Posted on October 13, 2025
Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX: ASB) is pleased to advise of the execution of a loan agreement for US$100m in funding from Export Finance Australia (EFA), the Australian Government’s export credit agency, to enhance Austal’s construction of vessels for the US Navy and US Coast Guard at the Company’s Mobile, Alabama Shipyard.
The EFA loan facility to support the development of Austal’s Final Assembly 2 (FA2) project was credit approved, but subject to completion of finance documentation, when Austal announced its A$488 million refinance package in late June 2025. (See ASX announcement 27 June 2025) and was included in that total package, hence this total refinancing amount remains unchanged.
With the documentation now signed, subject to the satisfaction of conditions precedent, Austal will use the facility to assist in funding construction of FA2. The EFA loan tenor is for 10 years, reflecting the long-term secured order book for ships that will be built in this facility, commencing with up to eleven US Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutters and up to seven US Navy Ocean Surveillance vessels (T-AGOS).
“Securing Australian Government funding for our US infrastructure expansion is a major milestone for Austal, enabling the Company to execute on its $13.1 billion order book,” said Austal CEO Paddy Gregg.
“It also facilitates the shared defence objectives between the Australian and US Governments and validates the relationship that exists between both Governments and Austal, building on the recent Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement signed by Austal and the Australian Government.”
“The Albanese Government is backing Australian defence companies to grow and export their world-class capabilities by securing lucrative international contracts.’ said Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell.
“Austal’s expansion shows the strength of Australian businesses to export, invest and support shared Australian-US priorities such as defence.”
Austal continues to invest in its shipbuilding and submarine capabilities with two major expansion projects currently underway in the USA, the FA2 project and the submarine Module Manufacturing Facility 3 (MMF3) project.
“Austal is undertaking a significant capital expansion in the US, and the working capital funding we have established, which comprises a combination of debt, equity and cashflow, ensures that we can complete that expansion in a financially astute manner.”
This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg.
