For
immediate release
21 November
2024
ATOME PLC
("ATOME"
or the "Company")
IDB proposal for US$200
million funding for ATOME
ATOME (AIM: ATOM), the leading
developer of international green fertiliser projects, announces
that IDB Invest, the private investment arm of the Inter-American
Development Bank ("IDB"), has published an updated consultation on
its proposed US$200 million participation subject to contract in
the debt funding for ATOME's Villeta Project ("Villeta" or "the
Project") in Paraguay, including confirmation of the satisfactory
completion of environmental and social impact studies.
IDB
proposed debt funding
ATOME is pleased to announce that
the IDB has published on its website, in the normal course of
procedures as part of their investment summary and environment and
social impact reporting, that it is proposing an increased US$200
million of debt funding to the Company for ATOME's planned 260,000
tonne-per-annum green fertiliser Villeta Project in
Paraguay.
ATOME welcomes this upgrading which
reflects the commercial attractiveness and importance of the
project both to the IDB and Paraguay. As previously announced, the
Company has received similar debt proposals from multilaterals and
institutions, such that the debt portion of the project funding is
not only substantially oversubscribed on the basis of these
proposals but taken as a whole reflects interest levels noticeably
better than both the Company's and market's
expectations.
In relation to the construction,
operating and energy costs of the Villeta Project, also previously
made available through a link within the IDB website, ATOME
confirms that these are broadly in line with current market
expectations as reflected in previous announcements by ATOME and
published research by SP Angel, the Company's house
broker.
Analyst Research
The full list of analyst research on
ATOME can be found on the Company's website at https://www.atomeplc.com/investors/analyst-research/
Project update
Casale S.A., ATOME's nominated EPC
contractor, is currently in-country having positive and
constructive meetings with local Paraguayan contract and service
providers as a further step in moving forward the EPC
process.
The satisfactory completion by the
IDB of its environmental and social appraisal due diligence for the
Villeta Project marks the achievement of a key gating item for any
development bank funding.
Further information from the IDB
website on the Villeta project, including details of IDB's
environmental impact and social impact studies, is available at the
weblink below:
https://www.idbinvest.org/en/projects/green-hydrogen-ammonia-and-fertilizer-plant-paraguay
IDB
IDB, one of the largest sources of
finance for Latin America, is owned by 48 member countries
including the UK and finances its diverse operations through
issuing bonds in international markets where since 1962 its credit
rating is AAA. IDB Invest is the private investment arm of the
IDB.
For
more information, please visit https://www.atomeplc.com or contact:
ATOME PLC Nikita Levine,
Investor Relations
|
+44 (0) 113 337 2210
info@atomeplc.com
|
Beaumont Cornish (Nominated Adviser)
Roland Cornish, Michael Cornish
|
+44 (0) 20 7628 3396
|
SP
Angel (Broker) Richard Hail,
Caroline Rowe
|
+44 (0) 20 3490 0470
|
FTI
Consulting (Communications Adviser)
Elizabeth Adams, Ben
Brewerton
|
+44 (0) 20 3727 1000
atome@fticonsulting.com
|
MAR
The information communicated within
this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as
stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014
which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union
(Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this
inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on
behalf of the Company was Peter Levine, Chairman.
About ATOME
ATOME PLC is an AIM listed company
targeting green fertiliser production with 445-megawatt of projects
in Paraguay and a further pipeline of potential projects in Central
America.
The first project is at Villeta in
Paraguay. It benefits from a 145MW renewable power purchase
agreement and 30 hectares of land in a tax free zone. Front End
Engineering Design studies have been completed and Heads of Terms
signed with Yara, the leading international fertiliser company for
offtake of all of Villeta's production. The Company is now
negotiating the project finance with a view to closing that and
declaring FID before end 2024. There is a further 300MW of
renewable power reserved for ATOME in Paraguay.
In Costa Rica, The National Ammonia
Corporation S.A. was formed in 2022 with local partner Cavendish
S.A. based in Costa Rica to develop green fertiliser projects for
the region. As well as straddling the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans,
Costa Rica is a democratic Central American country. In
agriculture, Costa Rica is the second largest supplier of
pineapples in the world and is in the top ten banana
growers.
All power for ATOME is from 100%
renewable sources and all chosen sites are located close to the
power and water sources and export facilities to serve significant
domestic and then international demand.
The Company has a green-focused
Board which is supported by major shareholders including Peter
Levine, Schroders, a leading fund manager, and Baker Hughes, a
global technology company operating in the energy and industry
sectors.
Other
information
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's
Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated
Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company
on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM
Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be
responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded
to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation
to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any
matter referred to in it.
-ends-