MAPLE ENERGY PLC
("Maple" or the "Company")
ETHANOL PROJECT FINANCING UPDATE
Maple Energy plc (AIM: MPLE; LIMA: MPLE), an integrated energy company with assets in Peru, is pleased to provide an update on its Ethanol Project financing.
First Disbursement and US$12.5 Million Stand-By Letter of Credit
The Company has successfully satisfied, or obtained a waiver of, the remaining outstanding conditions to first disbursement under the senior secured debt financing for the Ethanol Project (the "Debt Financing") that was previously announced on 29 March 2010. Under the terms of the Debt Financing and pursuant to the disbursement request submitted by the Company to the senior lenders, the lenders have agreed to make an initial disbursement to the Company by 10 September 2010 in an amount equal to US$61 million.
The Company recently satisfied one of the final outstanding conditions to funding through entry into an indirect credit agreement with Banco Internacional del Perú ("Interbank") for the provision of a stand-by letter of credit (the "Stand-by LC") in the amount of US$12.5 million. The Stand-by LC will be available to guarantee the funding of any future cost over-runs or other necessary expenditures for the Ethanol Project in excess of budgeted amounts for the Ethanol Project. As the existing Ethanol Project budget, which will be funded with equity and the Debt Financing, includes an amount for contingencies, the Company does not expect there will be any draw downs under the Stand-by LC. The Company will be required to keep US$4 million in cash available as collateral for the Stand-by LC, and this amount may be increased at the discretion of Interbank.
US$8.5 Million Value-added Taxes Loan
On 29 March 2010, Maple announced that it was expecting to obtain a US$8.5 million loan from one of its existing senior lenders to finance certain value-added taxes related to the Ethanol Project. The Company recently secured these additional funds pursuant to amendments to the agreements governing the Debt Financing under which the total amount of borrowings available to the Company was increased by US$8.5 million. These additional funds will be supplied by Nederlandse Financierings - Maatschappi voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. ("FMO"), one of the existing lenders under the Debt Financing, who increased its overall commitment from US$25 million to US$33.5 million resulting in a total amount available from the Debt Financing of US$148.5 million. The Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries ("BIO") provided the funds for this loan through a bilateral agreement with FMO.
Rex Canon, CEO of Maple Energy, commented today:
"I am extremely pleased to announce that not only has Maple satisfied the conditions for first disbursement under our Debt Financing arrangements, but the total amount available to the Company under this facility has been increased as a result of the confidence our lenders have in the Ethanol Project. The Company has diligently worked to reach this point, and we look forward to accelerating our development activities following receipt of the first draw-down under this facility."
For further information, please contact:
Maple Energy plc (+ 51 1 611 4000)
Rex W. Canon, Chief Executive Officer, President and Executive Director
Jefferies International Limited (+44 20 7029 8000)
Oliver Griffiths
Mirabaud Securities Ltd (+44 20 7321 2508)
Peter Krens
Rory Scott
Citigate Dewe Rogerson (+44 20 7638 9571)
George Cazenove
Kate Lehane
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this document, particularly those regarding possible, projected, or assumed future performance and results, including growth outlook, forecasted economics, operations, production, contracting, costs, prices, earnings, returns, and potential growth, are or may include forward looking statements. Such statements relate to future events and expectations and as such involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, market conditions, weather risks, economic and political risks, and other factors discussed in Maple's Admission Document available on the Company's website (
www.maple-energy.com). Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or an assurance that Maple's current assumptions and projections are valid. Actual results, actions, and developments may differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward looking statements depending on a variety of factors. Furthermore, any forward looking statements presented are expressed in good faith and are believed to have a reasonable basis as of the date of this release. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this release, and Maple does not assume any obligation to update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
About Maple Energy
Maple is an integrated independent energy company, listed in London and Lima, with assets and operations in Peru engaging in numerous aspects of the energy industry, including:
· The development of an ethanol project
· Exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas
· Refining, marketing and distribution of hydrocarbon products
Maple was admitted to AIM on 13 July 2007 and trades under the symbol "MPLE". The company was also admitted to the Lima Stock Exchange on 21 December 2007 where it trades under the same symbol.
Operations
Maple's operations are conducted and revenues are generated through its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Maple's principal operations consist of the following:
· Ethanol Project. Project developer and owner of an estimated US$254 million ethanol project located in the Piura Region on the northwest coast of Peru;
· Oil Production. Operator and holder of 100% working interests in its crude-oil producing properties, Blocks 31-B, 31-D and 31-E;
· Refining, Marketing and Distribution Operations. Operator of the Pucallpa Refinery and Sales Plant, which has capacity to refine up to (i) 3,400 barrels per day of crude oil producing Residual 5 fuel oil, (ii) 3,000 barrels per day of crude oil producing Residual 6 fuel oil or (iii) 4,100 barrels per day of natural gasolines. This plant also includes sales and distribution operations in the central Peruvian jungle, central Peruvian highlands and Lima regions;
· Oil and Gas Exploration. Significant exploration opportunities through a:
- 100% working interest in Block 31-E, containing the San Roque and Cashiboya Deep prospects and the new shale gas opportunity; and
- 33.77% working interest in the Aguaytía Deep Prospect in Block 31-C.