October 18, 2016

PolyMet Completes Initial US$19.5 Million Private Placement Glencore Will Subscribe For Additional US$10.6 Million On The Same Terms

 

St. Paul, Minn., October 18, 2016 – PolyMet Mining Corp. (“PolyMet” or the “Company”) TSX: POM; NYSE MKT: PLM – announced today that it closed its previously announced private placement of 25,963,167 Units (the “Units”), at a price of US$0.75 per Unit for gross proceeds of US$19.472 million in a private transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “Offering”).  Each Unit consists of one common share (a “Common Share”) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a “Warrant”), exercisable for one Common Share (a “Warrant Share”) at a price of US$1.00 per Warrant Share for a period beginning six months following the issue date and ending 60 months after the issue date, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.

Paradigm Capital Inc. (the “Underwriter”) placed 22,000,167 Units for US$16.500 million and PolyMet placed 3,963,000 Units for US$2.972 million.

The Company has been notified that Glencore will exercise its right to maintain its pro rata share of the total number of Units sold and purchase an additional 14,111,251 Units for US$10.583 million on or before October 28, 2016.  All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in Canada.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering primarily to advance its NorthMet Project, for working capital, and general corporate purposes.

“I would like to thank Paradigm for its support, helping to bring new institutional investors based in London, Toronto, and other international locations on board as PolyMet shareholders,” stated Jon Cherry, PolyMet president and CEO.

“As we advance through regulatory review and decisions on permitting for the NorthMet Project, it is important that we are financially strong,” Cherry continued.  “We are looking forward to achieving major milestones over the coming weeks and months.”

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any applicable state securities laws, or compliance with an exemption therefrom.  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.  This notice is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

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About PolyMet

PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly traded mine development company that owns 100 percent of Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100 percent of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a long-term lease and owns 100 percent of the Erie Plant, a large processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.  Poly Met Mining, Inc. has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study.  The NorthMet Final EIS was published in November 2015, preparing the way for decisions on permit applications.  NorthMet is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction labor, creating approximately 360 long-term jobs, a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.

About Glencore plc

Glencore plc is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies.  As a leading integrated producer and marketer of commodities with a well-balanced portfolio of diverse industrial assets, Glencore plc is strongly positioned to capture value at every stage of the supply chain, from sourcing materials deep underground to delivering products to an international customer base.

Glencore plc’s industrial and marketing activities are supported by a global network of more than 90 offices located in over 50 countries.  Glencore plc’s diversified operations comprise over 150 mining and metallurgical sites, offshore oil production assets, farms and agricultural facilities.  Glencore plc currently employs approximately 181,000 people.

 

For further information, please contact:

                                                                                               

Media

Bruce Richardson
Corporate Communications
Tel: +1 (651) 389-4111
brichardson@polymetmining.com

 

Investor Relations

Jenny Knudson
Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (651) 389-4110
jknudson@polymetmining.com

 

For enquiries about Glencore, please contact:

Glencore plc
c/o Glencore AG
Baarermattstrasse 3
CH-6340 Baar
Switzerland
Telephone:  +41 41 709 2000

 

PolyMet Disclosures

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet’s operations in the future.  Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as  “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “potential,” “possible,” “projects,” “plans,” and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could,” or “should” occur or be achieved or their negatives or other comparable words.  These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the ability to receive environmental and operating permits, job creation, and the effect on the local economy, placement of additional Units, the use of proceeds of the Offering, or other statements that are not a statement of fact.  Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing PolyMet or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying its predictions.

PolyMet’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and PolyMet does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to PolyMet’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 6-K providing information with respect to our operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2016, for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.