Roll Over of $50.5m Loan from KLK to LPD

7 November 2019

EQUATORIAL PALM OIL plc

("EPO" or the "Company") 

Roll Over of $50.5m Loan from KLK to Joint Venture Company

Equatorial Palm Oil plc (AIM: PAL), the AIM listed palm oil development and production company with operations in Liberia, West Africa, announces today that KLK Agro Plantations Pte Ltd ("KLK Agro"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad ("KLK") agreed to extend the maturity of US$50.5 million of outstanding loans to EPO's 50 per cent. owned joint venture company, Liberian Palm Developments Limited ("LPD") (the "Extended Loans").

The Extended Loans comprise loans of US$20.5m, announced on 27 January 2015, and US$30.0m, announced on 5 September 2016, both of which have been fully drawn down and were due to mature on 25 January 2020. The Extended Loans, together with all accrued interest, are now repayable by no later than 30 September 2032 ("Loan Extension").

The key terms of the Extended Loans remain as follows:

·      Term - expiring no later than 30 September 2032

·      Interest - 3-months USD LIBOR + 5 per cent per annum

·      Repayment - Loan principal (together with all accrued Interest due) on expiry of the Term or earlier at the election of LPD

The Loan Extension has been agreed for nil consideration. The terms of the additional loans entered into by KLK Agro and LPD dated 12 October 2017 (US$30,000,000) and 20 May 2019 (US$20,000,000) are unaffected by this Loan Extension and remain payable on 10 October 2022 and 19 May 2024, respectively.

Related Party Transaction

KLK (through its wholly owned subsidiary KL-Kepong International Limited) currently holds 50 per cent of the issued share capital of LPD and ordinary shares in EPO representing approximately 62.86 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company. Accordingly, LPD is a related party to the Company as defined in the AIM rules for Companies and the Loan Extension is classified as related party transaction under the AIM Rules for Companies. Michael Frayne and Geoffrey Brown, being the non-related directors of EPO for the purposes of this transaction, consider, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, Strand Hanson Limited, that the terms of the Loan Extension are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.

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For further information, please visit www.epoil.co.uk or contact:

Notes to editors:

Equatorial Palm Oil plc is an AIM listed crude palm oil developer and producer with palm oil estates in Liberia, West Africa.  The Company was founded in 2005 and is focused on becoming a global, sustainable producer of high quality palm oil to regional and international markets.

The Company is geographically well positioned to serve the international and regional markets and is committed to making a positive impact on the communities in which it operates through investment in local schools, health clinics, housing and infrastructure. 

The Company's largest shareholder and 50:50 joint venture partner in LPD is KLK. KLK is one of the largest palm oil producers in the world and the Company will greatly benefit from their many years of expertise in oil palm development.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014.