RE: Here is The News... Allana Receives Significant Indicative Interest from Prospective Lenders for Project Financing9 minutes ago by Marketwire
Allana Potash Corp. (TSX: AAA)(OTCQX: ALLRF) ("Allana" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its press release on October 3, 2011, as part of its overall project financing strategy, initial discussions with various prospective lenders have been very positive and thus far Allana has received, in aggregate, non-binding indications of interest totaling over $600 million, exceeding the amount of debt financing Allana was initially contemplating to utilize to finance construction of its Dallol potash project (the "Project"). As a result, management is pleased that its targeted capital structure for the Project has thus far been well-received by lenders. Allana intends to continue working with its project financing advisor BNP Paribas, technical consultant ERCOSPLAN and prospective lenders as the necessary elements of the Project's construction and operations are refined in the ongoing feasibility study, ESIA and pre-production work through 2012. Allana expects the technical and commercial commitments for the Project to be completed by late 2012, thereby allowing for the closing of the project debt financing and start of construction in early 2013.
Farhad Abasov, President and CEO, commented: "Allana is very encouraged by the formal expressions of interest from various propsective lenders consulted to date. We believe such indicative support underscores the technical merit of our project, their confidence in Ethiopia and the robust projected credit metrics of the Project which can support our targeted amount of project debt financing thereby increasing the potential returns to Allana shareholders. This is a significant development in our financing activities which, along with our current cash on hand, continued financial support from our existing strategic investors and demonstrated ability to access the equity capital markets even in the midst of challenging market conditions, gives us confidence that the Project will continue to be developed on schedule."