Mon 7 Sep 2009, 11:07 GMT

Vopak concludes S$210m notes issuance


Leading terminal operator secures first private placement notes isssuance in Asia.



Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Vopak) has successfully concluded a new Singapore Dollar 210 million (approximately EUR 102 million) senior unsecured Notes Issuance in the Asian Private Placement market. In this new Issuance 11 institutional investors are participating.

After a number of project financing programs in Asia and corporate funding of regional Vopak group companies by Asian financial institutions, this is Vopak’s first Private Placement Notes Issuance in this region for global funding purposes. The Notes Issuance further optimizes the long term funding of Vopak’s growth strategy.

The Notes have been issued with a ‘bullet maturity’ of 5 years and have a fixed interest rate of 5%. The Notes increase the flexibility of headroom of the current Revolving Credit Facility and further improve the financial maturity profile and interest rate structure of the outstanding debt. DBS Bank Ltd. (DBS) acted as Sole Lead Manager and bookrunner on this transaction. Besides having been an investor in one of the previous Vopak US Private Placement programs, DBS also participates in this new Asian Private Placement Notes Issuance.

After this new issuance the debt profile consists of approximately EUR 550 million of current US Private Placement Notes with maturities ranging from 8 to 15 years, the newly issued Asian Notes and a 3 years remaining EUR 1 billion Revolving Credit Facility, of which approximately EUR 235 million is used.

Commenting on the news, Jack de Kreij, Member of the Executive Board and Chief Financial Officer of Vopak said "We are very pleased to experience that our long term strategy, which has led to robust growth in the past years, is also recognized and strongly supported by a broad group of Asian institutional investors. This Private Placement Notes Issuance in Asia is an encouraging reconfirmation of Vopak’s access to flexible long-term financing sources from different (regional) capital markets across the world."

Koninklijke Vopak N.V. is the world’s largest independent tank terminal operator specialising in the storage and handling of liquid and gaseous chemical and oil products. On request, Vopak can provide complementary logistics services for customers at its terminals. Vopak operates 80 terminals with a storage capacity of almost 28 million cbm in 32 countries. The terminals are strategically located for users and the major shipping routes.


Illustration of balance scale with cargo ship and penalty block. FuelEU penalties spark contract disputes as first-year compliance costs emerge  

Shipowners and charterers negotiate biofuel handling, payment timing, and multiplier penalties under new regulations.

Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Singapore tops first global container port ranking by DNV and Menon Economics  

The port leads across all five assessment pillars in inaugural industry report.

Jack Spyros Pringle, Lloyd’s Register. Marine fuel procurement becomes strategic imperative as regulatory pressures mount: LR  

Operators must adopt comprehensive fuel strategies amid supply constraints and compliance costs, says Lloyd's Register.

Xinfu124 ultra-large LNG carrier. Private Chinese shipbuilder plans to deliver eight dual-fuel boxships  

Yangzi Xinfu is fully booked until May 2029 and expected to post annual sales revenue exceeding $1.4 billion.

Østensjø Rederi newbuild tug render. Østensjø Rederi orders methanol-ready tug from Spanish shipyard  

Norwegian operator contracts Astilleros Gondán for vessel with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system.

Bound4blue worker in safety gear. Bound4blue establishes China production base for wind propulsion systems  

Spanish wind propulsion firm targets Asian shipbuilding market with outsourced manufacturing network.

Alfa Laval and Hanwha Ocean Ecotech sign MoU. Alfa Laval and Hanwha Ocean Ecotech partner on ammonia fuel systems  

Collaboration aims to develop ammonia fuel technology for dual-fuel vessels in the Asian market.

Meg Dowling, Lloyd's Register. Nuclear-powered boxships could deliver $68m annual savings: Lloyd's Register  

Small modular reactors could eliminate fuel costs and carbon penalties while boosting cargo capacity, says report.

Minerva Bunkering and Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas (APLP) signing ceremony. Minerva Bunkering extends Las Palmas terminal concession by 15 years  

Bunker supplier adds barge capacity and explores new terminal for energy transition fuels.

Liam Blackmore, Lloyd's Register. Ammonia Energy Association releases gas detection whitepaper with Lloyd's Register input  

Lloyd's Register contributed expertise to new guidance on ammonia detection systems for the maritime sector.