Rentech secures another loan
February 19, 2015
By Rentech
Feb. 19, 2015, Los Angeles – GSO Capital Partners LP (GSO) has increased its credit facility for Rentech by up to $63 million. The majority of the proceeds from this new facility are expected to fund completion of Rentech's Canadian wood pellet projects through positive cash flow. Rentech now estimates the cost to complete the construction of its Canadian wood pellet projects to be $125 to $130 million.
“We appreciate the support GSO Capital Partners continues to provide us, this time in the form of additional term loans,” said Keith Forman, President and CEO of Rentech. “The task at hand remains clear–to complete the construction and commissioning of, and to place into service, our new pellet facilities in Canada. This will be done in as timely and safe a manner as possible to preserve profitability for our investors. At the same time, we will continue our focus on operating our fertilizer assets profitability, safely and efficiently. We will work to simplify our capital structure and add to our liquidity in the future. Our focus on cost containment is an ongoing process and will continue to evolve, as indeed our company will evolve, over the next year.”
Rentech expects that the new term loan, together with its other cash resources, will be sufficient to fund its Atikokan and Wawa pellet projects until they have been commissioned and begin to generate positive cash flow. Rentech currently estimates that the cost to acquire and construct the two plants will be $125 to $130 million, up from $105 million. The majority of the increase is due to delays in construction and higher labor costs for installation of electrical and mechanical components. Rentech expects that working capital and the cost to commission the plants will add approximately $6 to $10 million to the estimated total project cost. Rentech does not expect the plants to generate positive EBITDA or cash flow for the year 2015. Annual stabilized EBITDA projected for both plants remains in line with previous guidance of C$17 to C$20 million.
The Atikokan facility is currently in the commissioning phase and is producing and selling pellets to Ontario Power Generation. Rentech expects the Atikokan facility to be operating at full capacity in six to 12 months.
The Wawa facility is nearing completion of construction. Rentech expects the facility to begin startup and commissioning in the second quarter of 2015 and to operate at full capacity within one year from the start of commissioning.
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