Vertical Exploration Inc. · TSXV:VERT
Vertical Exploration — Investor Presentation (November 2022)
30 slides from Vertical Exploration's investor presentation, November 2022
Slide 1: Wollastonite: A white mineral with a green future
TSX-V:VERT Wollastonite A white mineral with a green future Corporate Presentation: November 2022
Slide 2: Disclaimer & Forward Looking Statements
Disclaimer & Forward Looking Statements Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information & Statements: This presentation contains certain forward-looking information and statements which may not be based on fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations in res
Slide 3: Overview
Overview ➢ Vertical Exploration is a Canadian mining company which is listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (“V.VERT”). Who we are ➢ Its 100%-owned flagship asset, the St. Onge wollastonite project, is fully permitted and located in the mining-friendly Lac Saint Jean region of Quebec. ➢ Vertical is
Slide 4: Investment Highlights
Investment Highlights Mining-Friendly Jurisdiction Simple, Proven Flowsheet Simple Quarry Experienced Regional Operation Open-Pit Mining With Low Management Team Strip Ratio Fully Permitted & Licensed No Tailings Dam Excellent Regional Product Can Sequester CO2 Infrastructure WWW.VERTXINC.COM 4
Slide 5: Share Structure
SHARE STRUCTURE TSX-V:VERT Issued and outstanding 123,284,053 Warrants 31,271,701 Options 5,575,000 Fully Diluted 160,130,754 52 week high C$0.205 52 week low C$0.040 CONTACT DETAILS MANAGEMENT TEAM ADVISERS 789 West Pender Street, Peter Swistak - President/CEO, Director Gary Sosenko (Industrial Min
Slide 6: What is Wollastonite?
What is Wollastonite? ➢ Wollastonite is a naturally-occurring, calcium metasilicate (CaSiO3) mineral with a theoretical composition of 48.3% CaO and 51.7% SiO2, and an acicular (needle-like) particle shape. It is usually white and can withstand temperatures up to 1540°C. ➢ Geology: Wollastonite is f
Slide 7: Principal Applications
Principal Applications ➢ Wollastonite can be crushed into powder form, like any standard quarry product. It has a wide range of industrial applications, including ceramics, polymers such as plastics and rubber, paint fillers, metallurgy, paper and friction materials. ➢ When applied to land and expos
Slide 8: Favourable Location & Infrastructure
Favourable Location & Infrastructure ➢ Vertical is currently the only listed junior mining play with a world-class wollastonite deposit in production. ➢ The St Onge deposit is located 80km north of the city of Alma in the Lac St Jean region of Quebec. ➢ Quebec is an internationally-recognised, frien
Slide 9: Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources Wollastonite (%) Tonnes Measured 36.20 7,155,000 Indicated 37.04 6,926,000 Measured & Indicated 36.61 14,081,000 Inferred 40.25 17,896,000 TABLE 1: Pit constrained mineral resources at Wollastonite deposit (COG at 30% Wollastonite) from NI43-101 Resources Calculation Report April 2
Slide 10: Agriculture System Pressures
Agriculture AgricultureSystem SystemPressures Pressures Vertical’s Wollastonite - the right product at the right time WWW.VERTXINC.COM 10
Slide 11: Shrinking Margins for Farmers
Shrinking Margins for Farmers Fertilizer Price Index 300.00 250.00 200.00 150.00 100.00 50.00 0.00 FIGURE 4: Spreading fertilizer SOURCE: World Bank “Pink Sheet” Data. 2010 = 100 ➢ Unpredictable weather patterns, affecting planting and quality of harvest ➢ Entrenched inflation, including higher fert
Slide 12: Fertilizer Sector Pressures
Fertilizer Sector Pressures ➢ Sanctions on Russia and Belarus. ➢ Belarus supplies almost one fifth of the world’s potash and is the third largest exporter, while, in addition to potash, Russia is a key exporter of nitrogen and phosphate; ➢ Trade re-routings amid availability concerns; ➢ Several gove
Slide 13: Deteriorating Top Soils
Deteriorating Top Soils ➢ Soils have become one of the world’s most vulnerable resources in the face of climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss and increased demand for food production.1 ➢ Annually, an estimated 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost globally due to erosion, while arab
Slide 14: Political Pressure to Change
Political Pressure to Change The context Why silicates can form part of the solution ➢ Population increases and the economic growth of ➢ New farm practices and technologies are needed globally to developing countries are fuelling global food consumption. address the impacts of climate change and red
Slide 15: Impact Opportunity – Regenerative Systems
Impact Opportunity – Regenerative Systems SOURCE: John Fullerton, “Regenerative Capitalism: How Universal Principles and Patterns Will Shape Our New Economy,” Capital Institute, April 2015 WWW.VERTXINC.COM 15
Slide 16: Compelling Features of Wollastonite
Compelling Features of Wollastonite Desirable Characteristics A Multi-Purpose Solution ➢ Vertical’s premium wollastonite is sourced from the ➢ A cost-competitive soil amendment product which does mining-friendly, secure jurisdiction of Quebec and close to not contribute to additional GHG emissions –
Slide 17: Strategy and Target Markets
Strategy and Target Markets High Value, High Growth WWW.VERTXINC.COM 17
Slide 18: Strategy
Strategy ➢ Vertical is focused on new and fast-growing markets, including soil amendments, environmental remediation, cannabis/hemp and industrial applications. ➢ The potential use of wollastonite in the Agriculture sector via a simple, low-cost quarry and crushing operation, provides Vertical with
Slide 19: Findings – AGRINOVA Phase 1 R&D
Findings – AGRINOVA Phase 1 R&D In May 2019, Vertical announced encouraging results from Phase 1 of its R&D agreement with AGRINOVA on wollastonite from the St Onge deposit: ➢ Vertical’s wollastonite could be BNQ-certified or registered under the Fertilizers Act in Quebec. ➢ The safety profile of Ve
Slide 20: Sales / Distribution Plan
Sales / Distribution Plan ➢Vertical’s sales/distribution plan has already been launched, and has been very successful to date on a test-marketing level – a wide range of agriculture and cannabis companies are currently testing/using Vertical’s Wollastonite. ➢Vertical’s overall sales/distribution str
Slide 21: Soil Amendments
Soil Amendments ➢ Soil erosion in agricultural landscapes reduces crop yields, leads to loss of ecosystem services, and influences the global carbon cycle. ➢ In the US Corn Belt alone, it has been estimated that around 24- 46% of the top soil has been completely removed by current crop management pr
Slide 22: Growth of the Organic Sector
Growth of the Organic Sector World: Growth of organic retail sales 2000-2019 ➢ The global market for food sourced Source: FiBL surveys 2000-2021 organically continues to enjoy strong, multi- year growth trends. 120 ➢ Consumers are becoming more conscious 106.4 about what they buy. They’re choosing 9
Slide 23: Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup ➢ The Canadian maple syrup industry accounts for approximately 75% of the world’s maple syrup and is the leading producer of maple products. In 2020, maple syrup production reached 14.3 million gallons, valued at C$5 billion. ➢ The province of Quebec alone accounts for 92% of the country
Slide 24: Cannabis Cultivation
Cannabis Cultivation ➢ In Phase Three trials conducted at BC Bud Depot’s (“BCBD”) ACMPR-licenced Research and Development facilities in Vancouver, BC., BCBD measured and recorded significant improvements in root mass, powdery mildew control and pest elimination when applying an admixture rate of 10%
Slide 25: Appendix: Silicon in Agriculture
Appendix Silicon in Agriculture Understanding the value of silicon as a crop nutrient WWW.VERTXINC.COM 25
Slide 26: The Role of Silicon in Plants
The Role of Silicon in Plants The practice of utilizing silicon in agriculture has expanded in recent years as awareness of its exceptional benefits has gained recognition: ➢ Direct stimulation of plant growth and yield. Silicon is primarily deposited on the walls of the epidermis and vascular tissu
Slide 27: Silicon Fertilizer Yield Enhancement
Silicon Fertilizer Yield Enhancement Crop Tested Yield Increase Average Yield Benefit / Cost Ratio Number of Trials Percentage Range Increase (%) Rice 3.5–28.5 10.3 4.4 50 Maize 5.6–10.4 7.7 3.1 44 Cucumber 9.4–25.6 13.7 42.9 40 Tomatoe 8.7–15.9 12.0 35.7 35 Soybean 7.5–13.6 11.0 1.7 32 TABLE 3: The
Slide 28: Pathogen Suppression by Silicon
Pathogen Suppression by Silicon Crop Description Rice Disease Leaf and neck blast, Brown spot, Sheat blight, Leaf scald, Grain discoloration, Stem rot Pest Stem maggot, Green leaf hopper, Brown plant hopper, white backed plant hopper, Leaf spider, Stem borer, Grey garden slug, Mites Sugarcane Diseas
Slide 29: Example - Powdery Mildew
Example - Powdery Mildew ➢ Powdery mildew is a fungal disease of the foliage, stems and occasionally flowers and fruit, and is a major pathogen of cereal crops and many common edible and ornamental garden plants, including apples, pears, plums, blackcurrants, most berries, grapes, tomatoes, zucchini
Slide 30: References
References 1. FAO & ITPS. 2015. The Status of the World’s Soil Resources (Main Report). P.648 2. UNCCD Secreteriat. Land and soil in the context of a green economy for sustainable development, food security and poverty eradication. Nov 2011 3. https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-
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