Sound Energy, the transition energy company, has provided a project financing update in relation to the Companys Tendrara Production Concession, onshore Morocco
The Company announced on 23 June 2022 that it had entered into an arrangement and mandate letter with Attijariwafa bank (the Arranger), a Moroccan multinational bank, under which the Company mandated the Arranger in relation to the arrangement of project debt financing for the Phase 2 development of Sound Energy's Tendrara Production Concession (the Agreement).
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Arranger was mandated, and provided with exclusivity by the Company for a period of eight months, to arrange a long-term project senior debt facility with a term of no more than 12 years of up to 2.250 bn Moroccan dirhams (approximately US$215mn using current exchange rates) for the partial financing of the currently estimated approximately US$330mn total Phase 2 development cost (including development wells post-first gas) of the Tendrara Production Concession.
In December 2022, the Company announced that the parties had agreed to amend the Mandate to seek to negotiate binding terms for the Financing by 15 March whilst also agreeing to an extended period of exclusivity provided to the Arranger under the Mandate to 1 June in order to arrange the Financing.
Significant progress is being made with the Arranger, who has recently completed legal and technical due diligence in respect of the proposed Financing. Whilst additional pre-Financing aspects such as Phase 2 Engineering contracts remain subject to award, finalisation and review, the parties have now moved on to more detailed financial structuring of the proposed Financing, particularly in respect of taxation, and consequently the parties have entered into a further amendment to the Mandate in order to extend the date by which the parties will seek to negotiate binding terms for the proposed Financing to 28 April.
Commenting, Graham Lyon, executive chairman, said, "The Phase 2 senior debt process is continuing to move forward favourably. It is a significant and complex undertaking for all parties involved, and I am pleased that the level of engagement that we have with Attijariwafa bank and our respective legal, tax and technical advisors is very collaborative and positive. I am sure all stakeholders support the construction of a robust, well structured financing arrangement. We look forward to providing further updates as the process moves forward."
