Sherritt Announces Successful Closing of its Transaction to Improve its Capital Structure
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES
OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Sherritt Announces Successful Closing of its Transaction to Improve
its Capital Structure
TORONTO, August 31 , 2020 – Sherritt International Corporation (“ Sherritt” or the
“Corporation”) (TSX:S) announced that its previously disclosed transaction to improve its capital
structure (the “Transaction”) was completed effective today pursuant to its plan of arrangement
under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the “Plan of Arrangement”).
“Completion of our balance sheet initiative marks an important milestone and is indicative of our
ongoing efforts to build balance sheet strength,” said David Pathe, President and CEO of Sherritt
International. “With today’s closing, we have eliminated $2.3 billion of debt over the past six years
and effectively resolved our Ambatovy investment legacy while also extending the maturity of our
debt to November 2026. This progress positions us to take advantage of strong nickel market
fundamentals expected in the coming years.”
As was previously announced by the Corporation, the Plan of Arrangement was overwhelmingly
approved by holders of the Corporation’s outstanding (i) 8.00% senior unsecured debentures due
2021, (ii) 7.50% senior unsecured debentures due 2023, and (iii) 7.875% senior unsecured notes
due 2025, and holders of the Corporation’s obligations under its Ambatovy Joint Venture partner
loans (collectively, the “Debtholders”) at the meeting of Debtholders held on July 23, 2020, and
was approved by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) on August 6, 2020.
The Transaction has resulted in the reduction of Sherritt’s outstanding debt obligations by
approximately $305 million, the extension of maturities in respect of its note obligations to 2026
and 2029 , and no dilution to the Corporation’s common shares . The implementation of the
Transaction has provided a stronger financial foundation and improved liquidity for the
Corporation as a result of annual cash interest payment savings of more than $15 million. The
Transaction has also addressed Sherritt’s Ambatovy investment legacy, terminating Sher ritt’s
obligations relating to the Ambatovy Joint Venture and transitioning Sherritt’s operatorship of the
project.
Goodmans LLP acted as Sherritt’s legal advisor in connection with the Transaction and National
Bank Financial Inc. acted as its financial advisor.
About Sherritt
Sherritt is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel and cobalt from lateritic ores with
projects, operations and investments in Canada and Cuba. The Corporation is the largest
independent energy producer in Cuba, with extensive oil and power operations across the island.
Sherritt licenses its proprietary technologies and provides metallurgical services to mining and
refining operations worldwide. The Corporation’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol “S”.
For more information, please contact:
Joe Racanelli, Director of Investor Relations
Telephone: 416-935-2457
Email: [email protected]
www.sherritt.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can
generally be identified by the use of statements that include such words as “believe”, “expect”,
“anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “forecast”, “likely”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “suspect”, “outlook”,
“projected”, “continue” or other similar words or phrases. Specifically, forward-looking statements
in this document include, but are not limited to, statements set out in this news release relating to
the effects of the Transaction on the Corporation and its stakeholders , and nickel market
fundamentals.
Forward-looking statements are not based on historic facts, but rather on current expectations,
assumptions and projections about future events, including matters relating to the proposed
Transaction; commodity and product prices and demand; the level of liquidity; production results;
realized prices for production; earnings and revenues; and certain objectives, goals and plans.
By their nature, forward looking statements require the Corporation to make assumptions and are
subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts,
conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that those assumptions may not be
correct and that actual results or payments may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts,
conclusions or projections.
The Corporation cautions readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on any forward-
looking statement as a number of factors could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or
events to differ materially from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the
forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not
limited to, risks associated with: the ability of the Corporation to achieve its financial goals; the
ability of the Cor poration to operate in the ordinary course, including with respect to satisfying
obligations to service providers, suppliers, contractors and employees; the ability of the
Corporation to continue as a going concern; the ability of the Corporation to continue to realize its
assets and discharge its liabilities and commitments; the Corporation’s future liquidity position,
and access to capital, to fund ongoing operations and obligations (including debt obligations); the
ability of the Corporation to implement and successfully achieve its business priorities; the ability
of the Corporation to comply with its contractual obligations, including, without limitation, its
obligations under debt arrangements; the general regulatory environment in which the
Corporation operates; the tax treatment of the Corporation and the materiality of any legal and
regulatory proceedings; the general economic, financial, market and political conditions impacting
the industry and markets in which the Corporation operates; the ability of the Corporation to
sustain or increase profitability, fund its operations with existing capital and/or raise additional
capital to fund its operations ; the ability of the Corporation to generate sufficient cash flow from
operations; the impact of competition; the ability of the Corporation to obtain and retain qualified
staff, equipment and services in a timely and efficient manner; the ability of the Corporation to
retain members of the senior management team, including but not limited to, the officers of the
Corporation; and the impact on business operations of the Corporation resulting from the COVID-
19 pandemic and the responses of government and the public to the pandemic. Readers are
cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive a nd should be considered in
conjunction with the risk factors described in this news release and in the Corporation’s other
documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including without limitation the
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of th e Corporation for the year ended December 31,
2019, the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Corporation for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2020, and the Annual Information Form of the Corporation dated March 19, 2020
for the period ending December 31, 2019, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The Corporation may, from time to time, make oral forward-looking statements. The Corporation
advises that the above paragraph and the risk factors d escribed in this news release and in the
Corporation’s other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities should be read for a
description of certain factors that could cause the actual results of the Corporation to differ
materially from those in the oral forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and
statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any oral or written forward -looking
information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information and statements
contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.