ALGOMA CENTRAL CORPORATION NEWSLETTER ● SUMMER 2015 President’s Message It has been a busy start to my tenure installation of exhaust gas with Algoma and the following are a scrubbers, making the Equinox few highlights of the start of the 2015 class vessels the most shipping season: environmentally advanced and efficient vessels operating on the Opening of the St. Lawrence Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway for 57th Navigation Season Waterway. The CWB Marquis, owned by the Purchase of Algoma Integrity CWB (former Canadian Wheat Board) and managed by Algoma Central On April 23rd, Algoma also Corporation, was the first vessel to announced that we had acquired a pass through the St. Lambert Locks 2009 handy-sized ocean class self- on April 2nd to officially open the 2015 unloader from Gypsum sailing season on the Seaway. Transportation Limited. The vessel was renamed the Algoma Integrity I am pleased to be writing in this Captain Seann O’Donoughue and (see picture below). edition of the Bearfacts and look Chief Engineer David Michalowicz forward to writing many more! I represented the crew of the CWB The Algoma Integrity has entered began in my role as President & Marquis during the opening ceremony into Canadian service but will Chief Executive Officer on April 1, eventually be placed into the and were also the same Captain and international pool of self-unloading 2015 following Greg Wight’s Chief Engineer to bring the vessel vessels of which Algoma is a retirement from the Corporation (see home to Canada from China. member. page 19 for more information on Greg’s retirement). As many of you Announcement of Equinox 650’s The crew of the Algoma Integrity may have already read, I am a native travelled to Las Palmas, Canary On April 23rd, we announced that we of Denmark and was most recently Islands to bring the vessel safely have entered into a shipbuilding back to Canada where the vessel is based in Dubai as Managing Director contract with a subsidiary of Uljanik and Partner in IPSA Capital Limited. d.d. of Croatia for the construction of now operating in a regular trading I began my career in the maritime two new Equinox Class 650 foot self- pattern. industry, spending 18 years at A.P. unloaders to be built at 3 Maj Moller/Maersk where I held the Shipyard (see page 13 for more information). These two vessels will position of General Manager in serve a range of customers with a several of Maersk's global operating particular focus on the salt and units. Following my years with aggregates industry shippers. The Maersk, I served as CEO of Swiss first ship is expected to enter service Federal Railways Cargo and in later in early 2017 and the second to follow roles focused on container shipping later that same year. in the Asian, North Atlantic and These new 650’s will include all of the Middle Eastern markets and from advances that have been designed 2005 to 2009 I was CEO of United into the Company’s proprietary Arab Shipping Co. Equinox Class design – including the President’s Message (Continued) Start of Navigation Season The winter of 2014-2015 turned out to be almost as bad as the winter of 2013- 2014 in which we experienced ice thicknesses not seen for decades. While the depth of the ice wasn’t as bad this year, the ice coverage was as extensive, resulting in the Seaway opening being delayed into early April. The late opening of the Seaway combined with the extensive ice coverage meant that the season started off slowly again this year. Several of our vessels continued to operate into January and February of 2015 and I would like to thank the Captains and Chief Engineers and all crew members on these vessels for working safely under such challenging winter conditions. Captain H. Jackman in Lake Huron in January 2015. Corporation’s Results The annual meeting of shareholders was held on May 1st and the 2014 results were released. Consolidated revenues increased in 2014 by 2.6% to $503.7 million from $491.5 million in 2013. Net earnings for 2014 increased to $52.7 million or $1.36 per share from $41.9 million or $1.08 per share in 2013. A continued strong cash flow has resulted in further strengthening of our balance sheet. With our cash balance increased to $256.9 million, long-term debt of $223.8 million and shareholders’ equity of $607.1 million, we are very well positioned to take advantage of future opportunities including additional fleet renewal projects. Canada’s Best Managed On March 10th, Algoma announced that we had re-qualified once again as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. I would like to thank all of Algoma’s 2,000 employees for their hard work and dedication to the Company, as this recognition would not be possible without you. 2015 & Beyond I look forward to exciting times ahead for the Corporation and I also look forward to getting to know the Algoma Team better in the upcoming months. In the meantime, I wish you all safe sailing! Ken 2 Algoma Central Corporation New Hires Brad Tiffin rejoined Rubin Varghese joined Kirk Marr joined William James joined Algoma on a full-time Algoma Ship Repair on Algoma Consolidation Algoma Consolidation basis as Director, a full-time basis as Centre on a full-time Centre on a full-time Operations on January Buyer on February 17, basis as Supervisor, basis as Coordinator, 1, 2015. 2015. Logistics on February Logistics on February 23, 2015. 23, 2015. David Allan joined James Leaney joined Anatoly Artemyev Rowan Kersley joined Algoma on a full-time Algoma on a full-time joined Algoma on a full- Algoma Central basis as Chief Engineer basis as Captain on time basis as Chief Properties on a full-time on March 1, 2015. March 1, 2015. Engineer on April 16, basis as Administrative 2015. Assistant on June 1, 2015. Organizational Changes On February 23, 2015 Lisa On March 1, 2015 Donna On March 1, 2015 Kelly Rotella transferred to the Norgate transferred to the Turonski transferred to the position of Administrator, position of Buyer. position of Coordinator, Logistics Receiving. Logistics. 3 Algoma Central Corporation Promotions On December 3, 2014 John On December 7, 2014 James On January 16, 2015, Todd Croucher was promoted to Ryan was promoted to Training Bazinet was promoted to Captain. Captain. Manager, Purchasing. Congratulations to our employees on their promotions within Algoma! On March 1, 2015 John On March 1, 2015 Kara Fink Lavery was promoted to was promoted to Coordinator, Training Captain. Human Resources (Health & Wellness). On March 23 2015, Cathy On April 9, 2015 Martin On May 15, 2015 Perry (Kirk) Phillips was promoted to full- Neuenhagen was promoted to Lake was promoted to Training time Clerk, Payroll. Manager, Ports and Harbours. Captain. 4 Algoma Central Corporation Retirements Vladimir Ruban retired After 19 years of service Ira 2nd Engineer Samuel Currie effective December 1, 2014 Keeping retired on December retired on February 1, 2015 after 22 years of service. 27, 2014. Ira was a after 32 years of service. Vladimir sailed onboard the Wheelsman on the ACL fleet Samuel sailed onboard the ACL fleet as an Oiler. sailing primarily on the John D. ACM fleet primarily on the Leitch. Algorail. After 26 years of service Pierre Corriveau retired on Chief Cook with the ACL fleet After 24 years of service December 10, 2014. Pierre Bernice Piercey retired on Raymond Johnston retired on was an Ordinary Seaman and December 27, 2014 after 20 February 6, 2015. Raymond most recently sailed onboard years of service. Bernice most sailed his entire career on the the Algoma Enterprise. recently sailed onboard the Algosoo as a Tunnelman. Algoma Olympic. Ordinary Seaman Phillip Electrician Wieslaw (Peter) Bailey retired on December Kevin Scott retired on Fudzinski retired on February 12, 2014 after 35 years of December 30, 2014 after 34 12, 2015 after 18 years of service. Phillip sailed most years of service. Kevin sailed service. Wieslaw sailed recently onboard the Algoma onboard the ACL fleet as throughout the ACL fleet most Mariner. Wheelsman most recently recently on the Algoma onboard the Stephen B. Olympic. After 15 years of sailing Roman. onboard the ACL fleet, 2nd On February 28, 2015 Chief Cook Lee Ann Gendron Engineer Gordon Smith retired on December 14, 2014. retired after 33 years of Lee Ann most recently sailed service. Gordon sailed his onboard the Algoma entire Algoma career on the Montrealais. Algoma Transport. Jiri Koplik retired effective Chief Engineer Colin Voyer December 15, 2014 after 19 retired on March 1, 2015 after years of sailing. Jiri most Ordinary Seaman Christopher 34 years of service. Colin recently sailed on the Algoma Redmond retired on December sailed throughout the ACL fleet Navigator as a Wheelsman. 31, 2014 after 34 years of most recently on the Algoma service. Christopher sailed Enterprise. Wheelsman for the ACL fleet within the ACL fleet primarily on Keith Wheaton retired on the Algoma Mariner. After 20 years of service December 15, 2014 after 24 Captain David Jones retired years of service. Keith most After 26 years of service on April 1, 2015. David sailed recently sailed onboard the Ronald Wilson retired on throughout the dry-bulk fleet John D. Leitch. January 1, 2015. Ronald was a most recently on the Algowood. Mechanical Technician at On December 19, 2014 after Algoma Ship Repair. On April 1, 2015 Chief 33 years of service Captain Engineer Stewart Shellard Austin Peckford retired. On January 8, 2015 after 24 retired after 33 years of Austin sailed throughout the years of service Morris service.