TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 20, 2016) -
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR TO U.S. NEWS
AGENCIES
Century Global Commodities Corporation (TSX:CNT) ("Century" or the "Company") has provided the following update regarding
developments in its business and with its management.
Business Update
The context of this update is the mining industry's struggle to emerge from the down cycle, which has been particularly
difficult for the iron sector. This year to date has seen conditions apparently more favourable for recovery, alongside a
prolonged industry-wide structural rebalancing in the aftermath of the last commodities super cycle. Given the current dynamics
of the global steel industry, management remains convinced of the definitive need for Century to complete a major transformation
and has initiated several measures to create shareholder value in the medium and long term.
The Company was continued to the Cayman Islands, an international jurisdiction that provides a favourable platform for future
development. Century relocated its headquarters to Hong Kong, China in line with the overwhelming focus of its target market (and
that of the global mining industry) since its inception. Management therefore deemed it appropriate to provide our shareholders
and market an update on the Company's progress at this juncture.
Iron Ore
Our assessment is that the global iron ore sector will experience more systemic structural adjustments over the next few years
as a result of major new megaprojects in Australia and Brazil coming on-stream just as the Chinese steel industry is reducing its
overcapacity. Spot markets for iron ore remain volatile: the price of iron ore surged to nearly US$70/t in April 2016 from a
low of less than US$40/t at the end of 2015, and the price is now fluctuating around mid-US$50/t, eliminating about half of its
price gain in 2016. Century's management believes that it is very important that the Company stay the course and remain in a safe
observer position. Management also feels that it is important for the Company to keep the maintenance cost of its projects
as low as possible so we can wait out the market and preserve sufficient resources to advance them when favourable market
conditions return.
Non-ferrous diversifications
Management continues to believe that market conditions for other metals may recover earlier than iron ore. Therefore, we
believe that there will be more value creation opportunities in diversifying into certain precious and base metals opportunities.
The global market will benefit hugely over the next market cycle - and very possibly beyond - from China's transition to a
massive consumption-driven economy. The country's middle class population is already equal to that of the U.S., and will become
much larger over time. This growing middle class in China is poised to fuel the continuous consumption and demand for
commodities. The Company has considered and conducted an in-depth evaluation of a number of projects, but has not yet identified
sufficiently compelling investment cases. Management will continue to search for compelling investment and project
opportunities.
As an adjunct to our evaluation of mineral exploration and mining projects, we continue to enhance the functionality of the
Century Mining Database, which was well received at the China Mining Conference in September.
Quality Food Services
Management is very pleased with the growth in revenue, product range and customer base in the Company's food business in Hong
Kong, China. We have firmly established local distribution there, covering the major super market chains, hotels and restaurants,
as well as an international airline. We also extended our distribution network to Macao, China. Since logging our first
sales in January, we have been steadily growing the volume of our food business, expanding our product range and broadening the
sourcing of products to Europe as well as Australia. Century has also established an office in Wuhan, China; our lean
professional team there is sourcing quality imported food products and positioning the Company to exploit the market in Central
China, where long-term growth is expected to outperform coastal and other mature markets in the country.
Management Changes
We have been streamlining our Company personnel structure to rapidly reduce the size of our geological team and general and
administrative staff in line with the Company's strategy. Conversely, we have added core professionals to our staff in the
Company's revenue-generating food business, to remain lean but to retain the capacity to meet current needs and be ready to
pursue appropriate initiatives.
While our financial team has had an excellent CFO, Rebecca Ng, who was a key leader and guided the Company through significant
accomplishments and transformation in a difficult market environment over the past few years, Ms. Ng has decided to leave Century
and the mining and mineral exploration industry in early November, after the filing of the Company's financial results for its
quarter ended September 30, 2016. Management and the Board are disappointed to be losing Ms. Ng, who will be leaving for another
industry, and would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her outstanding contributions to the Company and wish her
great success in her future endeavours.
Mr. Alex Tsang has been recruited to succeed Ms. Ng as the new CFO of Century, subject to Board approval of such appointment
being granted in due course. Mr. Tsang, a member of the CPA, Australia, has more than 20 years of experience in finance,
compliance and risk management, operational excellence and reporting and management advisory matters. He has worked in a wide and
diversified range of industries, including but not limited to healthcare, consumer electronics, plastic moulding, steel,
shipbuilding and engineering and food manufacturing. Prior to joining Century, he worked with several multinational organisations
in Singapore, Hong Kong and PRC. During his career stints in these countries, with his expertise in handling both financial and
compliance issues, he has participated in various local and overseas projects such as constructing risk management frameworks,
business restructuring, remediating fund investors, internal audits and ensuring the effectiveness of control environments for
the various business units within each organisation. His last position was with Philips (China) Investment Company Limited, where
he was the Finance Director of the Health System sector of Greater China region.
Normal Course Issuer Bid Amendments
Century is also pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock exchange ("TSX") has accepted Century's application to amend the
normal course issuer bid that is currently in place for the Company (the "Amended NCIB").
The Company's current normal course issuer bid program began operating on November 4, 2015 and expires on November 3, 2016.
Under the original program, a maximum of 350,000 ordinary shares could be purchased during the one-year period of its operation.
Pursuant to the amendments approved by the TSX, purchases of up to 2,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company may be now completed
during the one-year period of the program's operation. To date under this program, Century has purchased a total of 1,000
ordinary shares at an average price of $0.25 per share.
The 2,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company that may be purchased for cancellation under the Amended NCIB correspond to
approximately 2.02% of Century's issued and outstanding ordinary shares (out of the total of 98,793,571 ordinary shares currently
outstanding). The Company expects to cancel all shares purchased under the Amended NCIB. Maison Placements Canada Inc. will
continue to act on the Company's behalf to complete purchases of ordinary shares pursuant to the Amended NCIB.
The TSX accepted notice of the Amended NCIB on October 20, 2016. The Amended NCIB will take effect on October 26, 2016 and end
no later than November 3, 2016.
About Century
Century Global Commodities Corporation (TSX:CNT) is building shareholder value through existing and entrepreneurial business
units that meet continuing and growing demand from China, the largest market in human history.
Iron Ore
With WISCO and Minmetals, both Global Fortune 500 Chinese strategic partners, Century owns one of the largest iron ore mineral
resource bases in the world, across five projects in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Joyce Lake, a direct shipping ore
project in Newfoundland and Labrador, is our most advanced project. It has completed feasibility and permitting studies and can
be brought to production within approximately 30 months. We are maintaining our properties in preparation for a return to higher
iron ore prices.
Base and Precious Metals
Century is monitoring investment and acquisition opportunities. When the right opportunity presents itself, our strong balance
sheet will allow us to invest or acquire undervalued assets during the current down-cycle, positioning ourselves for gains when
the market improves.
Technology and Financial Services
Century's award-winning team has harnessed multidisciplinary expertise to build a proprietary bilingual Chinese/English mining
investment evaluation and tracking system. The database tracks daily over 1,500 globally listed mining and mineral resource
companies with a primary focus on gold and copper and their 3,000 projects. We are now commercializing the technology for use by
retail and institutional investors as well as mining professionals worldwide. Century Mining Database can be accessed via www.centurymining.cn.
Quality Food Services
Quality food products sourced from advanced countries are in great demand from the quickly-growing middle class in China. The
emphasis is on the need for safe, high-quality food products. Century has established a professional marketing team and built a
distribution system to serve Hong Kong and eventually Mainland China. Initial successes include contracts with one of the largest
egg producers in Australia and supply contracts with hotels, restaurants, grocery chains as well as an international airline.
Century's website is www.centuryglobal.ca.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION" WITHIN THE MEANING OF CANADIAN SECURITIES LEGISLATION. THE
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF CENTURY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS
RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION INCLUDES INFORMATION THAT RELATES TO,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, CENTURY'S INTENTION TO EVALUATE PROSPECTIVE TRANSACTIONS ARISING FROM THE REVIEW BY CENTURY OF ITS STRATEGIC
OPTIONS AND ITS AVAILABLE WORKING CAPITAL. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION IS BASED ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OPINIONS, ASSUMPTIONS,
ESTIMATES AND ANALYSES THAT, WHILE CONSIDERED REASONABLE BY CENTURY AT THE DATE THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED, ARE
INHERENTLY SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES, CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS AND EVENTS
TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION. THE RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES,
CONTINGENCIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY THE
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, RISKS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CENTURY'S BUSINESS, AS DESCRIBED
IN CENTURY'S ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2016. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE CENTURY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES
NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.