Sale deals agreed by Trafigura, Sonangol and Puma
Published by Pippa Luck,
Editorial Assistant
Hydrocarbon Engineering,
Puma Energy Holdings Pte. Ltd, Trafigura PTE Ltd and Sonangol EP have announced the signing of a series of agreed transactions. First, Trafigura has agreed to purchase from Sonangol its entire shareholding in Puma Energy for the sum of US$600 million. Second, Puma Energy has agreed the sale of its Angolan business and assets to Sonangol for the sum of US$600 million. This includes the acquisition of the Pumangol retail network of service stations, airport terminals and marine terminals, including the state of the art Terminal de Combustíveis da Pumangol em Luanda (TCPL) terminal in Luanda Bay.
Completion of these transactions are subject to regulatory approvals. These transactions enable Puma Energy to reduce the size of the rights issue to raise US$500 million from rights already subscribed for by Trafigura and a small number of minority shareholders. The rights issue is being implemented by way of a convertible instrument under which payment is made by subscribers on 21 April 2021 to Puma Energy and the shares will be allocated to subscribers following receipt of regulatory approvals.
The rights issue was approved at an extraordinary general meeting of the company held on 18 February and was launched on 8 March 2021. Puma Energy will use the proceeds of the rights issue and sale of its Angolan business to repay its outstanding 2018 Term Loan Facility and to provide a sound financial basis to continue to accelerate its growth plans. Trafigura’s shareholding in Puma Energy is expected to increase to in excess of 90% as a natural consequence of the recapitalisation.
René Médori, Chairman of Puma Energy, said: “The recapitalisation and strengthening of Puma Energy’s balance sheet has been a key strategic aim, which will stabilise the company’s finances and underpin investment in our ambitious growth plans. Puma Energy’s values of customer focus, leading by example, collaboration and agility remain as relevant to success as ever. Today’s announcement means we can build on the foundations developed over the past few years and accelerate capital investment to capture the growth opportunities we have identified.
“Puma Energy has operated in Angola for many years. I would like to thank our employees and partners there for all of the hard work and commitment they have shown building a successful business serving communities across the country.”
Gaspar Martins, Chairman and CEO of Sonangol, said: “The sale of Sonangol’s entire shareholding (31.78%) in Puma Energy and the acquisition of Puma Energy’s assets in Angola represents the achievement of a strategic objective for the company. Today’s news is important because the sale of Sonangol’s holding in Puma Energy has been achieved through a structure that avoids Sonangol’s participation in the recapitalisation efforts in Puma, and represents a solid step towards delivering the company’s privatisation programme, while acquiring a business with valuable assets to its core business.”
Jeremy Weir, Trafigura’s Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: “Trafigura is pleased to support the recapitalisation of Puma Energy and the sale of Puma’s Angolan assets to our longstanding partner Sonangol. This is a further demonstration of our commitment to and confidence in Puma Energy and its future prospects.”
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/tanks-terminals/20042021/sale-deals-agreed-by-trafigura-sonangol-and-puma/
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