SBM Offshore is pleased to announce the successful pricing of a US$850 million non-recourse senior secured notes transaction in a 144A/Reg S offering by a subsidiary company. The issuer of the notes is Guara Norte S.à r.l. (Guara Norte), which owns the FPSO Cidade de Ilhabela.
SBM Offshore owns 75% of the equity in Guara Norte and the remaining 25% equity is held by Mitsubishi Corporation.
Transaction details
The notes are rated Ba1 (Moody’s) and BB+ (Fitch) and were priced at 99.995% of par value
The transaction is expected to close on February 11, 2021, at which date the notes will be issued and settlement will occur.
The notes are rated Ba1 (Moody’s) and BB+ (Fitch) and were priced at 99.995% of par value with a 5.198% fixed coupon which is paid semi-annually.
The notes are fully amortizing over the 13.5 years tenor. The notes will trade on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX). The deal was significantly oversubscribed.
Project diversification
This is SBM Offshore’s first issuance of a 144A/Reg S bond and as such this offering further diversifies its sourcing for project debt.
Proceeds will be used to repay existing bank debt (approximately US$535 million, with a remaining tenor of approximately 4 years), unwind the existing hedge arrangements, and pay for transaction-related expenses (combined approximately US$35 million). The remaining cash (approximately US$280 million) will be distributed to Guara Norte’s shareholders.
Registration requirements
The notes are being sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States by Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons outside the United States by Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state or other jurisdiction’s securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or other jurisdictions’ securities laws.