TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 18, 2015) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Sherritt International Corporation ("Sherritt") (TSX: S) regrets to report the death of an employee at the mine site at the Ambatovy Joint Venture.

On Saturday, May 16, 2015, a dozer operator was working at the base of an ore stockpile, when a failure of the stockpile occurred. The dozer was completely covered with material, ultimately leading to the death of the operator.

"We are all deeply saddened by the tragic event over the weekend. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the individual's family, friends and colleagues during this time," said David Pathe, President and CEO, Sherritt. "A full investigation is in progress and Sherritt is committed to determine the root causes of the incident."

Following a period of over 20 million hours worked without a lost time injury at Ambatovy, this event is the second fatality at the project in 2015. Mitigation actions have been implemented to ensure continued safe operations and Sherritt is committed to reviewing and reinforcing safety procedures and will ensure safety remains a top priority across all operations.

About Sherritt

Sherritt is a world leader in the mining and refining of nickel from lateritic ores with projects and operations in Canada, Cuba, and Madagascar. The Corporation is the largest independent energy producer in Cuba, with extensive oil and power operations across the island. Sherritt licenses its proprietary technologies and provides metallurgical services to mining and refining operations worldwide. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "S".