Champion Iron Completes US$230M Term Loan Financing , Increas Ing Liquidity FOR Growth Opportunities to Decarbonize Steelmaking
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PRESS RELEASE
CHAMPION IRON COMPLETES US$230M TERM LOAN FINANCING , INCREAS ING
LIQUIDITY FOR GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES TO DECARBONIZE STEELMAKING
Montréal, November 29, 2023 (Sydney, November 30, 2023) - Champion Iron Limited (TSX: CIA) (ASX: CIA) (OTCQX: CIAFF) (“Champion”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Quebec Iron Ore Inc. ("QIO"), has agreed with its syndicate of lenders led by
Societe Generale (Coordinating Bank, Mandated Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner) and Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank") (Mandated
Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner) to extend the maturity of its existing US$400 million revolving credit facility from May 2026 to
November 2027 and additionally, on a new US$230 million term loan facility maturing in November 2028 with no principal repayment until
mid-2026 (the " Financing") . The Financing is expected to significantly increase the Company’s available liquidity to support organic
growth and development opportunities in line with the Company’s vision to contribute to reducing steelmaking emissions.
Champion CEO, Mr. David Cataford, said: ‘We thank our team of financial partners who share our vision to provide a solution for the green
steel supply chain . The closing of the Financing, in addition to our robust financial position and operational cash flows, enables our
Company to maintain its conservative capital management approach while increasing our flexibility to consider additional organic growth
opportunities.’
About Champion Iron Limited
Champion, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Quebec Iron Ore Inc., owns and operates the Bloom Lake Mining Complex, located on the
south end of the Labrador Trough, approximately 13 km north of Fermont, Québec. Bloom Lake is an open -pit operation with two
concentrators that primarily sour ce energy from renewable hydroelectric power. The two concentrators have a combined nameplate
capacity of 15 Mtpa and produce low contaminant high -grade 66.2% Fe iron ore concentrate with a proven ability to produce a 67.5% Fe
direct reduction quality iron ore concentrate. In January 2023, the Company announced the positive findings of a study evaluating the
upgrade of half of the Bloom Lake mine’s capacity to a direct reduction quality pellet feed iron ore and approved an initial budget to
advance the project. Bloom Lake's high-grade and low contaminant iron ore products have attracted a premium to the Platts IODEX 62%
Fe iron ore benchmark. The Company ships iron ore concentrate from Bloom Lake by rail, to a ship loading port in Sept -Îles, Québec, and
has sold its iron ore concentrate to customers globally, including in China, Japan, the Middle East, Europe, South Korea, India and Canada.
In addition to Bloom Lake, Champion owns a portfolio of exploration and development projects in the Labrador Trough, inc luding the
Kamistiatusset Project, located a few kilometres south-east of Bloom Lake, and the Consolidated Fire Lake North iron ore project, located
approximately 40 km south of Bloom Lake.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward -Looking Statements
This press release includes certain information and statements that may constitute "forward- looking information" under applicable
securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by
the use of words such as "plans" , "expects" , "is expected" , "budget" , "scheduled" , "estimates" , "continues" , "forecasts" , "projects" , "predicts" ,
"intends" , "anticipates" , "aims" , "targets" or "believes" , or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain
actions, events or results "may" , "could" , "would" , "should" , "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Inherent in forward-looking
statements are risks, uncertainties and other factors beyond the Company's ability to predict or control.
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Specific Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release that address future events, developments or
performance that Champion expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things,
Management's expectations regarding: (i) the Financing and its impact on liquidity , capital management, financial results and the
Company’s growth and development opportunities ; (ii) the shift in steel industry production methods towards reducing em issions and
green steel production methods and the Company’s participation therein, contribution thereto and positioning in connection therewith
and expected benefits thereof; and (iii) the Company's growth and opportunities generally.
Risks
Although Champion believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond the con trol of
the Company, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward- looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from th ose expressed in
forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of feasibility studies; (ii) changes in the assumptions used to prepare
feasibility studies; (iii) project delays; (iv) timing and uncertainty of industry shift to green steel and EAF; (v) continued availability of capital
and financing and general economic, market or business conditions; (vi) general economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties;
(vii) future prices of iron ore; (viii) future transportation costs; (ix) failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; (x)
delays in obtaining governmental approvals, necessary permitting or in the completion of development or construction activities; and (xi)
the effects of catastrophes and public health crises, including the impact of COVID -19 on the global economy, the iron ore market and
Champion's operations, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's 2023 Annual Report,
Annual Information Form and MD&A for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, the
ASX at www.asx.com.au and the Company's website at www.championiron.com. There can be no assurance that such information will
prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.
Additional Updates
All of Champion's forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof or such other date or dates
specified in forward- looking statements and is based upon the opinions and estimates of Champion's Management and infor mation
available to Management as at the date hereof. Champion disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of the forward-
looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If the Company does
update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those
or other forward -looking statements. Champion cautions that the foregoing list of risks and uncertain ties is not exhaustive. Readers
should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risks they entail.
For further information , please contact:
Champion Iron Limited
Michael Marcotte, CFA
Senior Vice-President, Corporate Development and Capital Markets
514-316-4858, Ext. 1128
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For additional information on Champion Iron Limited, please visit our website at: www.championiron.com.
This press release has been authorized for release to the market by the CEO of Champion Iron Limited, David Cataford.