By Conrad Prabhu — MUSCAT: August 23

The shareholders of Omagine LLC, which is developing a mixed-use tourism and residential real estate scheme just off Muscat International Airport on the Sea of Oman coast, have agreed to move ahead with Phase 1 of the eagerly anticipated development with an investment of around $220 million. The developer’s US-based holding company, Omagine Inc, said in a quarterly filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that the Phase 1 strategy was firmed up during a series of shareholder meetings held over the course of the past two months.

Phase 1 envisages the construction of one hotel, 250 residences and the first of seven so-called ‘Pearl’ structures – 20-meter-diameter buildings located along an open boardwalk that will provide an iconic appeal to the overall Omagine project. At the same time, the shareholders agreed to appoint a local Omani bank as the company’s financial adviser and lender. The bank in question, which has not been identified, has agreed in principle to be the developer’s financial adviser and to provide the debt financing required for Omagine to design, develop and construct Phase One valued at approximately $220 million.

Additionally, Omagine agreed to take steps to formalize an agreement with Lebanon-based multinational construction firm Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) as the general contractor for the Omagine project. CCC-Oman and CCC-Panama, wholly owned subsidiaries of Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCIC), have a combined 15 per cent stake in the Omagine project.
The revelations mark an important effort to get construction work started in earnest on the ambitious development. The lavish scheme is due to come up a roughly 1 million sq meter beachfront location, whose area will been augmented by a further 100,000 sq meters thanks to the addition of reclaimed land.

Conceived as an elegant integration of cultural, scientific, heritage, entertainment and residential components, the Omagine project will be distinguished by the presence of seven pearl shaped buildings located along the waterfront. These ‘Pearls’ will serve as backdrops for entertainment and exhibitions.
Other notable features of the ambitious development include an amphitheatre and stage, enclosed harbor and marina, boat slips and docking facilities, canal, three hotels of 5-, 4- and 4-star rating, shopping and retail establishments, and commercial office buildings.

More than 2,000 residences will be constructed and offered for sale in the context of the project’s designation as an Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC).

Initial phases of the Omagine project are planned to be completed by late 2021, according to the filing. New York headquartered Omagine Inc has a 60-per cent shareholding in Omagine LLC, which is also owned by Royal Court Affairs of Oman (25 per cent), and two subsidiaries of Consolidated Contractors International Company SAL (15 per cent).

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Source: Oman Daily Observer

OMANI BANK LIKELY TO BE FINANCIAL ADVISOR, LENDER FOR PHASE ONE OF OMAGINE PROJECT

By Gulam Ali Khan

August 23, 2016

MUSCAT - Omagine LLC, which plans to develop a US$2.5bn beachfront tourism and real-estate project in Muscat, is likely to hire an Omani bank as its financial advisor, that would also provide debt financing for phase one of the project.

“During the period between July 19 to August 18 Omagine LLC shareholders met several times both separately and together with the senior management of the Omani bank and as of the date hereof, the Omani bank has agreed in principle to be Omagine LLC’s financial advisor and to provide the debt financing required for the Omagine project to design, develop and construct phase one valued at approximately US$220mn,” US-based Omagine Inc – the majority shareholder in Omagine LLC - said in its quarterly report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday.

The company, however, did not disclose the name of the bank.

Omagine Inc said Omagine LLC's shareholders held two meetings on July 19 and August 18 and reviewed and discussed the present status of the project to take it forward. The meetings recommended that the company hire a local Omani bank as its financial advisor and lender.

The foregoing arrangement with the Omani bank is subject to its final due diligence and the execution of an agreement with Omagine LLC, the company said. But the Omani bank, Omagine Inc said, has indicated to the shareholders that, barring any unknown impediment (of which neither management nor the Omani bank are aware), it will deliver a robust term sheet specifying the debt financing and advisory services to Omagine LLC on or before September 4, 2016.

Plans for phase one of the Omagine project - which is presently budgeted at approximately US$220mn - comprise the design and development of one hotel, 250 residences, and one pearl building and associated enabling works and infrastructure within the site, Omagine Inc said.

It said debt financing for phase one is expected to be supplied by the Omani bank and not be syndicated. The Omani bank may, depending upon future circumstances, be Omagine LLC's financial advisor for follow-on phases or for the entire project, the company said. “As such the financial advisor will arrange the syndicated bank financing for the numbered sections to be constructed subsequent to phase one.”

Omagine Inc further said that it is presently expected that a definitive agreement between Omagine LLC and the Omani bank with respect to phase one will be executed with the next three weeks, but added, “No assurance, however, can be given that any such agreement will be signed until it is actually signed by the parties.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing likely solution, Omagine Inc added the management of Omagine LLC is continuing discussions with other interested investors and contractors in China, Europe and the US.

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Source: MuscatDaily.com