Naftogaz, Citi and Deutsche Bank sign agreement on $500 mln credit facility for gas purchase
KYIV. Jan 9 (Interfax) - Naftogaz Ukrainy has signed a loan agreement with Citi and Deutsche Bank for a euro-denominated revolving credit facility for gas purchase equivalent to $500 million secured by the World Bank.
The facility is secured by the World Bank's guarantee, which, in turn, is secured by the sovereign guarantee issued as part of the formation of the energy fund according to resolution No. 876 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated November 30 2016 on the provision of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development with the sovereign guarantee under obligations of Naftogaz Ukrainy, the Ukrainian national gas company's press service said.
The guarantee is valid for a term of four years, with two years available for gas purchase and two years for repayment. The guarantee of the World Bank and the credit facility are highly cost-effective compared to other loan agreements of Naftogaz. According to the funding conditions under the credit facility, Naftogaz will continue buying gas under existing eligible contracts, switching from pre-payment to post-payment terms.
The payments to suppliers will be secured by letters of credit issued by Citi and Deutsche Bank, which will convert into loans when payments are made. Naftogaz will repay those loans within twelve months upon the receipt. The World Bank guarantees the repayment of the loans to the international commercial banks.
Under this credit facility, Naftogaz will be able to purchase gas from both western and eastern directions. Decisions to do so will depend on the competitiveness of gas supply proposals.
"These funds will enable Naftogaz to ensure a stable gas supply to Ukrainian consumers during this winter," the company's press service quoted Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev as saying.
In 2015, Naftogaz received a $300 million revolving loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to purchase gas from European suppliers, the company said.