Alvopetro Energy Ltd. announced that it entered into a $15 million Credit Agreement with Cordiant Capital Inc. and its affiliates.
The Facility is secured by all of Alvopetro's assets, matures three years from the first funding date (the "First Funding Date") and bears cash interest at a rate of 9.5% per annum, payable monthly. Upon repayment of any Facility amounts, Alvopetro will also make a payment of interest in kind at a rate of 3.0% per annum. The Facility contains certain customary financial and non-financial covenants. The First Funding Date, expected to occur in the first week of October, is subject to final registrations of security and normal funding conditions. Alvopetro will have access to up to US$13 million of the Facility and the final US$2 million will become available upon first production from our Caburé natural gas development. Amounts drawn under the Facility are repayable at maturity, however after the first anniversary, the Facility may be repaid in part or full at Alvopetro's option.
In connection with the financing, in addition to upfront transaction fees, Alvopetro is issuing 8,432,868 share purchase warrants to Cordiant (the "Bonus Warrants") and our financial advisers (the "Commission Warrants" and together with the Bonus Warrants, the "Warrants") under TSXV Policy 5.1 – Loans, Loan Bonuses, Finder's Fees and Commissions, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of Alvopetro, at an exercise price of US$0.60 per common share and the Warrants expire on September 20 , 2022. The securities issued, including any shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants, are subject to a 4-month hold period from the date of initial issuance.
The net proceeds of the Facility will be used to fund: our recently drilled well on Block 57; the construction of the 11-kilometre Caburé Transfer Pipeline; Alvopetro's share of costs associated with the construction of the Gas Treatment Facility; Caburé unit development costs; Gomo development costs, including stimulation of our 183(1) well, our 8-kilometre Gomo pipeline extension and future drilling and completion activities and for general corporate purposes.
Cordiant is a private capital investor focused on investing in energy, telecoms, transport and agriculture (with a particular focus on Emerging Europe, Latin America and selected parts of Africa and Asia). Cordiant has its principal offices in Montreal , São Paulo and London.
Corey Ruttan , President and CEO stated "We are pleased to complete this transaction, one of our key stated milestones for 2019. This Facility provides the required financial resources through to first commercial natural gas sales and gives us flexibility to accelerate our medium-term growth objectives. Cordiant is an experienced emerging market lender and we look forward to building a strong relationship that can help support our longer-term strategy."