Lime Petroleum’s US$60 million senior secured bond issue completed

Lime Petroleum's US$60 million senior secured bond issue completed

‍

SINGAPORE, 9 July 2021 - Rex International Holding Limited ('Rex International Holding', 'Rex' or the 'Company', and together with its subsidiaries, the 'Group') is pleased to announce that the issuance of Lime Petroleum AS's ('Lime Petroleum') 2.5-year senior secured bond of NOK 500 million (approximately US $60 million) (the 'Bonds') has been completed, the settlement date being 9 July 2021.

‍
The use of proceeds of the Bonds is to partly finance Lime Petroleum's acquisition of the Wintershall DEA Norge AS-operated Brage field from Repsol Norge AS, refinance an existing exploration financing facility and for general corporate purposes.

‍
Mr Per Lind, Chief Financial Officer of Rex, said, 'The Bonds attracted a lot of interest in the market and were oversubscribed by more than 100 per cent. We had to close the books within three days after promotion to prospective investors was kicked off by financial adviser ABG Sundal Collier ASA.I would like to congratulate our colleagues in Lime Petroleum on taking another step closer to transforming the company from pure oil exploration to full-fledged oil exploration and production.'
The issuance of the Bonds is a condition precedent for Lime Petroleum's acquisition of the Brage Field in Norway. Placement of the bond was possible due to the Brage Field's production profile, cash flow generation and quality in the security package of the bond provided.

‍
The bond is secured with, inter alia, a pledge over Rex International Investments Pte. Ltd.'s shareholding interests in Lime Petroleum, security with first priority over interests in future hydrocarbon assets which Lime Petroleum and/or its subsidiaries may acquire in future, tax balances held by Lime Petroleum today and deferred tax assets related to the Brage Field upon completion of the Acquisition. Lime Petroleum's deferred tax assets and tax refund receivables will total NOK 644 million (approximately US$77 million) as at 1 January2021 ('Tax Assets'), upon completion of the Acquisition. In the event of a default on the bond, any remaining Tax Assets are backed by the Norwegian Government and can be used by bond holders to partially recoup any shortfall in the bond issue.

‍
The maturity date of the Bonds is 9 January 2024. The coupon rate will be 3 months NIBOR* plus 8.25 per cent. The Bonds are targeted to be listed on the Oslo Børs within 6 months.
It is to be noted that there will be a deduction of 22per cent in corporate tax deduction allowance in the effective interest rate for the Bond. There will also be further deduction allowance under the special petroleum tax based on a certain formula to be reviewed at the year-end.

‍
Lime Petroleum had on 15 June 2021, entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement to acquire 33.8434 per cent interests in the oil, gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) producing Brage Field, and the five licences on the Norwegian Continental Shelf over which the Brage field straddles, for a post-tax consideration of US$42.6 million. The transaction is pending approval from the Norwegian authorities and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2021.

‍
For further details of the transaction, please refer to Rex's announcement and press releases dated 16 June 2021, 21 June 2021 and 24 June 2021.

‍
*NIBOR - Norwegian Interbank Offered Rate
--- END ---

Disclaimer

‍
This press release may contain projections and forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These views are based on estimates and current assumptions which are subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies as well as various risks and these may change over time and in many cases are outside the control of the Company and its directors. Actual future performance, outcome and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of these factors include (without limitation) general industry and economic conditions, interest rate trends, cost of capital and capital availability, availability of real estate properties, competition from other companies and venues for the sale/distribution of goods and services, shifts in customer demands, customers and partners, changes in operating expenses, including employee wages, benefits and training, governmental and public policy changes and the continued availability of financing in the amounts and the terms necessary to support future business. No assurance can be given that future events will occur, that projections will be achieved, or that the Company's assumptions are correct. The Company does not assume any responsibility to amend, modify or revise any forward-looking statements, on the basis of any subsequent developments, information or events, or otherwise. These statements can be recognised by the use of words such as 'expects,' 'plans,' 'will,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ from those forecast and projected or in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions. Shareholders and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which are based on the current view of management of future events.

‍
About Lime Petroleum ASEstablished in 2012 in Oslo, Lime Petroleum is a 90 per cent subsidiary of Rex International Holding. The company was pre-qualified in February 2013 and has since built a portfolio of licences focusing on mature areas close to existing oil and gas infrastructure. The organisation has vast expertise in oil & gas exploration and production, both from Norway and internationally. The company uses high-quality seismic data and Rex Virtual Drilling technology together with conventional seismic attributes and analysis of the petroleum systems in its exploration efforts. Lime Petroleum benefits from the Norwegian tax system with 78 per cent cash-back for exploration expenditures, which has been a huge success since introduced in 2005, enabling a diversity of companies drilling sufficient number of wells to result in a string of significant discoveries in all provinces of the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

‍
About Rex International HoldingRex International Holding was listed on Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited's Catalist Board on 31 July 2013. The Company de-risks its portfolio of exploration and development assets using its proprietary liquid hydrocarbon indicator Rex Virtual Drilling technology, which can pinpoint the location of oil reservoirs in the sub-surface using seismic data. Since the Company's listing in July 2013, the Group has achieved four offshore discoveries, one in Oman and three in Norway. The Group also offers Rex Virtual Drilling screening services to other oil exploration companies as an additional tool to increase the success rate of finding oil.

Issued by Rex International Holding LimitedTel: +65 6557 2477
Mok Lai Siong, [email protected]
This press release has been prepared by the Company and reviewed by the Company's sponsor, Novus Corporate Finance Pte. Ltd. (the 'Sponsor'), in compliance with Rule 226(2)(b) of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the 'SGX-ST') Listing Manual
Section B: Rules of Catalist.
This press release has not been examined or approved by the SGX-ST and the SGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the contents of this press release, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made, or reports contained in this press release.
The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Pong Chen Yih, Chief Operating Officer, 7 Temasek Boulevard, #18-03B Suntec Tower 1, Singapore 038987, telephone (65) 6950 2188.

‍

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.