(MENAFN- Arab News) DUBAI: Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) is in talks with local and international banks to raise a multi-billion-dollar loan according to two sources aware of the matter.
The offering which one source said could be worth between $3 billion and $5 billion in total will be split between a dollar-denominated portion and a riyal-denominated tranche the sources said.
The riyal-denominated tranche is expected to be worth around SR5 billion the first source said adding the transaction would have a three-year lifespan but with an option to extend the maturity beyond that point.
'The company is trying to mop up cash it can get at a good price point from the market. They are exploring all options available in the debt market' the first source said. SEC did not respond to e-mails and calls by Reuters.
CEO Ziyad Al-Shiha said in May the firm was looking for investment opportunities to offset financial pressures on its core electricity business.
The state-controlled firm has been feeling the pinch of squeezed finances as it is tasked with providing power to a rapidly-growing population but government policy dictates that electricity prices for consumers and industry are kept artificially low.
In April the company said its net loss for the first quarter of the year more than doubled to SR1.94 billion ($517 million).
However SEC's earnings performance fluctuates wildly between seasons with heavy air-conditioner usage in the summer months driving up demand. Analysts at HSBC and NCB Capital forecast SEC will make a profit of SR2.64 billion and SR1.26 billion respectively in the second quarter.
The first source said both portions of the loan would be structured as revolving credit facilities giving SEC the flexibility to opt when it wants to withdraw the cash.