VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Methanex Corporation (the “Company”) (TSX:MX) (NASDAQ:MEOH) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”) whereby the Company will purchase for cancellation up to 6,590,095 common shares (“Shares”), representing 10% of the public float at the time of the announcement of the NCIB and the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased under the NCIB. Purchases under the NCIB will commence on March 13, 2018 and end no later than March 12, 2019. Purchases will be made from time to time at the then current market price of the Shares and all Shares purchased will be cancelled.
John Floren, President and CEO of Methanex commented, “Our announcement of a new share repurchase program builds on a long track record of returning excess cash to shareholders. As we continue to achieve excellent production and sales results, we have the capacity to generate strong cash flows at a range of methanol prices. With a solid liquidity position and strong balance sheet, we have the financial strength and flexibility to meet all of our financial and capital commitments, pursue our near-term growth opportunities in Chile and deliver on our commitment to return excess cash to shareholders.”
Under the NCIB, up to 4,189,185 Shares, representing 5% of the 83,783,704 Shares issued and outstanding at the time of the announcement of the NCIB, will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) and alternative trading systems in the United States pursuant to Rule 10b-18 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The remaining Shares under the NCIB will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”).
Subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, daily repurchases under the program through the NASDAQ and alternative trading systems in the United States will not exceed 25 percent of the Company’s average daily trading volume for the four week period preceding the date of purchase. Subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, daily repurchases under the program through the TSX will not exceed 86,316, representing 25 percent of the Company’s average daily trading volume on the TSX for the six month period ended on February 28, 2018. The Company has entered into an automatic securities purchase plan with its broker in connection with purchases to be made under this program. Under the NCIB initiated by the Company on March 13, 2017 and expiring on March 12, 2018, the Company has repurchased for cancellation 6,152,358 Shares at a weighted average price of US$46.50.
Methanex is a Vancouver-based, publicly traded company and is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol to major international markets. Methanex shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada under the trading symbol “MX” and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market in the United States under the trading symbol “MEOH”. Methanex can be visited online at www.methanex.com
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION WARNING
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to us and our industry. These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward looking statements. Statements that include the words “expect”, and “continue” or other comparable terminology and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, any statements regarding the following are forward-looking statements:
- Methanex’s expected future financial strength and cash generation capability, and
- Methanex’s ability to continue to return excess cash to shareholders.
We believe that we have a reasonable basis for making such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this document are based on our experience, our perception of trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors. Certain material factors or assumptions were applied in drawing the conclusions or making the forecasts or projections that are included in these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, future expectations and assumptions concerning the following:
- the supply of, demand for, and price of methanol, methanol derivatives, natural gas, coal, oil and oil derivatives,
- operating rates of our facilities,
- operating costs including natural gas feedstock and logistics costs, capital costs, tax rates, cash flows, foreign exchange rates and interest rates, and
- global and regional economic activity (including industrial production levels).
However, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties primarily include those attendant with producing and marketing methanol and successfully carrying out major capital expenditure projects in various jurisdictions, including without limitation:
- conditions in the methanol and other industries including fluctuations in the supply, demand for and price of methanol and its derivatives, including demand for methanol for energy uses,
- the price of natural gas, coal, oil and oil derivatives,
- our ability to obtain natural gas feedstock on commercially acceptable terms to underpin current operations and future growth opportunities,
- the ability to successfully carry out corporate initiatives and strategies,
- actions of competitors, suppliers and financial institutions,
- world-wide economic conditions, and
- other risks described in our 2016 Annual Management’s Discussion and Analysis and our Fourth Quarter 2017 Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
Having in mind these and other factors, investors and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. They are not a substitute for the exercise of one’s own due diligence and judgment. The outcomes anticipated in forward-looking statements may not occur and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws.
For further information, contact:
Dean Richardson
Vice President, Treasury and Investor Relations
Tel: 604 661-2600