REG - ATOME PLC - EIB approves $135m senior debt finance for Villeta

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RNS Number : 5701R  ATOME PLC  18 July 2025

 

For immediate release

18 July 2025

 

ATOME PLC

("ATOME" or the "Company")

 

European Investment Bank Board approves US$135 million senior debt finance
in-principle for Villeta Project

 

 

ATOME (AIM: ATOM), the leading developer of international green fertiliser
projects, is pleased to announce that the Board of the European Investment
Bank ("EIB"), the lending arm of the European Union, being part of ATOME's
consortium of senior debt providers, has approved a financing in-principle of
up to US$135 million for the flagship Villeta Project ("Villeta" or "the
Project").

 

Highlights

 

 •    The Board of EIB has announced that they have approved in-principle up to
      US$135 million of senior debt finance for the Villeta Project
 •    EIB is one of ATOME's senior debt providers for Villeta and the announcement
      follows the Green Climate Fund approval earlier this month
 •    EIB, the European Union's long-term lending institution, wholly-owned by its
      27 member states, is one of the world's largest multilateral financial
      institutions, having invested €270.1 million into Paraguay since 1959 and is
      a leader in climate finance, targeting to mobilise €1 trillion in climate
      and environmental investments before 2030
 •    Details of the financing will be finalised in early course, following regular
      Stage II processes and closing of the debt package together with the
      consortium of leading international development finance institutions
 •    Formation of the equity consortium is progressing with ATOME targeting to
      close out FID by end September

 

Olivier Mussat, CEO, commented:

 

"The European Investment Bank board's in-principle approval of US$135 million
senior debt finance is another important milestone in the Villeta Project's
maturity, credibility and genuine climate objectives.

 

"EIB is one of the largest providers of climate finance in the world and we
are pleased to have EIB as one of the key supporters of this impactful,
first-of-a-kind project.

 

The equity component of the project is coming through with target closing and
FID remaining end of September."

 

 

For further information on ATOME, please visit the Company's Curation Connect
showcase at: https://app.curationconnect.com/company/Atome-71605
(https://app.curationconnect.com/company/Atome-71605)

 

For more information, please visit https://www.atomeplc.com or contact:

 

 ATOME PLC                                +44 (0) 113 337 2210
 Nikita Levine, Investor Relations
info@atomeplc.com

 Beaumont Cornish (Nominated Adviser)     +44 (0) 20 7628 3396
 Roland Cornish, Michael Cornish

 Stifel (Joint Broker)                    +44 (0) 20 7710 7600

 Jason Grossman, Ashton Clanfield
 SP Angel (Joint Broker)                  +44 (0) 20 3490 0470
 Richard Hail, Jen Clarke
 FTI Consulting (Communications Adviser)  +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

                                        atome@fticonsulting.com (mailto:atome@fticonsulting.com)
 Elizabeth Adams, Ben Brewerton

 

MAR

 

The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No
596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is
now considered to be in the public domain. The person who arranged for the
release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was Peter Levine,
Chairman.

 

About ATOME

 

ATOME PLC is an AIM-listed company targeting green fertiliser production with
445-megawatt of projects in Paraguay and a further pipeline of potential
projects in Central America. ATOME has now created its ATOME POWER division
which is in the early stages of developing a significant green power
generation and infrastructure business. ATOME's projects are situated at the
heart of one of the world's largest food export hubs - the Mercosur region in
the Southern Cone of South America with the Argentinian and Brazilian markets
next door. ATOME's production will disrupt the region's heavy dependence on
imported fossil fuel generated fertilizer, contributing to regional food
security goals.

 

ATOME's first project in Villeta, Paraguay, benefits from a 145MW renewable
power purchase agreement and 43 hectares of land in a tax-free zone. Front End
Engineering Design studies have been completed and Heads of Terms signed with
Yara International, the leading international fertiliser company, for offtake
of all of Villeta's green fertiliser production. In early 2025, ATOME
announced Hy24, the leading clean hydrogen asset manager, as anchor and lead
equity investor in the project, and confirmed the signing of the US$465
million fixed-price EPC contract with leading ammonia and fertilizer
engineering specialist Casale S.A. The Company is now negotiating the project
finance with a view to commencing work in 2025. There is a further up to 300MW
of renewable power reserved for ATOME in Paraguay.

 

In Costa Rica, The National Ammonia Corporation S.A. was formed in 2022 with
local partner Cavendish S.A. based in Costa Rica to develop green fertiliser
projects for the region. As well as straddling the Pacific and Atlantic
Oceans, Costa Rica is a democratic Central American country. In agriculture,
Costa Rica is the second largest supplier of pineapples in the world and is in
the top ten banana growers.

 

All power for ATOME is from 100% renewable sources and all chosen sites are
located close to the power and water sources and export facilities to serve
significant domestic and then international demand. Roughly a third of
human-caused GHG emissions is linked to food production according to UN data,
and fertiliser use and production is the source of more emissions than the
shipping and aviation industries combined. ATOME's green Calcium Ammonium
Nitrate product will contribute to decarbonising the food sector from the
bottom up, getting to the root of the food value chain's emissions. ATOME's
renewably-generated fertiliser is both clean and promotes high crop yields,
unlike conventional nitrogen fertiliser which has a heavy carbon footprint.

 

The Company has a green-focused Board which is supported by major shareholders
including Peter Levine, Schroders, a leading fund manager, and Baker Hughes, a
global technology company operating in the energy and industry sectors.

 

Other information

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated
Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's
responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a
responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under
the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed
solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections
afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter
referred to in it.

 

-ends-

 

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