Vitol Completes Acquisition of Noble Americas

Further to the announcement in October 2017, Vitol US Holding Co. has completed its acquisition of Noble Americas Corp. from Noble Group Ltd. (SGX:CGP).

NGL wishes to announce that the Proposed Disposal was completed on 12 January 2018. At the Closing, the estimated Consideration was approximately US$400 million, comprising Estimated Closing Date Base Consideration of approximately US$214 million, plus Estimated Closing Date Net Working Capital of approximately US$388 million, minus Estimated Closing Date Indebtedness of US$202 million (as further described in the Circular). At the Closing, the amount paid by the Buyer to NRUK was approximately US$272 million. In addition, the Buyer has deposited with an escrow agent US$122 million, comprising the General Escrow Amount of US$107 million and the Tank Escrow Amount of US$15 million (as further described in the Circular). The amount to be paid out from the escrow account shall be subject to adjustment based on an amount (which may be a positive or negative amount) to be determined following the Closing in accordance with the terms and conditions of the SPA.

In addition, the amount paid by the Buyer includes a deduction of approximately US$6 million in respect of transaction costs (including US$4 million which is payable by NRUK as a contribution towards the cost of certain insurance policies obtained by the Buyer in respect of the SPA (as further described in the Circular)). A further announcement will be made upon the final determination of the Consideration (as further described in the Circular). At the Closing, the Buyer caused the repayment of the Estimated Closing Date Indebtedness to the intended beneficiaries, including the discharge of Indebtedness under the NAC secured borrowing base facility. The NAC secured borrowing base facility has subsequently been retired

The estimated Consideration of US$400 million is lower than the illustrative cash proceeds of US$575 million determined as at 1 October 2017 and included in the Circular. As referenced in NGL’s announcement dated 23 October 20171 in connection with the sale of NAC, the final net proceeds from the sale of NAC would take in to account operating expenses of NAC borne by NGL to the Closing and other adjustments determined in accordance with the SPA. The decrease in estimated Consideration is primarily due to operating losses of NAC from 1 October 2017 to the Closing. These operating losses were driven by reduced trading operations, as the business was prepared for sale, which prevented NAC from covering it fixed expenses.

Click here to read the full Noble Group Ltd. (SGX:CGP) press release.