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Premium Potash Project Driven by a Proven Management Team

December 2012 - Presentation

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December 2012 - Presentation

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Page 1: December 2012 - Presentation

Premium Potash Project Driven by a Proven Management Team

Page 2: December 2012 - Presentation

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

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Certain statements in this presentation may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Potash Ridge Corporation (the "Corporation"), or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this presentation, such statements use such words as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar terminology. These statements reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this presentation. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to the factors discussed under “A Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors" in the final prospectus of the Corporation dated November 27, 2012, and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Corporation believes are reasonable assumptions, the Corporation cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this presentation and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Page 3: December 2012 - Presentation

A potash company focused on its Blawn Mountain property in Utah

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Page 4: December 2012 - Presentation

EXPERIENCED AND PROVEN MANAGEMENT

OVER 80 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE

Guy Bentinck President & CEO Chartered Accountant; 20 years mining/resource experience Sherritt: CFO and SVP Capital Projects

Ross Phillips VP, Development 10 years experience in large resource and energy sector projects Sherritt, Capital Power  

Jeff Hillis CFO Chartered Accountant; 10 years mining sector finance, including CFO of several public mining companies Iberian Minerals, Excellon, Falconbridge

Paul Hampton VP, Project Management Geologist and Metallurgical Engineer; ~30 years experience in design, construction, start-up and management of mineral processing facilities SNC, Washington Group, Outotec

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Laura Nelson VP, Government and Regulatory Affairs Extensive experience in government relations, permitting and power planning, including the successful permitting of the Red Leaf oil shale project Red Leaf Resources, Utah Government  

Page 5: December 2012 - Presentation

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Large mineral deposit containing premium-quality potash

Strategically located in a mining friendly jurisdiction with established infrastructure nearby

State-owned land allows for an efficient permitting process

Historical work expedites project development

Lower risk surface mining deposit; expected low-cost producer

30 year mine life, with upside potential

PEA completed: $1.3 billion NPV at 10%; 21.3% after tax IRR

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Page 6: December 2012 - Presentation

No known substitute

Increasing world population

Growing per capita income

Decreasing arable land

Increasing use of biofuels

~5% EXPECTED ANNUAL GROWTH IN DEMAND TO 2016

POTASH: ESSENTIAL TO THE WORLD’S FOOD SUPPLY

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Page 7: December 2012 - Presentation

AVERAGE 47% PRICE PREMIUM OVER MOP3

SULPHATE OF POTASH (SOP) IS A PREMIUM PRODUCT

Sulphate of Potash (SOP) Muriate of Potash (MOP)

Potassium Sulphate (K2SO4) Potassium Chloride (KCl)

6 million tonnes sold in 20111 55.8 million tonnes sold in 20112

Potassium and sulphur are essential nutrients2 Crop quality/yield diminish as chloride builds up2

Improves yield, quality, taste and enhances shelf life2

1Source: Fertecon 2Source: CRU 3Based on historical data 7

Page 8: December 2012 - Presentation

USES OF SOP

Fruits Vegetables Nuts Horticultural Plants

Tobacco Tea Dry soils Salty soil

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Page 9: December 2012 - Presentation

HISTORICAL PRICE PREMIUM FOR SOP HAS RANGED BETWEEN 30% AND 61%

SOP PREMIUM PRICE TRENDS

1SOP, standard grade cif NW Europe (Source: Fertilizer Week) 2MOP, all grades, fob Vancouver/Portland (Source: CRU)

U.S. $/tonne

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

SOP1 MOP2

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Page 10: December 2012 - Presentation

SOP MARKET CHARACTERISTICS

1Source: Fertecon, CRU 10

Global SOP Consumption and Commodity Price1

Europe 23.3%

N. America 8.6%

China 44.3%

Rest of the World

14.9% Africa 4.6%

Central and South America

4.3%

Page 11: December 2012 - Presentation

SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL

SOP MARKET DYNAMICS

Limited production and premium price has restricted demand

SOP share of potash market: Current: ~10% Potential: >28%1

Trend toward high nutrient fertilizers

Potential to use SOP in typical cereal crop fertilizer blends instead of ammonium sulphate

India SOP consumption: China (pop. 1.3 billion): 1.9 million tpy India: (pop. 1.2 billion) 50,000 tpy (<1% of country’s potash consumption)

Brazil SOP consumption = 32,000 tpy (0.4% of total potash consumption) Premium crops grown on 20% of planted land

11 1Based on crops that are best suited for SOP

Page 12: December 2012 - Presentation

THE BLAWN MOUNTAIN PROJECT

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Page 13: December 2012 - Presentation

ANTICIPATED PRODUCTION BY 2016

PROJECT OVERVIEW

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Large alunite deposit, which is expected to be processed into SOP, by-product sulphuric acid and a bauxite substitute

Target 680,000 tonnes per year of SOP by mid-2016

Historical work expedites project development

Mineral deposit to be surface mined

Proven process

Page 14: December 2012 - Presentation

SOP HOSTED IN ALUNITE

Volcanic rock mined for over 500 years

Contains alumina (Al2O3), potassium (K2O), and sulphur (SO3)

Historic source of SOP in U.S. and Australia

Long-term SOP and alumina production in Azerbaijan

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Page 15: December 2012 - Presentation

PREVIOUS WORK ACCELERATES PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT COMPLETED IN 1970’s

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Approx. $25 million spent (~ $100 million in today’s dollars)

All data owned by Potash Ridge

Drilling

Resource estimate

Feasibility study

Mine plan

Engineering

Permitting

Pilot plant: 3-year operation

processing 11 tonnes/day

Page 16: December 2012 - Presentation

SIMPLE PROVEN FLOWSHEET

Potash Ridge expects the processing plant to produce: •  680,000 tonnes of SOP per annum •  1.6 million tonnes of concentrated sulphuric acid per annum

Residue from water leach process is estimated to be 3.3 million tonnes per annum of 51% alumina content bauxite substitute, suitable for a Bayer Process

Alunite

Beneficiation

Calcination

Water Leach

51% alumina content bauxite

substitute

Potash Sulphate Solution

Crystalizer Compaction Drying Potash Sulphate

SO2 Acid Plant Sulphuric Acid

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Flowsheet mirrors historical production processes

Page 17: December 2012 - Presentation

ALMOST 100 YEARS OF POTASH PRODUCTION

UTAH: AN ATTRACTIVE MINING JURISDICTION

1Forbes Magazine, November, 2011 2Fraser Institute, February, 2012

Major resource producer

Existing potash production

Best state for business1

Top quartile mining jurisdiction2

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Page 18: December 2012 - Presentation

OUR LAND ADVANTAGE

State-owned land

Simpler permitting process

Leasehold and royalty agreements negotiated

No known adverse environmental, social or aboriginal issues

Sufficient water nearby1 – rights application made

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MUNICIPAL AND STATE SUPPORT OF PROJECT

1Based on historic data; confirmation drilling underway

Page 19: December 2012 - Presentation

ESTABLISHED INFRASTRUCTURE NEARBY

Roads, rail and natural gas

Construction materials and equipment suppliers nearby

Skilled labour force

Access to ports of Los Angeles and Houston

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Page 20: December 2012 - Presentation

HISTORIC DRILLING

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320 holes drilled in 1970’s

Page 21: December 2012 - Presentation

AREA 1 DRILLING CONFIRMED HISTORIC RESOURCE

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NI 43-101 compliant drilling – 14,817 feet over 34 drill holes

Samples show potassium grades of up to 19.2% higher than historical results – to be confirmed in Phase 2 drilling

Page 22: December 2012 - Presentation

PHASE 2 CONFIRMATION DRILLING

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Area 2 Completed

•  6 core holes; 44 reverse circulation holes

•  Total depth drilled – 17,067 feet

Area 1 Underway

•  12 core holes; 26 reverse circulation holes

•  Focus on exploring SW portion of Area 1 and confirming potentially higher grades

Page 23: December 2012 - Presentation

Initial Mine Plan for 30 Years using NI 43-101 Compliant M&I Resources  

SIGNIFICANT RESOURCE IDENTIFIED

1 Contained within alunite 2 Using 1.00% cut-off grade 3 Based on current assays, Norwest believes SOP grade could be up to 19.2% higher – to be confirmed 4 The historic resources are not NI 43-101 compliant although reasonable methodologies were applied at the time. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify, and the Corporation is not treating, the estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.

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Area

Measured + Indicated Inferred

Resource tons (000's) Alunite grade SOP tons

(000's)

SOP Resource tons (000's) Alunite grade SOP tons

(000's)

SOP

grade1 grade1

NI-43-101 Compliant 2

1 156,285 37.6% 9,315 15.8% 3 392 46.5% 24 13.1%

2 464,442 35.6% 26,395 15.9% 250,769 34.7% 13,476 15.5%

Total: Areas 1 & 2 620,726 35.8% 35,710 15.9% 251,160 34.7% 13,500 15.5%

Historic Resources 4

3 11,600 44.0% 987 19.3% 281,400 44.0% 23,950 19.3%

4 51,700 36.5% 3,667 19.4% 49,200 38.0% 3,645 19.5%

Total: Areas 3 & 4 63,300 37.9% 4,654 19.4% 330,600 43.1% 27,595 19.3%

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Page 24: December 2012 - Presentation

EXPECTED TO BE LOW-COST SOP PRODUCER

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Potash Ridge Salt Lakes MOP/ Sulphate Salts

Mannheim Process

Process Method

World Capacity Process Inputs Products

Avg Cost / Tonne

Mannheim 60% ! MOP ! Sulfuric Acid ! Energy

! SOP ! HCI

$550

MOP and Kieserite

25% ! MOP ! Kieserite ! Energy

! SOP ! Magnesium

Chloride

$386

Salt Lakes 15% ! Lake Brines ! Energy

! SOP ! Magnesium

Chloride ! NaCI

$300

Cash Cost by Production Method Avg Cost/Tonne

Process Method and Cost Comparisons

Expected In Production

1 The cost is converted from $92 per short ton. Excludes sulphuric acid and bauxite-substitute credits

$300

$386

$550

$1011

Page 25: December 2012 - Presentation

PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ANALYSIS RESULTS

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Annual Production Rates: SOP 680,000 tonnes Sulphuric Acid 1.6 million tonnes Initial Mine Plan1 30 years Capital Cost2 $1.075 billion Cash Cost of Production (before acid credits)3,4 $101 per tonne

1 Future planned work may expand resource base and extend life of project beyond 30 years 2 Excludes third party costs: power generation ($160 million), sulphuric acid plant ($180 million) and water treatment plant ($40 million) 3 The cost is converted from $92 per short ton

4 Excludes potential credits related to sale of 3.3 million tonnes per annum of bauxite-substitute

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

NPV @ 10% (after tax)4 $1,331 million Unlevered IRR (after tax)4 21.3%

Page 26: December 2012 - Presentation

SOP CAPITAL COST BREAKDOWN1

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CAPITAL  COST:  $1.075  billion  

24%      SOP  Leaching,    Crystalliza:on    and  Drying  

18%    Calcina:on  

17%    Beneficia:on  

41%      Con:ngency    

and    Indirects  

1 Excludes third party costs: power generation ($160 million), sulphuric acid plant ($180 million) and water treatment plant ($40 million)

Page 27: December 2012 - Presentation

OPERATING COSTS: $101/TONNE1

     79%  

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7%  

79%    Direct  Plant  and  Mine    Produc:on  Costs    

7%    Other  

14%  Royal:es  

1  Excludes  sulphuric  acid  and  bauxite-­‐subs:tute  credits    

25%    Calcina:on  

20%  Labor  and    Benefits  

14%    Beneficia:on  

14%    Con:ngency    and  Other  

12%    Powerhouse  

11%    Materials  &    Consumables  

4%    SOP  Leaching,  Crystalliza:on    and  Drying  

Page 28: December 2012 - Presentation

PROJECT TIMELINE

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Stage Activity 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Confirmation Drilling Areas 1 & 2

Resource Definition

Updated NI 43-101 and PEA

Process Development

Metallurgical Testing and Pilot Plant (process optimization)

Permitting Project Permitting

Engineering Studies

Prefeasibility

Feasibility/Mine Design1

Construction

Civil Works, etc.

Processing Plant2

Mine2

Production Commissioning2

1.  Subject to receiving a positive pre-feasibility study 2.  Subject to receiving a positive feasibility study

Page 29: December 2012 - Presentation

MANAGEMENT AND BOARD CURRENTLY OWN 6% PRE-IPO

STRONG BOARD WITH DIVERSE SKILLS AND LOCAL EXPERIENCE Rahoul Sharan, Chairman Chartered Accountant with over 30 years diversified mining experience Former Chairman and CEO of Uranium Power Corporation

Navin Dave Chairman and CEO of Stat-Ops International Former Managing Partner, KPMG LLP

Robert C. Gross Former Chief of Staff to Utah Governor Former Senior Advisor, Coalition Authority of Iraq Former Chairman and President of First Interstate Bank Former President and CEO of Blue Healthcare Bank

Rocco Rossi Experienced business strategist and public company director Former President and COO of MGI Software Corp.

Phil Williams Director, Investment Banking of Dundee Capital Markets Inc. Former VP, Business Development Pinetree Capital and Mega Uranium Ltd.

Stephen Harapiak President and COO Victory Nickel Inc. Former CEO, Potash Corp.

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Guy Bentinck President & CEO

Page 30: December 2012 - Presentation

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Large mineral deposit containing premium-quality potash

Strategically located in a mining friendly jurisdiction with established infrastructure nearby

State-owned land allows for an efficient permitting process

Historical work expedites project development

Lower risk surface mining deposit; expected low-cost producer

30 year mine life, with upside potential

PEA completed: $1.3 billion NPV at 10%; 21.3% after tax IRR

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Page 31: December 2012 - Presentation

Premium Potash Project Driven by a Proven Management Team