Crown Capital Partners Announces $25 Million Term Loan with Ferus Inc.
CALGARY, June 27, 2017 – Crown Capital Partners Inc. (“Crown” or “the Corporation”) (TSX: CRWN), which provides growth capital to successful mid-market companies, today announced the closing of a $25 million term loan (the “Agreement”) with Ferus Inc. (“Ferus”).
Headquartered in Calgary, Ferus provides a dedicated supply of energized fluids (liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide), as well as the related logistical and operational services to deliver those products and frac sand to customers in the energy industry. The company is the leading provider of industrial gases to the Canadian energy market where its products are integral to the energized hydraulic fracturing process. Ferus has the strategic advantage of owning and operating the complete supply chain, from gas production through to last-mile delivery. The company has six strategically located production plants and maintains a logistics fleet as well as network of specialty wellsite storage units to facilitate the efficient delivery of essential fracturing inputs. Crown’s term loan will be used to repay Ferus’ existing senior credit facility and to support Ferus’ growth objectives.
“Ferus is a leader in its field with a blue-chip client base and key assets throughout the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin,” said Chris Johnson, Crown’s President & CEO. “While the oil and gas industry has been faced with challenges through this cyclical downturn, the company is poised to capitalize on a sector recovery and the continued trend of longer horizontal wells with additional frac stages, which is expected to drive increased demand for Ferus’ integrated product offering in the coming years.”
“We look forward to working with Crown as we capitalize on the shift to higher intensity fracs and ‘last-mile’ logistics for hydraulic fracturing. With a Calgary base and other investments in the sector, Crown is an ideal partner to support Ferus at this stage of our business,” said Dick Brown, President & CEO of Ferus.
The Agreement provides for a $25 million term loan to Ferus by Crown Capital Fund IV, LP, an investment fund managed by Crown and in which Crown holds a 35% interest.
ABOUT CROWN
Crown (TSX: CRWN) is a specialty finance company focused on providing capital to successful Canadian and select U.S. companies that are unwilling or unable to obtain suitable financing from traditional capital providers such as banks and private equity funds. Crown also manages capital pools, including some in which Crown has a direct ownership interest. Crown originates, structures and provides tailored special situation and long-term financing solutions to a diversified group of private and public mid-market companies in the form of loans, royalties and other structures with minimal or no ownership dilution.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements, management’s beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding the outlook for Ferus Inc. Forward-looking statements are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors identified in the Crown’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. See Crown’s most recent annual information form for a detailed discussion of the risk factors affecting Crown. In addition, Crown’s dividend policy will be reviewed from time to time in the context of the Corporation’s earnings, financial requirements for its operations, and other relevant factors and the declaration of a dividend will always be at the discretion of the board of directors of the Corporation. Crown undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.