PolyMet Reports Fiscal 2016 Results

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/22/16 -- PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM)(NYSE MKT: PLM) today reported that it has filed its financial results for the year ended January 31, 2016. PolyMet controls 100 percent of the development-stage NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body and the nearby Erie Plant, located near Hoyt Lakes in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.

The financial statements have been filed at www.polymetmining.com and on SEDAR and EDGAR and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. All amounts are in U.S. funds. Copies can be obtained free of charge by contacting the Corporate Secretary at First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 5700, Toronto, Ontario M5X 1C7 or by e-mail at [email protected].

HIGHLIGHTS OF FISCAL 2016 AND FISCAL 2017 TO-DATE

--  On November 6, 2015, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
    reported that the NorthMet Final Environmental Impact Statement had been
    completed. The Final EIS was subsequently posted in the Federal Register
    and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Monitor.
    Completion of the Final EIS is the culmination of more than a decade of
    detailed analysis and thorough review from various state and federal
    regulatory agencies. The Final EIS indicates that the proposed project
    meets human health and environmental standards.
--  On November 16, 2015, the U.S. Forest Service published its Draft Record
    of Decision recommending the proposed land exchange in which PolyMet
    would receive surface rights in exchange for transferring land it
    currently owns to the Superior National Forest. The Draft ROD recognizes
    that the proposed land exchange would be beneficial to the Forest
    Service and would be in the public interest.
--  On March 3, 2016, the state determined that the Final EIS addresses the
    objectives defined in the EIS scoping review, meets procedural
    requirements, and responds appropriately to public comments. The 30-day
    period allowed by law to challenge the state's decision has passed
    without any legal challenge being filed.
--  On April 19, 2016, the DNR, in partnership with the Pollution Control
    Agency and the Department of Health, held a Pre-application Public
    Informational Meeting that included an overview of the NorthMet Project
    and the permit to mine process together with a summary of other state
    permits such as tailings dam safety, water quality, air quality, and
    wetlands, that will be required to construct and operate the project.
    The DNR laid out the process for the permit to mine, comprising: pre-
    application consultation; submission of formal applications that will be
    posted on the project website (http://polymet.mn.gov); formal regulatory
    review; publication of draft permit with an opportunity for public
    comment; and issuance of permits.
    The pre-application consultation is underway and is intended to help
    PolyMet craft the formal permit applications in order to help the
    regulatory agencies expedite the review process. The DNR stated that the
    timeline for completion will be better defined once it has received the
    formal applications.
--  The Company issued $33.0 million secured debentures to Glencore AG, a
    wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore plc, to fund environmental review,
    permitting and general corporate purposes; extended the Glencore
    convertible and non-convertible loans to March 31, 2017; clarified
    PolyMet's right to repay the loans at any time without penalty; and
    reset the interest rate to 12-month U.S. dollar LIBOR plus 15.0% from
    January 1, 2016.
--  Loss for the twelve months ended January 31, 2016, was $9.346 million
    compared with $7.276 million for the prior year period. General and
    administrative expenses for the twelve months ended January 31, 2016
    were $5.508 million compared with $5.489 million for the prior year
    period. As a result of a one-time non-cash loss on the disposal of
    wetland credit intangibles, other expenses were $3.838 million compared
    with $1.787 million for the prior year period.
--  At January 31, 2016, PolyMet had cash of $10.256 million compared with
    $9.301 million at January 31, 2015. Short-term debt totaled $4.962
    million due to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board,
    secured by land that forms part of the proposed land exchange with the
    U.S. Forest Service.
--  PolyMet invested $27.378 million cash into its NorthMet Project during
    the twelve months ended January 31, 2016, compared with $27.153 million
    in the prior year period.
--  As of January 31, 2016, PolyMet had spent $102.160 million on
    environmental review and permitting, of which $95.709 million has been
    spent since the NorthMet Project moved from exploration to development
    stage.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR REMAINDER OF FISCAL 2017

The environmental review and permitting process is managed by the regulatory agencies and, therefore, timelines are not within PolyMet's control. Given these circumstances, PolyMet's objectives include:

--  U.S. Forest Service Final Record of Decision on the proposed land
    exchange and transfer of title of the surface rights over and around the
    NorthMet mineral rights to PolyMet;
--  Submission of state permit applications;
--  Section 404 wetlands permit preparation for review;
--  Completion of Definitive Cost Estimate and Project Update;
--  Completion of project implementation plan;
--  Repayment/conversion of Glencore and Iron Range Resources and
    Rehabilitation Board loans; and
--  Completion of construction finance plan including commitment of debt
    prior to the issuance of permits but subject to typical conditions
    precedent such as receipt of key permits.

Key Statistics

(in '000 US dollars, except per share amounts)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance Sheet                             January 31, 2016  January 31, 2015
                                         -----------------------------------

Cash & equivalents                       $          10,256 $           9,301
Working capital (deficit)                            2,162          (31,672)
Total assets                                       337,660           313,229
Total liabilities                                  153,003           120,853
Shareholders' equity                               184,657           192,376
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Year ended Jan 31,
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         -----------------------------------
Income Statement                                      2016              2015
                                         -----------------------------------
General & administrative expense         $           5,508 $           5,489
Other Expenses
  Finance & Other                        $           1,986 $           1,787
  Disposal of Intangibles                $           1,852 $               -
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         -----------------------------------
Loss before tax                          $           9,346 $           7,276
  Other Comprehensive (Income)           $           (199) $               -
                                         -----------------------------------
                                         -----------------------------------
  Loss per share                         $            0.03 $            0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investing Activities
  NorthMet Property                      $          27,378 $          27,153
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average shares outstanding            276,812,958       275,726,953

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 operating permits to construct and operate the mine. 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.

POLYMET MINING CORP.

Jon Cherry, CEO

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, 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 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.

Contacts:
Media
Bruce Richardson
Corporate Communications
+1 (651) 389-4111
[email protected]

Investor Relations
Jenny Knudson
Investor Relations
+1 (651) 389-4110
[email protected]
www.polymetmining.com

Source: PolyMet Mining Corp.

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