @ 1.16% Cu • MS_07: 5.0m @ 6.74%

  45. Slide 45: Mont Sorcier Iron Ore Project, Quebec

    MONT SORCIER IRON ORE PROJECT, QUEBEC Longer Term Optionality for High Purity Iron in a Top Tier Jurisdiction: Positioned for the Green Steel Industry Transition

  46. Slide 46: Green Steel and Direct Reduction Iron

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Green Steel and Direct Reduction Iron High Purity DRI Grade Iron For the • High Purity 67% Iron Concentrates significantly reduces green house gas emission in steel production Green Steel Revolution SEPTEMBER 2025 • Significant price premium expected for

  47. Slide 47: Existing Infrastructure creates capital efficiencies

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Existing Infrastructure creates a capital efficiencies Mont Sorcier is one of the most Capital Efficient Projects Globally SEPTEMBER 2025 Decreasing Capital Cost of Production 3.50x Mont Sorcier ( Cerrado Gold ) 3.00x Bekisopa ( Akora Resources ) Increas

  48. Slide 48: Premium Product

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Premium Product 67% Concentrate Grade + Low Deleterious Metals = High Purity Product SEPTEMBER 2025  High grade 67% Fe concentrate with <2.5% Silica and Alumina Combined  Concentrate suitable for DRI and blast furnace-steel Production  High grade mate

  49. Slide 49: Well Defined Resources with Upside

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Well Defined Resources with Upside to Mine Life and/or Production Rate Updated Metallurgy Confirms Ability to Produce 67% Fe Concentrate with Sub 2.5% Silica & Alumina SEPTEMBER 2025 Resources  Significant Indicated Resource in place to Backstop Feasibi

  50. Slide 50: Mineral Resources Notes

    OTCQX: CRDOF MINERAL RESOURCES NOTES TSX-V: CERT Mont Sorcier Project • The independent and qualified persons for the Mineral Resource Estimate, as defined by NI 43-101, are Marina Iund, P.Geo., Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., Simon Boudreau, P.Eng. all from InnovExplo Inc. and Mathieu Girard P.Eng. from So

  51. Slide 51: Premium Product: PEA Summary

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Premium Product PEA Summary (July 2022) $US Million Production Summary Unit LOM Total / Avg. LOM Magnetite Payable kt 104,303 PAYBACK UNDER 2 YEARS SEPTEMBER 2025 Annual Production Rate mtpa 5.0 Operating Costs  Annual average EBITDA of US$348MM Total O

  52. Slide 52: Upcoming Milestones

    OTCQX: CRDOF MONT SORCIER PROJECT TSX-V: CERT Upcoming Milestones • Updated metallurgical testing results expected Q1 2025 SEPTEMBER 2025 • Feasibility Study expected in Q1 2026 building upon an existing strong PEA • UK Export Credit Agency and TD Bank have been Mandated as Lead Arranged for Non- Re

  53. Slide 53: Investment Highlights – Proforma Company

    OTCQX: CRDOF INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS – Proforma Company TSX-V: CERT Building Shareholder Value by Driving Substantial Cash Flow Mont Sorcier Steady State Gold Producer Quebec, Canada • Gold Production of ~55Koz over next four years based on recent PEA with SEPTEMBER 2025 exploration and expansion pote

  54. Slide 54: Appendix

    L CERRADO GOLD ING. Appendix

  55. Slide 55: Leadership - Management

    OTCQX: CRDOF CERRADO GOLD TSX-V: CERT Leadership - Management Mark Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman & Founder Mark Brennan is Cerrado Gold’s CEO and Co-Chairman. He is a Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Ascendant Resources Inc. and Executive Chairman of Vanadium One Iron Corp., a

  56. Slide 56: Leadership - Management

    OTCQX: CRDOF CERRADO GOLD TSX-V: CERT Leadership - Management Andrew Croal, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer Mr. Croal is a Mining Engineer with 40 years of global mining experience in gold and base metal commodities. He is a versatile and practical mining professional with a proven track record of p

  57. Slide 57: Leadership - Management

    OTCQX: CRDOF CERRADO GOLD TSX-V: CERT Leadership - Management Alonso Lujan, Vice President, Exploration Mr. Lujan has over 34 years of international experience in mineral exploration with a positive track record for increasing companies' resources, output, and company SEPTEMBER 2025 value. He joined

  58. Slide 58: Leadership – Board of Directors

    OTCQX: CRDOF CERRADO GOLD TSX-V: CERT Leadership – Board of Directors Mark Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman & Founder Mark Brennan is Cerrado Gold’s CEO and Co-Chairman. He is a Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Ascendant Resources Inc. and Executive Chairman of Vanadium One Iron

  59. Slide 59: Leadership – Board of Directors

    OTCQX: CRDOF CERRADO GOLD TSX-V: CERT Leadership – Board of Directors Christopher Jones, CA, CFA, Director Mr. Jones is an experienced professional chartered accountant, business valuator, Chief Financial Officer and financial advisor. His significant experience, keen SEPTEMBER 2025 strategic insigh

  60. Slide 60: Peer Comparison: Junior Producers (South America)

    OTCQX: CRDOF PEER COMPARISON TSX-V: CERT As at 20 Feb 2025 CADUSD 0.704 AUDUSD 0.639 GBPUSD 1.2638 EUROUSD 1.05023 Junior Producers (Sth America) SEPTEMBER 2025 Analyst Concensus Analyst Cash Flow Company Name Principal Asset Name Location Development Stage Enterprise Value Concensus NAV 2025E EV/NA

  61. Slide 61: Peer Comparison: Junior Base Metals Producers

    OTCQX: CRDOF PEER COMPARISON TSX-V: CERT Junior Base Metals Producers Analyst Analyst Concensus Cash Principal Asset Development Enterprise Concensus Flow Company Name Name Location Stage Value NAV 2025E EV/NAV EV/CF 2025 Sources SEPTEMBER 2025 US$mm US$mm US$mm x x Financial Technical & Forecasts T

  62. Slide 62: Investor Relations

    OTCQX: CRDOF Investor Relations Mike McAllister T: 1.647.805.5662 TSX-V: CERT Vice President, Investor Relations E: info@cerradogold.com 200 Bay Street, Suite 3205 www.cerradogold.com Toronto, ON M5J 2J2 Follow us: SEPTEMBER 2025 CORPORATE PRESENTATION 62

Cerrado Gold — Investor Presentation (September 2025) on 6ix