OUR VISION

To create a portfolio of strategic and high returning investments in clean energy related metal and mineral resource companies essential to the clean energy transition.

The world is in the early stages of an accelerating transition to clean energy generation, utilisation, storage and distribution driven by global regulation and a global consensus given the imperative to reduce the world’s carbon footprint.

This change is more metal and mineral intensive than the current carbon-based economy and, as a result, will significantly increase global demand for related resources at an unprecedented pace. The growth in demand for these metals and minerals is decoupled from GDP growth as a result of the regulatory and social pressures associated with this transition.

By leveraging our team’s proven acquisition and integration skills together with our financial, technical, construction and operating experience in the mining and metals sector, we aim to capitalise on this secular change in demand in selected commodities, which is occurring against a backdrop of limited supply.

We will create lasting value for all stakeholders and superior returns for our investors by accelerating the supply of the commodities necessary to facilitate the energy transition. This could include clean energy generation, storage and distribution, electric and other clean energy vehicle use as well as the decarbonisation of industrial processes.

OUR STRATEGY

We invest in undervalued and undercapitalised mining and processing companies:

In established mining jurisdictions that are strategically important for customers
With well defined, advanced, scalable assets and committed management
That have low logistics, processing and technological risks with a clear path to new or expanded production
That have direct exposure to clean energy generation, storage and related infrastructure
That are implementing a best in class ESG framework

We will also create a path to facilitate emerging but proven technologies that will enhance the value of strategically important metals and minerals and drive ongoing efficiencies in a resource constrained world.

ESG APPROACH

We take an entrepreneurial approach that is responsible, transparent and accountable and are committed to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct. Our Business Principles set out our values, how we operate and what guides our business decisions.

We use our position to positively influence and support our portfolio companies to align their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks and systems with leading industry standards and practices. Our ESG Investment Principles are the foundation of ESG framework and outline our approach to ESG in our investments.

To underline and support our ESG approach as responsible investors, Vision Blue Resources is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

ESG considerations form an integral part of all stages of our investment process, from the initial screening and sourcing stages to the operational due diligence phase, on to investment decisions and the monitoring and improvement of ESG performance in existing investments.

We aim to create long-term shared value for our society and economy through our investment activities.

THE OPPORTUNITIES

A major structural change in the demand for clean energy is underway, driven by government regulation and a global consensus to urgently reduce greenhouse emissions.

The impact on the demand for clean energy metals and minerals has the potential to dwarf even the commodity demand impact of China’s industrialisation witnessed over the last 20 years and which is projected to be sustained for decades.

Mining industry players, large and small, are ill prepared to meet the forecast increased demand following a decade of capital returns to shareholders and underinvestment in new capacity, especially in the resources essential to the clean energy transition. Furthermore, existing assets are experiencing declining grades and higher costs. Exploration budgets have been limited and new, world-class discoveries are scarce, while new projects have been starved of development capital.

We believe that investors have not yet fully recognised how significant the demand for clean energy materials has become, and how much the supply side is constrained through inadequate discoveries and sustained lack of investment.

CREATING VALUE

We will create value by working with the management teams in our portfolio companies to provide:

Growth capital to accelerate construction and growth and support bolt on acquisitions
Management support at asset and corporate level
Technical and operating support
Access to public and private finance and transaction support
Expertise in building a world-class ESG framework
Delivery of a shareholder value realisation strategy

VBR will apply a phased and risk managed development approach to its investments to minimise the risk, while timing investments optimally to maximise returns.

WHY VISION BLUE?

We have identified a diversified pipeline of attractive global investment opportunities across a broad range of clean energy metals and minerals providing investors with a simple way to accelerate investment into the global market opportunity.

Our team has a proven track record of identifying emerging global macro trends, devising the optimal way to maximise value creation from these secular phenomena, identifying actionable opportunities and acting rapidly to capture value.

Our unique industry network, combined with a deep understanding and experience in mining, finance and ESG related risks acquired over more than three decades, provides VBR with a competitive advantage to capitalize on the metals and mining opportunities linked to the transition to clean energy generation, use, storage and distribution.

OUR PORTFOLIO

THE CORE TEAM

Sir Mick Davis CEO

Vision Blue was founded by Sir Mick Davis, a highly successful mining executive accredited with building Xstrata plc into one of the largest mining companies in the world prior to its acquisition by Glencore plc. Before listing Xstrata on the LSE as CEO he was CFO of Billiton plc and Chairman of Billiton Coal which he joined from the position of Eskom CFO.

During his career in mining he has raised over US$40bn from global capital markets and successfully completed over US$120bn of corporate transactions, including the creation of the Ingwe Coal Corporation in South Africa; the listing of Billiton on the LSE; the merger of BHP and Billiton; as well as numerous transactions at Xstrata culminating in the sale to Glencore plc.

Sir Mick Davis is a Chartered Accountant by profession and holds an honours degree in Commerce from Rhodes University, South Africa and an Honorary Doctorate from Bar Ilan University, Israel.
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Andrew Trahar

Andrew has significant experience in the mining, banking, and private equity sectors. Prior to co-founding Vision Blue Resources, he founded a natural resources advisory business which resulted in him negotiating and leading a number of mining private equity transactions. In addition, he has spent significant time in corporate development roles in the mining sector, as well as taking active roles in numerous mining technology businesses. Andrew began his career at JP Morgan in the UK Corporate Finance and Capital Markets division where he participated in more than US$30bn of transactions, principally focussed on the mining sector.

Andrew has extensive experience in transaction execution, IPO processes, stakeholder engagement through project development, project financing, government engagement, and project technical oversight.
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Graham Chapman

Graham Chapman is a highly experienced mining executive with a strong technical background who has worked for some of the world’s leading mining companies. Previous roles include Vice President Strategy for BHP Billiton, President Director of Billiton Indonesia and Advisor on International Development to the CEO of SUEK (Russia’s largest coal producer). In addition, he has worked in smaller companies and start-ups, where he has earned significant fund-raising experience and has completed projects in Colombia, South Africa and Madagascar. He also has significant experience working in Mongolia where he was CEO of two mining companies, completing a successful turnaround process on an operating mine.

Graham has worked in over 20 different countries and is a Fellow of the Geological Society, London. He was previously a Board member of the World Coal Association and Vice Chairman of the UNECE ad hoc Group of Experts.

Graham holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in geology and an MBA.
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Aaron Treyvaud

Aaron Treyvaud has more than 20 years of experience in the mining, banking, and private equity sectors. His work for global investment banks and high profile investment groups has included corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity capital markets transactions, valuation and technical due diligence.

Prior to joining Vision Blue Resources he was Head of Corporate Development for IPULSE Group (part of the Ivanhoe Group). Aaron was also previously Head of Business Development for QKR Corp. and a former Director of Investec Resources’ M&A team. Prior to joining Investec Aaron worked at Gresham Partners and UBS in Australia.

Aaron began his career as a mining consultant at MINSERVE Group having graduated in Engineering from the University of Queensland. He also holds a Master’s of Applied Finance from Melbourne University.
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Markus Noethiger Strategic Advisor for ESG

Markus has 30 years of international experience as a senior corporate sustainability manager in industry, banking and consulting. Past roles have included, Global Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Communities at Xstrata plc, leader of PWC’s Swiss Sustainable Business Solutions Practice, and Head of Environmental Risk Management, Department of Chief Credit Officer, at Swiss Bank Corporation (now UBS).

Markus is currently the Managing Partner of ENEMCO LLC, advising mining companies on ESG, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability matters. He is also a strategic advisor to the Zug Commodity Association on ESG related matters, a member of the Sounding Board for Argor Heraeus, a Swiss precious metals refiner, and a member of the Advisory Committee for Valcore Group Ltd, a gold miner.

Markus holds a Master of Environmental Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich).
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ADVISORS

Tony Trahar

Tony Trahar is a highly experienced executive following a 40-year career in the mining, natural resources and industrial sectors. Between 2000 to 2007 he was CEO of Anglo American Plc, one of the world’s largest mining groups, and oversaw a significant period of growth, delivering a 35% return on equity and returning US$10.5 billion to shareholders.

He was also a director of Anglo Gold, Anglo Platinum and De Beers and negotiated and implemented the US$19bn ‘take private’ of De Beers diamond group with the Oppenheimer family and the Government of Botswana. He has also held senior advisory roles for Macquarie Bank and Barclays Natural Resource Investments.

From 1985 to 2000, he was CEO, and then Chairman of Mondi Ltd (now listed in London as Mondi Plc), a multinational forestry, pulp, paper and packaging group.

Tony holds a B.Comm degree and is a Chartered Accountant.
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Thras Moraitis

Thras Moraitis is CEO of the Serra Verde Group and supports the development of Vision Blue Resources by leveraging his experience in the global mining and metals industry. He was previously a co-founder of X2 Resources, Group Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs and a member of the Xstrata Plc Executive Committee. At Xstrata he was responsible for strategic development, post-acquisition integration, leadership development, external affairs and investor relations as well as Xstrata’s technology business.

While at Xstrata, he was involved in some 40 transactions which diversified the Company’s portfolio of operations by country and commodity.

Thras Moraitis began his career in the early 1980s as an engineer on the South African gold mines of General Mining Union Corporation (Gencor), followed by a series of entrepreneurial activities and, prior to joining Xstrata, was a global partner at the Monitor Group, a global advisory and merchant banking group.

Prior to his role with Vision Blue Resources, Thras was the Chief Development Officer and a member of the Executive Board of EuroChem Group AG, a global fertiliser company and, prior to this, an Executive Director at Brilliant Planet, a growth company developing a scalable method for producing microalgae for food solutions and carbon sequestration.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of FLSmidth.

Thras Moraitis holds an honours BSc in Electrical Engineering, a postgraduate qualification in Computer Science and an MBA.
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NEWS

For all media and press enquiries please contact info@vision-blue.com.

The Future Prospects for Battery Metals (Audio Interview).
Listen to Sir Mick Davis speak to BMO commodities analyst Colin Hamilton about why Vision Blue Resources chose NextSource as its first investment.

PRESS RELEASES

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Vision Blue Resources
3^rd Floor, 1 Le Truchot
St. Peter Port
GY1 1WD
Guernsey

Vision Blue Advisors UK LLP
7^th Floor, 54 Jermyn Street
London, SW1Y 6LX

info@vision-blue.com

+44 (0) 20 3943 3500