Sherritt Provides Further Update on Activities in Cuba
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE
SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Sherritt Provides Further Update on
Activities in Cuba
TORONTO, May 15, 202 6 – Sherritt International Corporation (“Sherritt” or the “ Corporation”) (TSX:S)
provides a further update with respect to its decision of May 7, 2026 to suspend its direct participation in
joint venture activities in Cuba in light of the Executive Order issued by the U.S. administration on May 1,
2026 expanding its sanctions against Cuba (the “Executive Order”).
Sherritt’s interests in Cuba consist of:
• A 50/50 partnership with General Nickel Company S.A. (“GNC”) of Cuba (the “Moa JV”). The Moa
JV is a vertically integrated joint venture that mines, processes and refines nickel and cobalt for
sale worldwide (except in the United States). Three corporations, of which Sherritt and GNC each
ultimately holds 50%, carry out the operations of the Moa JV with one such entity carrying out
mining activities in Cuba and the other such entity arranging for the acquisition and processing of
the mined ore and marketing the finished products (collectively, the “Moa JV Cuba Corporations”)
and one entity owning and operating the nickel and cobalt refinery in Saskatchewan (the “Canada
Refinery Corporation”).
• Power generating assets held through Sherritt’s one -third interest in Energas S.A. (“Energas”), a
Cuban joint venture established to process raw natural gas and generate electricity for sale to the
Cuban national electrical grid.
• Oil and gas interests in two production -sharing contracts, each in the exploration phase ( the
“PSCs”), and an ancillary drilling services contract.
The Moa JV is governed by a shareholders’ agreement (the “Moa Shareholders’ Agreement”) which allows
Sherritt to dissolve the Moa JV if U.S. sanc tions are extended such that Sherritt cannot reasonably carry
on a material business activity if it remains part of the Moa JV. The dissolution process under the Moa
Shareholders’ Agreement requires the parties to mutually determine the fair market value of each of the
Moa JV Cuba Corporations and the Canada Refinery Corporation and, if they cannot agree after three
months, to have the matter determined by arbitration. After much deliberation, Sherritt has determined that
the only way to preser ve its ability to do business is by invoking its dissolution rights under the Moa
Shareholders’ Agreement and implementing the related steps without delay.
Accordingly, Sherritt intends to deliver notice to GNC that dissolution is required as a result of a material
adverse change that is an immediate change under the Moa Shareholders’ Agreement and that there is
inadequate time for arbitration. Given the urgency of the adverse impacts of the Executive Order on the
Corporation, Sherritt requires that the dissolution of the Moa JV take place immediately so as to result in
Sherritt becoming the sole owner of the Canada Refinery Corporation and in GNC becoming the sole owner
of the Moa JV Cuba Corporations. In connection with the foregoing, Sherritt will relinquish its interests in
the Moa JV Cuba Corporations. As the value of the Moa JV Cuba Corporation that owns the Moa JV mine
is expected to be high er than the value of the Canada Refinery Corporation, the dissolution process is
expected to result in a fair market value equalization payment owing from GNC to Sherritt, in addition to the
approximately $277 million owed from GNC to Sherritt.
Similarly, the Energas Association Agreement (the “Energas Agreement”) contains a dissolution provision
in the event the parties are unable to perform specified obligations under the agreement or upon the
occurrence of a force majeure. Sherritt has determ ined, in the circumstances, to surrender its interest in
Energas and to give notice of dissolution pursuant to the Energas Agreement. Sherritt has also determined
to surrender its interests in the PSCs and drilling services contract and intends to give notice to the relevant
parties of the same . Sherritt anticipates that it will receive no consideration in respe ct of the foregoing
interests.
While both the Moa Shareholders’ Agreement and the Energas Agreement contemplate dissolution, the
process contemplated by the agreement s will take a minimum of several months and possibly several
years. To expedite this process, Sherritt has determined to seek relief from the Alberta Court of King’s
Bench to facilitate accelerated dissolution to the extent possible. Sherritt is scheduled to appear before the
Court on May 19, 2026 to seek this relief.
The intended outcome of the foregoing actions is to allow Sherritt to most definitively address the Executive
Order by eliminating Sherritt’s Cuban interests. Further, the separation from Cuba may assist Sherritt in
addressing issues that could arise from the Executive Order such as difficulties in obtaining an auditor or
banking services. Sherritt has informed Cuban authorities of its intent to take these steps, and will work
with its stakeholders to implement these steps as soon as practicable. There is no certainty however that
such outcomes will be achieved.
The Corporation will continue to provide information on material developments to its shareholders and other
stakeholders.
About Sherritt
Sherritt is a world leader in using hydrometallurgical processes to mine and refine nickel and cobalt – metals
deemed critical for the energy transition. Leveraging its technical expertise and decades of experience in
critical minerals processing, Sherritt is committed to expanding domestic refining capacity and reducing
reliance on foreign sources. The Corporation operates a strategically important refinery in Alberta, Canada,
recognized as the only significant cobalt refinery and one of just three nickel refineries in North America.
Sherritt’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “S”.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (416) 935-2451
www.sherritt.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and other information included in this press release may constitute “forward -looking
information” or “forward -looking statements” (collectively, “forward -looking statements”) under applicable
securities laws (such statements are often accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “forecast”, “expect”,
“believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). All statements in this press
release, other than those relating to historical information, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the impact on Sherritt of
the Executive Order; the dissolution of the Moa JV and implementation of related steps, including recovery
of amounts from GNC ; the dissolution and surrender of the Corporation’s interests in Energas, the PSCs
and the drilling services contract and implementation of related steps; the outcome of the relief being sought
by the Corporation from the Alberta Court of Kings Bench; and the intended outcome of the actions taken
by Sherritt to surrender its Cuban interests.
The Corporation cautions readers of this press 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. Such factors include, without limitation, continued risks related to Sherritt’s operations in Cuba
and future actions taken by the U.S. government toward Cuba, including with respect to the Executive
Order; level of liquidity of Sherritt, including access to capital and financing; the risk to or loss of Sherritt’s
entitlements to future distributions (including pursuant to the Cobalt Swap) from the Moa JV; the inability of
the Corporation to comply with debt restrictions and covenants; the inability of the Corporation to comply
with the listing requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange or another recognized stock exchange;
uncertainty in the ability of the Corporation to enforce legal rig hts in foreign jurisdictions including as it
relates to the intended outcome of dissolving and surrendering the Corporation's interests in Cuba;
uncertainty regarding the interpretation and/or application of the applicable laws in foreign jurisdictions; tax
risks, including as it relates to the dissolution and surrender of the Corporation's interests in Cuba and
implementation of related steps; political, economic and other risks of foreign operations; security market
fluctuations and price volatility; risks related to environmental liabilities including liability for reclamation
costs, tailings facility failures and toxic gas releases; complianc e with applicable environment, health and
safety legislation and other associated matters; risks associated with governmental regulations regarding
climate change and greenhouse gas emissions; risks relating to community relations; maintaining social
license to grow and operate; risks associated with the operation of large projects generally; the ability to
replace depleted mineral reserves; risks associated with the Corporation’s joint venture partners; risks
associated with mining, processing and refining activities; reliance on key personnel and skilled workers;
risks related to the Corporation’s corporate structure; foreign exchange and pricing risks; credit risks; future
market access; interest rate changes; risks in obtaining insurance; uncertainties i n labour relations; legal
contingencies; risks related to the Corporation’s accounting policies; uncertainty in the ability of the
Corporation to obtain government permits; failure to comply with, or changes to, applicable government
regulations. The key risks and uncertainties should be considered in conjunction with the risk factors
described in the Corporation’s other documents filed with the Canadian securities authorities, including
without limitation the “Managing Risk” section of the Managem ent’s Discussion and Analysis for the three
months and year ended December 31, 2025 and the Annual Information Form of the Corporation dated
March 23, 2026 for the period ending December 31, 2025, which is available on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca. The forward -looking information and statements contained in this press 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.