Feronia Inc. Announces $4.5 Million Short-Term Loan Facility
26 März 2020 - 1:00PM
Feronia Inc. (“
Feronia” or the
“
Company”) (TSXV: FRN) is pleased to announce that
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Feronia Maia Srl, has entered into a
loan facility for $4.5 million. All amounts in this press release
are expressed in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
The unsecured subordinated short term facility
bears interest at a rate of 4% per annum and has been provided by
CDC Group plc, the UK Government’s development finance institution.
The facility matures on June 30, 2020, subject to acceleration in
certain circumstances.
Funds advanced under the facility will be used
for working capital, including environmental, social and governance
improvements and other general corporate purposes, whilst the
Company seeks to strengthen its financial position. This new
facility is in addition to the $16 million facilities previously
announced by the Company on October 28, 2019 and November 29, 2019,
which have been amended to extend their maturity date to June 30,
2020, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances.
The execution of the facility constitutes a
related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101
Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions
(“MI 61-101”). The Company has relied on valuation
and minority approval exemptions set forth in MI 61-101.
For further information please
contact:
Frank BraekenChairman, Feronia
Inc.+971 5660 30358
frank.braeken@feronia.comwww.feronia.com |
Paul DulieuDirector of
Communications and Corporate Development, Feronia Inc.44 (0)7554
521421 paul.dulieu@feronia.comwww.feronia.com |
About Feronia Inc.
- Feronia is an agribusiness operating in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC).
- At the heart of Feronia lies a long established palm oil
business, Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), which has three
remotely located plantations; Lokutu, Yaligimba and Boteka.
- When Feronia acquired its palm oil business from Unilever in
2009, it had suffered from years of underinvestment and
considerable disruption caused by conflict in the DRC. Our initial
focus has been on rebuilding the business and resuming production
to secure its future and the livelihoods of the thousands of people
we directly employ.
- Feronia’s plantations produce crude palm oil (CPO) and palm
kernel oil (PKO). CPO is part of the staple and traditional diet of
the Congolese and, with our products sold locally in the DRC, we
are well placed to help decrease reliance on imports and increase
food security and quality.
- Feronia prides itself on being the guardian of our 108 year-old
palm oil business and its employees, communities, and environment.
We have a long term commitment to improve the living and working
environment of our employees and their communities and are
committed to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and
community inclusion. Feronia has in place an Environmental and
Social Action Plan which is focused on implementing environmental
and social best practice and improving social infrastructure.
- Feronia is implementing IFC/World Bank standards for
environmental and social sustainability. Our oil palm replanting
programme is brownfield in nature – replacing old palms with new –
and it has no reliance on deforestation.
- Feronia’s management team has extensive experience in managing
both plantations and farming operations in emerging markets.
- For more information please see www.feronia.com
Cautionary Notes
Except for statements of historical fact
contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes
“forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian
securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified
by words such as “anticipates”, “plans”, “proposes”, “estimates”,
“intends”, “expects”, “believes”, “may” and “will”. There can be no
assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual
results and future events could differ materially from such
statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially include, among others: the ability to make its principal
and interest payments under its debt facilities, risks related to
foreign operations (including various political, economic and other
risks and uncertainties), the interpretation and implementation of
the “Loi Portant Principes Fondamentaux Relatifs A L’Agriculture”,
termination or non-renewal of concession rights or expropriation of
property rights, political instability and bureaucracy, limited
operating history, lack of profitability, lack of infrastructure in
the DRC, high inflation rates, limited availability of debt
financing in the DRC, fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
competition from other businesses, reliance on various factors
(including local labour, importation of machinery and other key
items and business relationships), the Company’s reliance on key
major customers, lower productivity at the Company’s plantations
and arable farming operations, risks related to the agricultural
industry (including adverse weather conditions, shifting weather
patterns, and crop failure due to infestations), a shift in
commodity trends and demands, vulnerability to fluctuations in the
world market, the lack of availability of qualified management
personnel and stock market volatility. Details of the risk factors
relating to Feronia and its business are discussed under the
heading “Risks and Uncertainties” in Feronia’s management’s
discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2018, a
copy of which is available on the Company’s SEDAR profile at
www.sedar.com. Most of these factors are outside the control of the
Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by
applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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