Nio Strategic Metals Inc. (NIO) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

[Audio Gap] [Foreign Language]. Does the scrutineer's report shows that we have a quorum at this AGM. Is -- are they about?

[Foreign Language]

Great. Well, thank you very much, Bruno. So it would appear that we do have a quorum so that we can actually execute this particular meeting. [Foreign Language]. At the last meeting of the shareholders we did have minutes. I would ask a shareholder to approve those minutes. I don't think it's necessary to go through the lectures out there. [Foreign Language].

[Foreign Language].

Do I have a seconder? Okay. Julie is the seconder.

[Foreign Language].

Okay. That's super cool. The auditor's report, I believe that everybody did receive a receipt of the financial statement either by e-mail or in the mail. So I would ask that you -- actually everybody received it. I don't know whether or not there's some discussion that are necessarily about this since you got them all. Does that require an approval?

No, it does not.

It does not. So...

Any questions would be permitted after the meeting, no problem.

Okay. Then item #6 is the [Foreign Language], which is the election of the directors. The directors for the ensuing year is Christoph Ebeling, Hubert Vallée, Julie Lemieux, Bruno Dumais and myself, Hubert Marleau. Do I have a motion to accept this nomination. And the election of directors?

Mr. President [Foreign Language] every nominee is agreed on to becoming director of this corporation for the coming year. There's been -- the vote has closed. The vote has closed as of Thursday last week. So basically, 38,185,050 were registered. [Foreign Language] Out of 78 -- 75,718,000 possible votes as far as these -- the outstanding shares are concerned. Basically, between 88.78% and 99.89% of the votes were cast and expressed positively towards the proposed nominees such as Julie Lemieux, Hubert Marleau, Hubert Vallée, Bruno Dumais and Christoph Ebeling. [Foreign Language].

Okay. Thank you very much, Bruno, which means -- do I need a motion for this now?

No, it's been vote.

It's been voted. Good.

It's voted already.

It did. Okay. Right. Item #8, is the approval of the stock option plan, which...

#7, Hubert, #7.

Sorry, nomination of the auditors. Thank you. Good catch. Do I have a proposal to nominate the auditors for the following year. [Foreign Language]

[Foreign Language] Mr. President, 99.9% of the vote -- of the received vote or cast vote were favorable to the nomination or the appointment of Guimond, Lavallee Inc. as auditor for the upcoming year.

Thank you. Now as for the operation of the approval of the stock option plan, [Foreign Language].

Correct, 98.54% of the votes were -- received were favorable to the renewal of the stock option plan of the corporation. [Foreign Language]

Thank you. Then I would add, given that this is the end of the formal session of the Annual General Meeting, [Foreign Language].

[Foreign Language]

[Foreign Language]

Okay. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Now I would ask Bruno Dumais to give us a brief presentation of the company and to be followed by Q&A. So I would ask you -- Bruno, to give a presentation. Could you do that for me? Thank you.

All right. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Let me provide shareholders with the view about where we stand as far as Nio Strategic Metals is concerned. [Foreign Language]. [Operator Instructions]. So basically, the typical notes as far as cautionary notes are concerned. I think -- I mean I'll do presentation in both languages in terms of -- to probably answer questions from the audience. The Nio Strategic Metals is really, really oriented towards exploration and development projects with at least some critical metals content. [Foreign Language] The company is dedicated towards responsible and sustainable critical mineral resources development. Those are really basic, basic items, but also the core for us, our strategy is concerned for the upcoming years. [Foreign Language] One of the key items of this corporation is also focusing on to making sure the engaged into consultation and discussions with most of the stakeholders and want to support local communities and support the -- at least here, there are concerns and probably answer those as far as the decision-making process. Objectives are item #1, becoming a Quebec-based leader in ferro-niobium production. Don't forget the corporation on claims. As far as the Oka site is concerned. [Foreign Language] How do we get there? The buying demand in green mine in Kansas, making sure everything will be thoroughly dealt with and making sure we do minimize our -- every environment possible consequences as far as operating a mine is concerned. [Foreign Language] Of course, making sure we should do -- there's a minimal footprint as far as the noise is concerned. [Foreign Language] Making sure we do need criteria, we do reduce the impact as far as water resources is concerned either towards the farmers and the municipality and every other stakeholders located nearby. So those are basically the objectives we want to work on to as far as the -- there are projects is concerned in order to, let's say, reduce whatever environmental impact for the next generation, making sure [Foreign Language]. As far as the year 2023 is concerned, corporation changed its name as of May 6 in 2022, but also, refocused its business strategy towards the critical metals and strategic metals. It also -- we also converted the debt as far as -- in order to minimize financial risks as of last March 2022. So basically, there is very minimum, minimum debt into this corporation. [Foreign Language]. Why niobium? Niobium is the metal we can find as far as the Oka project is concerned. Niobium is key as far as a critical metal to support the green economy, the new technologies. And finding new deposits is really, really -- because there's only 4 -- 3, 4 or a handful of those from a worldwide standpoint. So basically, it becomes real key developing this site. [Foreign Language] Don't forget about one thing, though, the sustainable mining is much more than a concept. It's something that's really, really find -- that is key to our heart, and this is how we're going to make sure this project were to be operated going forward. Why now? Because there's only -- as I said, there's only a handful of deposits in operation right now. Most of them are being bringing managed and owned by Chinese companies. So basically, it's really, really key now to discuss about that aspect and take advantage of it. [Foreign Language] This is a summary about what I've just expressed minutes ago as far as why there's a need for niobium deposit. [Foreign Language] Niobium is on the rise right now, and that's key as far as this project is concerned, but we also want, making sure the -- this will be a huge contributor to the new technology, the new economy as far as the upcoming energy transition is concerned. [Foreign Language]. Our commitment to local communities is major as far as the Oka site is concerned. We want to listen. We want to discuss and assess what potential consequences are and have those considered as far as the decision-making process is concerned. Why? Because we do believe into a long-term relationship because we know [Foreign Language] next time. It requires developing relationship. And that's really, really key as far as we're concerned. Of course, it has to be done these days in order to -- with an environmental responsibility, making sure we meet and exceed the standard -- the existing standards as far as the environment is concerned. [Foreign Language] So making sure we do tackle and consider innovative approaches in order to make sure we do select best-in-class technologies in order to reduce whatever consequences as far as current and future generations are concerned. Basically, key message here is making sure you understand the Nio Strategic Metals is committed to responsible and sustainable niobium resource development as well -- I mean could be niobium, could be other critical metals, critical metal projects we're looking at right now. And those are really, really key. Those are -- this is an item we on making sure everybody understands that we will -- we are committed to acting responsibly in this specific regard. We do value consultation. We do value community meeting engagement. We do value long-term partnership. [Foreign Language] Making sure our projects will meet increasing demand from niobium, contribute to the energy transition, support local community as much as we can. This is where we stand right now. Our focus did shift towards strategic metals. Over the year, we want to enable projects, the niobium project, but also other critical metal projects that may be exposed to. [Foreign Language] I welcome any questions if there's any. [Foreign Language]

It doesn't seem as if we have any questions from the audience. If there is no question from the audience, then I would terminate this AGM. Do I have someone who is willing to propose the end of the informal session of the Annual General Meeting?

I propose.

Okay. Someone second?

Yes, I second.

Julie, okay, thank you. Well, thank you very much, everybody to attending. We are hopeful that we're going to have a very interesting year in front of us as we are now implementing a numerous amount of actions, which should help us in obtaining our wishes. Thank you very much, everybody. That's super cool [Foreign Language]. Thank you.

Thank you.