News Release
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION
RBL redetermination and financing update
28 October 2016 - Tullow Oil plc (Tullow) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the six-monthly redetermination of its Reserve Based Lend (RBL) facility. The debt capacity generated by the asset base remains in excess of commitments and, following the scheduled amortisation at the beginning of October, available credit under the RBL is now $3.3 billion.
Tullow is also pleased to announce that it has secured $345 million of new commitments from its existing lenders by exercising an accordion facility embedded in the existing RBL which will take effect from 1 April 2017. The new commitments will largely offset the impact of the scheduled amortisation in April 2017 and will ensure Tullow has appropriate headroom throughout 2017 as it refinances its bank facilities.
Overall, Tullow's capital commitments have reduced substantially following the completion of the TEN Project. During the fourth quarter, the Group will be generating free cash flow from its producing assets and can start paying down its debt. At the beginning of October, and excluding the additional commitments above which take effect next year, the Group has free cash and unutilised debt capacity of $0.9 billion with no near term maturities, and overall net debt of approximately $4.7 billion.
Ian Springett, Chief Financial Officer, commented today:
"This successful redetermination and the new RBL accordion commitments underline the support for Tullow from our relationship banks and the quality of our assets and their ability to generate significant liquidity. Over the past three months, Tullow has started production from TEN and confirmed insurance cover for the Jubilee FPSO turret repair and business interruption. With capital expenditure now substantially reduced, we are generating free cash flow and starting to deleverage our balance sheet. This provides us with a solid platform to refinance our RBL and Corporate Facility during 2017, enhance our capital structure and enable future growth."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tullow Oil plc (London) (+44 20 3249 9000) Chris Perry George Cazenove Nicola Rogers |
Murray Consultants (Dublin) (+353 1 498 0300) Pat Walsh Joe Heron |
Notes to Editors
Tullow Oil plc
Tullow is a leading independent oil & gas, exploration and production group, quoted on the London, Irish and Ghanaian stock exchanges (symbol: TLW). The Group has interests in over 120 exploration and production licences across 21 countries which are managed as three business delivery teams: West Africa, East Africa and New Ventures.
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Website: www.tullowoil.com
