Sherritt International Corporation

Divestiture Communications

Intro:

Sherritt International Corporation (“Sherritt”) is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel from lateritic ores with operations in Canada, Cuba and Madagascar, and is the largest independent energy producer in Cuba.

The brief:

On Christmas Eve 2013, Sherritt International Corporation (TSX: S) announced its agreement to sell its Canadian coal business for $946 million, with its royalty portfolio to a group led by Altius Minerals Corp. (TSX: ALS) and the operating coal assets to Westmoreland Coal Company (NASDAQ: WLB). Kaiser & Partners was engaged to support communications around this tripartite deal.

The outcome:

Working closely with the management and communications teams at Sherritt, Altius Minerals and Westmoreland Coal, K&P coordinated all announcement-related communications, creating a detailed logistics plan that ensured employees were informed in a respectful and timely manner, and all regulatory and disclosure obligations were met. The agency also delivered a robust media relations program, securing broadcast, online and print coverage – a challenge, given the holiday. On the day of the announcement, all three companies experienced double-digit increases in their respective share prices. K&P continues to work with Sherritt International Corporation on select corporate communications, media and investor relations mandates.