Imperial Sugar Venture to Build New Sugar Refinery

Following the completion of the construction of the LSR refinery and the rebuild of the Port Wentworth facility, Imperial will own or participate in two of the most modern sugar refineries in the country.

20 Nov 2009 --- Imperial Sugar Company has announced the formation and funding of a three-way joint venture with Sugar Growers and Refiners, Inc. and Cargill, Incorporated to construct and operate a new state-of-the-art cane sugar refinery in Gramercy, Louisiana adjacent to Imperial’s existing sugar refinery.

The venture, Louisiana Sugar Refining, LLC (LSR), which is owned one-third by each member, closed financing agreements aggregating $145 million to provide construction and working capital financing for the project. The existing Gramercy refinery will operate during the construction and start-up phase of the new refinery, expected to be 18 to 24 months.

President and CEO, John C. Sheptor, commented that, “this transaction enables Imperial to retire its existing refinery with dated technology for a share of the new state-of-the art refinery without a significant capital outlay by Imperial. Following the completion of the construction of the LSR refinery and the rebuild of the Port Wentworth facility, Imperial will own or participate in two of the most modern sugar refineries in the country.”

Each member of LSR agreed to contribute $30 million in cash or assets as equity to capitalize the venture. Imperial’s contribution, which will occur in three stages, consists of the existing refinery assets with a book value of approximately $22 million, including approximately 207 acres of land.

The existing refinery will be operated by Imperial for its own account until December 31, 2010, during which time it is obligated to complete certain improvement currently estimated to cost approximately $6 million. The equipment and personal property in the existing refinery will be contributed to LSR on January 1, 2011. After January 1, 2011, Imperial will continue to operate the small bag packing facility in Gramercy, with refined bulk sugar purchased from LSR under a long term, market-based supply agreement.

The footprint parcel of approximately 7 acres of land for the new refinery was contributed by Imperial at the initial closing. Terms of the operative agreements require that LSR and Imperial jointly enroll the entire site (including the footprint) in the Voluntary Remediation Program (the “VRP”) created by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to conduct an environmental assessment of the site and complete remediation of any identified contamination. Imperial is obligated to pay for the cost of remediation, if the VRP uncovers contamination above the applicable industrial standard. Imperial will convey the remainder of the property to LSR upon completion of the VRP.

LSR’s raw cane sugar will be supplied by SUGAR through an evergreen raw sugar supply agreement. Cargill will serve as marketer of the refined sugar produced by LSR, other than refined sugar sold to Imperial.

“Many of our associates at the Gramercy plant will benefit from the construction of the new refinery on the existing site with the creation of sustainable jobs for the foreseeable future,” said Sheptor. “This joint venture secures a source of raw sugar and assures the viability of refining operations in Gramercy for generations to come.”

“I am very pleased with Imperial’s participation in the LSR venture. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with SUGAR and working collaboratively with Cargill.”