Main project financing completed for Sadara for additional US$10.5 bln

18-Jun-13

The Dow Chemical Company announced the signing of the main financing for the Sadara project. Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), Dow’s joint venture with Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), entered into definitive agreements with certain export credit agencies, commercial banks and the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for approximately US$10.5 billion of additional project financing. The financing supplements the US$2 billion raised through a Sukuk Islamic bond issuance in April, 2013, bringing the total Sadara project financing raised to approximately $12.5 billion, which will be used to fund the construction and start-up of the joint venture. Financial close of the project financing is expected to occur in the third quarter of this year. “Securing the financing for this historic project is the achievement of a significant and critical milestone,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Sadara is a cornerstone of Dow’s growth strategy. The joint venture will introduce a differentiated product slate from a competitive, low-cost position which will transform the landscape of our industry and the chemicals and plastics sector in Saudi Arabia.” “The response to the Sadara joint venture financing has been very strong,” said Bill Weideman, Dow’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. “This high-quality investment is expected to provide a competitive cost position for the Company, while capturing customer demand in emerging regions and driving high-margin, sustainable global growth.” The formation of this joint venture is a major step forward in Dow’s strategy to drive long-term profitable growth in its downstream, innovation-driven businesses and in fast-growing regions such as Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Eastern Europe. The joint venture is expected to deliver EBITDA margins of 35-40 percent and a stream of equity earnings for Dow averaging $500 million annually during the first 10 years following its start-up.