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HIGHFIELD RESOURCES LIMITED Investor Presentation 2016

Sep 15, 2016

65048_rns_2016-09-15_fcce5a73-6685-4978-83e3-f0148d0115fc.pdf

Investor Presentation

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Highfield Resources Ltd Path to Production for High Margin Muga Potash Mine

September 2016 Corporate Presentation

ASX Code: HFR

COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT – RESOURCES

Information relating to resources was prepared by Mr Leo Gilbride, P.Eng and Ms Vanessa Santos, P.Geo, of Agapito Associates. The Competent Person for Resources under JORC Code standards is Mr Leo Gilbride, P.Eng and Ms Vanessa Santos, P.Geo. of Agapito Associates of Colorado, USA. Mr Gilbride is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Colorado, USA and is a registered member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc. Ms Santos is a licensed professional geologist in South Carolina and Georgia, USA, and is a registered member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc.

The Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Inc is a JORC Code ‘Recognised Professional Organisation’ (RPO). An RPO is an accredited organisation of which the Competent Person under JORC Code Reporting Standards must belong in order to report Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, or Ore Reserves through the ASX. Mr Gilbride is the Vice President of Engineering and Field Services and Ms Santos is the Chief Geologist with Agapito Associates and both have sufficient experience to qualify as a Competent Person for the relevant style and type of mineralisation and deposit under consideration of this release. Mr Gilbride and Ms Santos consent to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears.

COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT – RESERVES

Information relating to reserves was prepared by Mr. José Antonio Zuazo Osinaga, Technical Director of CRN, S.A.; Mr. Jesús Fernández Carrasco, Managing Director of CRN, S.A. and Mr Manuel Jesus Gonzalez Roldan, Geologist of CRN, S.A. Mr. José Antonio Zuazo and Mr. Jesús Fernández, are licensed professional geologists in Spain, and are registered members of the EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF GEOLOGISTS, an accredited organisation to which the Competent Person (CP) under JORC Code Reporting Standards must belong in order to report Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, or Ore Reserves through the ASX.

Mr. José Antonio Zuazo is the Technical Director of CRN and he has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a CP as defined in the 2012 Edition of the JORC Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.

Mr. José Antonio Zuazo and Mr. Jesús Fernández consent to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This presentation includes certain ‘forward looking statements’. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Such information contained herein represents management’s best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The company does not assume any obligation to update any forward looking statement.

Highfield Resources Limited

CONTENTS

  1. Corporate Summary

  2. Board and Senior Management

  3. The Muga Potash Mine

  4. Timeline to Production and Key Milestones

  5. Capital and Operating Costs

  6. Stakeholder Engagement

  7. Permitting

  8. Upside Potential

  9. Value Proposition

  10. Summary

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1. Corporate Summary

Fully Diluted Equity
Ordinary Shares on Issue 311.2m
Options & Performance shares 108.2m
Fully Diluted 419.4m
Undiluted Market Cap at A$1.32 (6 September 2016) A$411m
Cash as at 30 June 2016 ~A$94m
Enterprise Value A$317m / US$241m1
Average Daily Volume (6 months) ~470,000
Shareholders (Fully Diluted)
Spanish in-country management 12%
Australian based management 6%
EMR Capital 26%
Other Shareholders 56%
Total 100%

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Broker Recommendation 12-month Price Target
Bell Potter BUY A$1.75
Blue Ocean BUY A$3.00
Canaccord Genuity BUY A$2.30
Foster Stockbroking BUY A$2.30
RBC Capital Markets BUY A$2.00
Taylor Collison BUY A$3.47
AVERAGE A$2.46

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1) USD:AUD exchange rate 0.76:1.00

2. Board and Senior Management

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Board and Senior Management experienced in construction and operations

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Board of Directors
Derek Carter
Non-Executive Chairman Pauline Carr Jim Dietz
Owen Hegarty Richard Crookes
Independent Independent
Non-Executive Director Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director Non-Executive Director
Anthony Hall
Advisor
Peter Albert
Donald Stephens
Managing Director &
Company Secretary
CEO
Pedro Rodriguez
Advisor
Senior Leadership Team
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Michael Schlumpberger EGM Operations

Mike Norris John Claverley Chief Financial Officer General Manager

Gonzalo Mayoral EGM Development

Hayden Locke Head of Corporate & Strategy

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2. Board and Senior Management

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Board and Senior Management experienced in construction and operations

Board of Directors and Senior Management Board of Directors and Senior Management
Derek Carter – Non Executive Chairman
A geologist with over 40 years experience in exploration and development, including nearly 20
years in management of ASX listed exploration companies including acting as Chief Geologist in
Spain for the Shell Group and the Managing Director of Minotaur Resources.
Peter Albert – Managing Director & CEO
A metallurgist by training, and a Chartered Engineer, he has over 30 years’ experience in project
management, construction, operations, stakeholder management and corporate strategy globally.
He has held senior leadership roles with a number of large international companies, including most
recently CEO of Hong Kong publicly listed companies G-Resources and Jinchuan Group
International.
Pauline Carr – Independent Non Executive Director
A governance professional with an accounting background and over 25 years` experience in the
mining industry. Pauline has held senior positions in Newmont Asia Pacific and Normandy
Mining Limited and worked for many years for Exxon Mobil. She holds positions on a number of
other Boards and Councils.
Owen Hegarty – Non Executive Director
An executive with over 40 years experience in the global mining industry that included 25 years in
Rio Tinto where he was the Managing Director for Asia, and founder and 15 years as CEO of
Oxiana Ltd. He is a director of various listed and unlisted resources companies and is Executive
Chairman of EMR Capital.
Richard Crookes – Non Executive Director
A geologist with over 28 years executive experience in the resources and investments industry.
He is currently an Investment Director of EMR Capital and was formerly a Director of Macquarie
Bank’s Metals Energy Capital Division and was Chief Geologist with Ernest Henry Mining.
Jim Dietz – Independent Non Executive Director
A chemical engineer with over 41 years’ experience in the fertiliser, chemical and petroleum
industries. Jim spent the last 17 years of his career at PotashCorp, including 11 years as Chief
Operating Officer (COO). Prior to this he worked for Standard Oil of Ohio and British Petroleum.
Donald Stephens – Company Secretary
A Chartered Accountant and Corporate Advisor with over 25 years’ experience in the mining
industry and accounting profession. He is a director and company secretary of multiple ASX
listed entities.
Michael Norris – Finance Director
A qualified Chartered Accountant with 30 years´experience, gained almost entirely in the mining
industry. Prior to joining Highfield, he was Finance Director for London-listed West African gold
producer, Avocet Mining and various positions for Anglo American and Rio Tinto.
Michael Schlumpberger – Project Director
A qualified Mining Engineer and MBA, with extensive operational mining experience including
over 21 years at PotashCorp during which time he had operational responsibility for the
expansion and ongoing operations at PotashCorp’s 8Mtpa Lanigan underground potash mine.
Hayden Locke – Head of Corporate and Strategy
Over 10 years experience in a variety of fields including investment banking, private equity and
natural resources. Most recently as Head of Corporate for ASX listed Papillon Resources, which
was acquired by TSX listed B2Gold Corporation in 2014.
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3. The Muga Potash Mine

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Muga - Highfield’s most advanced, low capex, high margin potash development project

Summary

  • Located in Northern Spain, within 150km of key Atlantic Port near San Sebastian (Port of Pasajes)

  • Project Optimisation Study completed in November 2015

  • Detailed engineering and design underway, long lead items ordered and deposits paid

  • Expected to produce 1.08Mtpa of granular K60 MOP per annum at full production, initial mine life of 47 years life

  • Staged project capex including contingency:

  • Phase 1 – €267 million delivering 540ktpa

  • Phase 2 – €145 million delivering an additional 540ktpa

  • Substantial mine life upside potential

  • All-in-sustaining Cash Cost to Port – €122 / tonne of MOP

  • Unlevered, post tax, NPV10 – US$1.46 billion (NPV8 – US$2.04 billion)

  • MoUs signed with two Atlantic Coast ports for long term logistics solution

  • MOUs signed with three traders for the sale of MOP, discussions underway with fertiliser offtakers

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Source: ASX Announcement dated 17 November 2015

3. The Muga Potash Mine

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Relatively simple, proven technology with first rate access to end markets

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Decline access to shallow mineralisation
Simple Mining
Underground room and pillar mining
Sylvinite ore
Simple
Processing
Simple flotation process flowsheet
Direct connection to national electricity grid
First Class
Infrastructure
Close to port, no road or rail upgrades
Located in a potash consuming region
Proximity to
Local Markets
Good access to the large Brazilian and US
markets
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4. Timeline to Production and Key Milestones

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Construction ready program, two years from commencement of construction to production

Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project Month of Project
Item
Pre-Development Stages
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Detailed Engineering and Design
Long Lead Items Ordered
Electricity Connection
Water
Site Preparation:
Plant Site
Waste Dumps
Brine / Salt Ponds
Underground:
Box Cut
Decline
Drifts and Conveyors
Aboveground:
Storage Buildings
Process Plant
Drying, Compacting and Glazing
Plant Commissioning

First Production

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5. Muga Capital and Operating Costs

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Lowest project capital cost potash project globally on a $ / tonne of production basis

Muga Phase 1 – Project Capital Cost Negotiations continue with Acciona for a fixed
price lump sum contract for project delivery
Component Amount
(€ millions)

• No major aquifer unit allows simple decline access
Underground Installations 69.0 • Decline access to mineralisation significantly lowers
Above Ground Civil Works 26.8 capital cost relative to most potash peers
Process Plant 33.0 • Clean ore allows flotation processing without
crystallisation step, flotation process flow sheet is
Storage and Conveyors 19.9 lower cost
Buildings 5.4 • Grid electricity connection lowers capital and
Instrumentation and Control 1.5 operating cost
Plant Equipment 45.6 • No port upgrades, rail spurs or other
Utilities 16.1 infrastructure expenditure
Indirect Costs 33.8 • First class roads and motorways and access
Contingency 15.9 to site
Total incl. Contingency 267.0 • Phase 1 Capital Cost delivers 540Ktpa production
• Only €145 million capex to double
10
production

5. Muga Capital and Operating Costs

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Low delivered cost to customer positions Muga to be a high margin potash mine

Muga - Operating Cost
Component Amount
(€ / tonne MOP)

Amount
(US$ / tonne MOP)
Mining 55.1 61.2
Processing 45.1 50.1
Transport (FOB Pasajes) 17.4 19.4
Direct Cash Operating Cost 117.6 130.7
SG&A 7.5 8.3
Sustaining Capital 5.0 5.6
Royalties 0.0 0.0
All-in-Sustaining Cash (AISC) Cost (FOB Pasajes) 122.6 136.2
0
50
100
150
200
250
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Cost to fob $/t
MOP Capacity (mn t)
Cash Cost to FOB Export Port
Highfield
  • Muga is expected to deliver bottom quartile all-in-sustaining cash (AISC) cost delivered to Europe, Brazil and the USA

  • Muga benefits strongly from:

  • No brine inflow management costs

  • Proximity to domestic customers (< 200km)

  • Proximity to export port (< 150km)

– No royalties or government levies

  • Low sustaining capital cost

  • Low ongoing SG&A cost due to location

Source: Argus FMB Consulting Services Note: Argus cash cost to FOB curve is not on an all-in-sustaining basis 11 and excludes SG&A and sustaining capital costs

6. Stakeholder Engagement

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Highfield is committed to sustainable development, supporting the local community

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Safety
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    • Developing a strong safety first culture within our work force

    • Focus on minimising harm to both workers and surrounding environment

  • Minimise -

  • Environmental Impact

    • Core focus on minimising risk and impact on environment surrounding the project area

    • ESIA completed in compliance with industry best practice, Spanish legislation and IFC’s Equator Principles

    • Implement robust and appropriate ongoing monitoring and response plans

  • Sustainable Economic - Development

Creating quality employment with a preference for local employees and contractors Become a significant employer in the region

Social Development

Creating an industry for the long term Continue to invest in community initiatives surrounding the project

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6. Stakeholder Engagement

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Highfield is actively participating in the community through its Geoalcali Foundation

Geoalcali Foundation

  • Established in September 2014

  • Over 70 community projects to date

  • Visible statement of Company´s intent to actively support the community

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Seguridad Primero

Compromiso medioamiental

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Crecimiento económico

Desarrollo social

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7. Permitting

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Permitting process moving towards conclusion

  • MAGRAMA (environment department) is moving through its official process of reviewing the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Environmental Declaration

  • We understand that the official process is well advanced

  • Highfield is supporting this process and is working closely with various governmental departments involved in the process to expedite it as quick as is possible

  • Political vacuum in Spain is likely not assisting the bureaucratic process

  • Following the award of the Environmental Declaration (DIA) MINETUR (that includes the Department of Mines) can move to award the Mining Concession (CE)

Mining Concession

  • The Company continues to remain confident of receiving its DIA and mining concession in the near future

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8. Upside – Muga Expansion & K62 Project

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Highfield has a number of near term value creation opportunities

Muga Expansion Project

K62 Crystallisation Project

  • Upfront investment at Muga will allow cost effective expansion, post Phase 2 development

  • Crystallisation plant to process slimes and tailings from Muga Potash Mine to produce K62 MOP and high purity vacuum salt

  • Second decline allows conveyor capacity to double

  • Requires investment in underground mining equipment to increase ore production

  • Scoping Study released May 2015

  • Initial Capital Cost of US$124 million including contingency

  • Process plant is modular, expansion relatively simple

  • NPV10 of US$222 million (NPV8 – US$285 million)

  • Surface space set aside for future expansions

  • Expected to have similar cost metrics to Muga Phase 2 development

  • Study contemplated production of 135ktpa of K62 MOP and 260ktpa of high purity vacuum salt

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Source: ASX Announcement dated 19 June 2015

8. Upside – Other Projects

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Control of basin of projects with shared characteristics of Muga Potash Mine

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8. Upside – Other Projects

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Control of basin of projects with shared characteristics of Muga Potash Mine

Muga Extension

SOP Project

Sierra del Perdón

  • Exploration target of 127 to 255 million tonnes at 12% to 16% K2O

  • Target based on geophysical surveys confirming continuation of evaporite from Muga Potash Mine

  • High level of confidence in exploration target

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  • Scoping Study complete for 500ktpa SOP Mannheim facility

  • Total capex US$147 million

  • Lowest quartile cash cost to customer

  • MOUs signed with acid suppliers, HCl customers and ports

  • Good access to US market, strong implied margins to Highfield

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  • Scoping Study completed April 2015

  • Decline access to underground conventional with flotation processing

  • Total Capex – US$233 million

  • 520ktpa of K60 MOP with initial mine life of 20 years

  • Unlevered, post tax, NPV10 – US$527 million (NPV8 – US$662 million)

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8. Upside – Other Projects

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Control of basin of projects with shared characteristics of Muga Potash Mine

Pintanos

Vipasca

Izaga

  • Current Exploration Target of 127m to 255m tonnes at 12 to 16% K2O covering 7.1km[2]

  • Additional northern extension identified covering 2.8km[2]

  • Upside potential equal to current Muga Project Resource and Mine Reserve

  • Exploration Target of between 320 million and 1,2 billion tonnes at 12% to 16% K2O

  • TDEM and gravimetric surveys show strong continuity of evaporite horizon

  • Permit contiguous with Muga and shares many characteristics

  • Grass roots exploration tenement

  • Clear continuation of evaporitic sub basin

  • Historical drilling encounter potash horizons within evaporite

  • Historical drilling not able to be used for resource purposes

  • Potential to be Highfield’s second mine

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9. Value Proposition - Highfield

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Independent verification that Muga Mine would have made Highfield the highest margin producer

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9. Value Proposition – Potash Market

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Many experts believe potash prices have reached the marginal cost of production

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Solid Demand
Fundamentals
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65 million
tonnes
60 million
tonnes
Producer
Discipline 5.9 million 0.9 million
Returning tonnes tonnes
2015 2016 Closures and 2016 2016/17 Potential
Production Supply Operating Consensus Under
Capability Reductions Capability Demand Supply
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Have we seen the start of a recovery for potash prices?

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Source: Argus FMB, PotashCorp, Company websites and releases

9. Value Proposition

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Potash companies command premium multiples relative to diversified mining companies

Project Pipeline

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-
Muga Extension
-
Muga Exploration Target
-
Sierra del Perdón
-
Los Pintanos Significant
- 9.7x EV / EBITDA
Vipasca upside
- US$1.94 bn
Izaga potential
-
Sulphate of Potash (SOP)
-
Magnesium Hydroxide
-
Industrial and de-icing salt
Optimisation Study
NPV10 – US$1.46 bn
Current EV
US$241 m
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  • Unlevered, post tax, NPV10 – US$1.46 billion (NPV8 – US$2.06 billion)

  • Potash producing peers average EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.7x

  • Muga forecast to make Highfield the highest margin potash producer globally

  • Forecast US$200 million per annum in EBITDA at today’s potash prices

  • Highfield EV in production US$1.94 billion at today’s potash prices

  • AUD$2.69 billion at current exchange rates

  • Post tax NPV to Pre Production Capex Ratio – 5.0x

  • Currently trading at 0.17x of NPV 10

Note: Optimisation study released 17 November 2015 HFR Share Price – A$1.32 / share

1) Fully diluted shares on issue of 419.4 million and A$94 million in cash; USD : AUD – 0.76

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9. Value Proposition - Highfield

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Low capex, low risk, high margin potash development with majority of its funding in place

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Low Capital Cost
Lowest capital cost to
production
Outstanding
High Margin Investment
Bottom quartile delivered
Metrics
cost to customer
Well funded Over A$80 million in
Compelling
Investment cash
Value
Lower Technical Muga NPV10 – US$1.46bn
Risk
First world jurisdiction
Lower Risk
Clear path to export
Low Geopolitical markets
Risk
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10. Summary

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  • Outstanding portfolio of projects with Muga the flagship

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  • Lowest capital cost to production

  • Lowest quartile delivered cash cost to customer

  • NPV10 – US$1.46 billion (NPV8 over US$2 billion)

  • Experienced team of mine builders and operators

  • MD Peter Albert has over 30 years’ experience in building and operating mines globally

  • EGM Operations, Mike Schlumpberger, was GM of PotashCorp’s largest underground potash mine in Canada

  • Well funded

  • Over A$80 million in the bank

  • Project finance syndicate with credit approvals for facility to support construction

Logo of the Company’s Spanish Foundation that is currently delivering several projects with local communities

  • Awaiting final permits to commence construction

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REGISTERED OFFICE

169 Fullarton Road Dulwich SA 5065 Australia

HEAD OFFICE

Avenida Carlos III, 13-15, 1B, 31002 Pamplona, Spain T +34 948 050 577 | F +34 948 050 578

www.highfieldresources.com.au [email protected]

FURTHER INFORMATION

Peter Albert Managing Director T +34 628 590 109 Hayden Locke Corporate Development T +34 609 811 257