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Closing of the R$ 25 billion Loan with BNDES
Rio de Janeiro, July 30 2009 - PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S/A - PETROBRAS announces that, together with its subsidiaries Transportadora Associada de Gás S/A (TAG) and Refinaria Abreu e Lima S/A (RNEST), closed today a loan agreement with the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) in the amount of R$25 billion.
The loan, considered in the Companys 2009-2013 Business Plan released last January, was being negotiated with the bank since then. The Plan includes this loan as one of the sources of funds to finance the $174.4 billion Capex estimated for the period.
The proceeds will be received trough the transfer of Brazilian Government Notes and will be used to finance the implementation of projects which aims to increase the oil and gas production, the enhancement of the refining capacity, and the extension of the gas pipeline network in Brazil.
The cost of the loan is in line with that offered by the international capitals market for a similar term and the main characteristics of the loan are: (a) term of 19 years and eight months; (b) semiannually amortization, with the first payment due in September 2016; (c) interest payable semiannually, in September and March; (d) settlement currency: Real (R$); (e) indexation to the US Dollar (USD) exchange rate variation.
Petrobras also signed today an Agreement with BNDES to promote the development of the oil and gas industry in Brazil. The agreement aims to establish a network between the Company and the bank to share learning and information about the industry and to promote the investment, technological research and the development of the human resources capability and the supply chain of the industry.
This document may contain forecasts that merely reflect the expectations of the Companys management. Such terms as anticipate, believe, expect, forecast, intend, plan, project, seek, should, along with similar or analogous expressions, are used to identify such forecasts. These predictions evidently involve risks and uncertainties, whether foreseen or not by the Company. Therefore, the future results of operations may differ from current expectations, and readers must not base their expectations exclusively on the information presented herein.
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A--PETROBRAS |
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By: |
/S/ Almir Guilherme Barbassa
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Almir Guilherme Barbassa
Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer |
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.