ATOME signs definitive debt agreements
Summary by AI BETAClose X
13 March 2026
ATOME PLC
("ATOME" or the "Company")
ATOME signs definitive debt agreements for the US$650 million Villeta Project, Paraguay
Signed at the IDB Group Annual Meetings in Asuncion, Paraguay
ATOME (AIM: ATOM), the world-leading low-carbon fertiliser developer and the UK's only dedicated international industrial scale low-carbon fertiliser company, is pleased to announce the signing of the debt financing documents ("the Definitives") with the Lenders for the US$420 million total debt package in respect of the US$650 million landmark, 260,000 tonnes-per-year, low-carbon fertiliser plant at Villeta, Paraguay ("Villeta" or "the Project").
Highlights:
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Definitive debt financing documents signed for the entire debt package of US$420 million |
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Signing of the definitive equity agreements projected to follow within 30 days |
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Recent world events highlight ATOME's beneficial position as a stable producer of low-carbon fertiliser, independent of fossil fuels |
Introduction
During the Inter-American Development Bank Group's ("IDB Group") Annual Meetings held in Asuncion, Paraguay on 12 March 2026, the first to be held in the country since 2017, the Definitives relating to the structuring of and debt financing for the US$650 million Project funding were signed. The availability of debt commitments under the Definitives are subject to and conditional upon the equity documentation in mutually agreed form being signed between ATOME and the Equity Consortium within 30 days.
The Definitives
The Definitives were signed by James Spalding, President of ATOME Paraguay S.A.E., in the presence of ATOME Chair, Peter Levine, between ATOME's subsidiary, ATOME Paraguay S.A.E. ("ProjectCo."), and the following lenders comprising the entire lender consortium ("Lenders"):
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(i) |
Inter-American Investment Corporation ("IDB Invest"), the private sector arm of IDB Group |
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(ii) |
International Finance Corporation, ("IFC"), part of the World Bank Group |
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(iii) |
European Investment Bank, ("EIB"), the lending arm of the European Union |
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(iv) |
Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V, ("FMO"), the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank majority owned by the Dutch state; and, |
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(v) |
Green Climate Fund ("GCF"), a fund created under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) |
The Debt structure
The Company has secured fifteen-year debt financing on highly competitive terms. The structure reflects Villeta's robust project economics, its alignment with food security, climate and employment goals, and Paraguay's newly attained investment grade sovereign status. The strategic importance of our project as a new model is reflected by the participation of Global Development Finance Institutions, with approximately 25% on concessional terms, materially improving the overall cost of capital and project returns.
Next Steps
The equity documents are in the final stage of negotiations and will set out ATOME's and the various other parties' respective and expected financial participation in and contributions to the Project's US$244 million equity funding, as well as matters of governance and management of the investment which will be made into ProjectCo. As part of the equity arrangements, it is envisaged that ATOME will provide management services to the Project on mutually agreed terms. This is expected to include the provision, on a remunerative basis, of the Chair, CEO and Project Director roles, as well as certain other personnel and services to the ProjectCo.
Whilst final terms are still being negotiated, the resolution of the equity documentation is projected to be before the expiration of the said 30-day period with ATOME and its partners preparing to embark on the construction phase as soon as possible.
Recent World Events
Recent world events have highlighted ATOME's beneficial position. Villeta will produce fertiliser without the need for fossil-fuels, with a low fixed-cost, long-term supply of power, situated in the middle of one of the largest fertiliser markets in the world and benefit from a long-term take-or-pay offtake agreement for all of Villeta's production from Yara International with price-protection mechanisms and premium upside potential.
Further Announcements
It is expected that further to the signing, the Lenders' will be making their own separate announcements during the course of today. A further announcement in respect of the equity aspects will follow in due course.
Peter Levine, Chair of ATOME PLC, commented:
"We are sincerely grateful to the Lenders for their tremendous support for this flagship project which ATOME has originated, developed, and is expected by them to continue to manage on behalf of the lending and equity funders."
"This is a significant, world-leading project with clear environmental benefits. Villeta will enable fertiliser to be produced at industrial scale without reliance on fossil fuels, supported by a stable, long-term renewable power supply, which we believe will be a game-changer for the fertiliser sector, particularly in the increasing important South American region."
For further information on ATOME, please visit the Company's Curation Connect showcase at: https://app.curationconnect.com/company/Atome-71605
For more information, please visit https://www.atomeplc.com or contact:
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ATOME PLC
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+44 (0) 113 337 2210 |
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Beaumont Cornish (Nominated Adviser)
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+44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
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Stifel (Joint Broker) Jason Grossman, Ashton Clanfield |
+44 (0) 20 7710 7600 |
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SP Angel (Joint Broker) |
+44 (0) 20 3490 0470 |
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FTI Consulting (Communications Adviser) Ben Brewerton |
+44 (0) 20 3727 1000 |
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 long term renewable power purchase agreement and a 30-hectare site in a tax-free zone, and a 10-year Definitive Offtake Agreement 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.. There is a further up to 300MW of renewable power reserved for ATOME in Paraguay for our next project.
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. ATOME is further evaluating up to 9 GW of prospective projects.
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.
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