Mr. José Fernando Coura to Join Verde's Board of Directors

TORONTO, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Verde Potash (TSX: "NPK") ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Mr. José Fernando Coura will be joining the Company's Board of Directors following the Company's Annual General Meeting taking place at 1:00pm ET today. Mr. Coura is presently the CEO of the Instituto Brasileiro de Mineração (IBRAM - Brazilian Mining Association), Brazil's largest non-governmental organization articulating and representing the mining industry, and Vice-President of the Federação das Indústrias de Minas Gerais (FIEMG - Association of Industries of Minas Gerais State), a prominent organization which represents companies from all economic sectors. Prior to ascending to IBRAM's presidency, Mr. Coura's career has been devoted to the mining sector, in which he has held distinguished positions at both the government and corporate levels.

In the private sector, besides the managerial functions of Mr. Coura's leadership, he was responsible for structuring investments for the implementation and expansion of various mining projects. Notably, between 1984 and 1992, he served as the Executive Director of the CAEMI Group ("CAEMI"), a major Brazilian iron ore producer acquired by Vale in 2006 for total consideration of $3.2 billion. During his tenure at CAEMI, Mr. Coura was responsible for mine operation, engineering, technology, environment and government relations. As CAEMI's Director of Metallurgy and Mining for its North area, he was responsible for operations with kaolin minerals, manganese, bauxite and chrome. Mr. Coura is currently a member of the Board at Fidens Engenharia S/A, a leading heavy engineering firm that has among its clients VALE, Alcoa, Anglo American and Lafarge.

In the public and not-for-profit sectors, throughout 1999 to 2001 Mr. Coura served as Secretary of Mines and Energy of Minas Gerais State, Brazil's largest mining state by volume and value and also the home state of Verde Potash. Other key positions include President of the Brazilian Mining Association (IBRAM), Vice-President of the Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais State (FIEMG), President of the Union of Mining Companies of Minas Gerais State (SINDIEXTRA) and Vice-President of the National Union of Iron and Basic Metals Companies (SINFERBASE). Mr. Coura sits on the Board of a number of Brazilian foundations, including the State Environment Foundation (FEAM), the Geology and Mining State Counsel (CEGEM) and State Council for Environmental Policy (COPAM).

Mr. Coura has been awarded honorary titles by the Minas Gerais State government, the Institution of Economics Academy of Minas Gerais, the State governments of Pará and Espírito Santo, and by FIEMG for Industrial Merit. He is also an honorable citizen of Santa Bárbara, Paracatu, Barao de Cocais, Joao Molevade, Itabira and Santa Bárbara.

Mr. Coura is a mining engineer with a degree from the School of Mines at the Federal University of Ouro Preto (MG) with a specialization in strategic planning, industrial management and mineral economics.

President and CEO, Cristiano Veloso, commented: "Mr. Coura has been a fantastic leader for Minas Gerais state and the Brazilian mining industry. His passion, wisdom and devotion to mining have been fundamental to the industry's progress over the past decade."

About Verde Potash

Verde Potash, a Brazilian fertilizer development company, is focused on advancing the Cerrado Verde project located in the heart of Brazil's largest agriculture market. Cerrado Verde is the source of a potash-rich deposit from which the Company intends to produce potassium chloride (KCl). In addition, the Company is developing its Calcario limestone project, limestone being a key raw material in the production of KCl.

About the Cerrado Verde Potash Project

Cerrado Verde is a unique project: 1) its high grade potash rock outcrops and is amenable to strip mining, allowing fast construction of a scalable operation; 2) it is located in the midst of the world's third largest and fastest growing fertilizer market; 3) it connects to Brazil's largest fertilizer distribution districts via existing and high quality infrastructure; 4) it has the potential to supply KCl to Brazil's local agriculture market from its large potash-rich deposit.     

Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements

NEITHER THE TSX EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS CERTAIN "FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS", WHICH INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, STATEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE FUTURE FINANCIAL OR OPERATING PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS PROJECTS, AND STATEMENTS REGARDING USE OF PROCEEDS. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN GENERALLY BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF WORDS SUCH AS "PLANS", "EXPECTS", OR "DOES NOT EXPECT" OR "IS EXPECTED", "ANTICIPATES" OR "DOES NOT ANTICIPATE", OR "BELIEVES", "INTENDS", "FORECASTS", "BUDGET", "SCHEDULED", "ESTIMATES" OR VARIATIONS OF SUCH WORDS OR PHRASES OR STATE THAT CERTAIN ACTIONS, EVENT, OR RESULTS "MAY", "COULD", "WOULD", "MIGHT", OR "WILL BE TAKEN", "OCCUR" OR "BE ACHIEVED". FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMPANY TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SAID STATEMENTS. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCES THAT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE, AS ACTUAL RESULTS AND FUTURE EVENTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SAID STATEMENTS. ACCORDINGLY, READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

Readers are cautioned not to rely solely on the summary of such information contained in this release and are directed to the complete set of drill results posted on Verde's website (www.verdepotash.com) and filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and any future amendments to such. Readers are also directed to the cautionary notices and disclaimers contained herein.

 

SOURCE: Verde Potash Plc

Cristiano Veloso, President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; Email: [email protected]

www.verdepotash.com

Jaret Anderson, CFA, VP Corporate Development
Tel: [phone]; ext. 223; Fax: [phone]; Email: [email protected]