TSX: MFI
www.mapleleaffoods.com
MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 30,
2022 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. ("Maple
Leaf" or the "Company") (TSX: MFI) announced today that it has
completed an extension of its existing $2
billion sustainability-linked credit facility with its
existing banking syndicate. The credit facility consists of a
CDN$1.3 billion unsecured committed
revolving line of credit maturing on June
29, 2027 and two unsecured committed term facilities in the
amounts of US$265.0 million and
CDN$350.0 million, maturing on
June 29, 2027 and June 29, 2026, respectively.
"Three years ago, we launched the first sustainability-linked
loan in Canada," said Geert Verellen, Chief Financial Officer. "By
extending the facility, not only are we continuing to integrate
Maple Leaf's sustainability commitments into all aspects of our
business, we are also solidifying our access to capital as we
complete near term projects like our state-of-the-art poultry
facility in London, Ontario, and
position ourselves to capitalize on future growth
opportunities."
The sustainability-linked metrics incorporated into the credit
facility are made up of annual environmental targets directly
influenced by Maple Leaf's actions. These targets include
greenhouse gas emissions, electricity usage, water usage, and solid
waste generated. Maple Leaf may incur positive or negative pricing
adjustments on drawn credit spreads and standby fees based on its
performance versus the targets that have been set.
The facility bears interest based on short-term interest rates
and is intended to meet the Company's remaining funding for the
completion of its state-of-the-art poultry facility in London, Ontario, in addition to providing
appropriate liquidity levels for the Company and general corporate
purposes.
The lending syndicate for the new facility comprised of nine
financial institutions with BMO Capital Markets acting as Sole Book
Runner and Sustainability Structuring Agent, and BMO Capital
Markets, RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, and Rabobank Canada as Co-Lead
Arrangers. Four additional lenders participated.
Forward–Looking Statements
This document contains "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable securities law. These statements are based on
current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about
the industries in which the Company operates, as well as beliefs
and assumptions made by Management of the Company. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to
objectives and goals, in addition to statements with respect to
beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates,
and intentions. Specific forward-looking information in this
document includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect
to: construction of new manufacturing facilities, source of funds
for ongoing business requirements; capital investments and
expectations regarding capital expenditures. Words such as
"expect", "anticipate", "intend", "may", "will", "plan", "believe",
"seek", "estimate", and variations of such words and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
information. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that
are difficult to predict, including among other things: the impact
of the Company's debt service and compliance with debt covenants
and other. Additional factors that could cause actual results or
outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied
or forecasted by the forward-looking statements are discussed more
fully in the Company's filings made with the Canadian securities
regulators including in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the
Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended
December 31, 2021. All of such
filings are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
The Company does not intend to, and the Company disclaims any
obligation to, update any forward- looking statements (including
any financial outlooks), whether written or oral, or whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
required by law.
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods is a carbon neutral company with a vision to be
the most sustainable protein company on earth, responsibly
producing food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf®,
Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections®, Schneiders®,
Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®, Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®,
Lightlife® and Field Roast™. The Company employs approximately
13,500 people and does business primarily in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in
Mississauga, Ontario and its
shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maple-leaf-foods-extends-existing-2-billion-sustainability-linked-credit-facility-301578595.html
SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc.