EBRD CONTINUES SUPPORT TO NOBLE RESOURCES UKRAINE 
Long-term loan for investments in grain infrastructure and processing facilities

Anton Usov, EBRD, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, 15 July 2010

KYIV - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a $24 million loan to Noble Resources Ukraine LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Group Limited – a leading global supply chain manager operating in agricultural and other commodities and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. The financing is a continuation of the Bank’s support for the Noble Group’s strategy to develop and strengthen its operations in the Black Sea region.

The EBRD financing will be provided in the form of a long-term loan to be used by Noble Resources Ukraine LLC for investments in grain infrastructure and processing facilities in Ukraine. Noble Resources Ukraine LLC, in particular, is focused on sourcing and storage of commodities, such as grains and oilseeds, and their further export mostly to Europe.

The company is planning to work with third-party silo operators to encourage improvements at their facilities and operations in order to bring them in line with best international practices.

The loan will complement the $50 million revolving working capital facility, which the Bank provided to Noble Resources Ukraine LLC in October 2009. It also forms part of a larger financing package for Noble Group approved by the EBRD Board of Directors in May 2009 and which includes a $30 million syndicated working capital facility to a Turkish subsidiary of Noble Group, Noble Hammade Ticaret A.S, signed in March 2010.

Gilles Mettetal, EBRD Director for Agribusiness, said: “The project promotes further efficiency improvements in the grain infrastructure sector and fully fits into the Bank’s agribusiness strategy for Ukraine. We are pleased to work with a committed long-term sponsor willing to invest in the agricultural sector, which is very important for the revival of the Ukrainian economy”.

In the agribusiness sector alone, the EBRD has directly committed more than €5.5 billion in over 380 projects across central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States since 1991. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is the largest financial investor in Ukraine. As of 1 May 2010, it had committed over €5.0 billion through 197 projects.  

LINK: http://www.ebrd.com/pages/news/press/2010/100715a.shtml 

NOTE:  Ivan Miroshnichenko is Black Sea Regional Director for Noble Resources and Yuriy Vakhel is Head of Legal and Business Development.