Hallador Energy secures $600M Turtle Creek loan
Hallador arranges up to $675 million in high-yield project financing to fund most of the sub-$800 million Turtle Creek Gas development and refinance existing debt.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Hallador Energy Company (HNRG) entered into a new Credit Agreement providing a $600 million senior secured term loan facility for its Turtle Creek Gas project, with $550 million funded at closing and a $50 million delayed draw available for 12 months, plus the ability to add a separate revolving credit facility of up to $75 million. The term loan matures three years after September 15, 2026, with a lender-approved two-year extension option and a required extension fee of 3.0% of outstanding principal. Before commercial operation, interest is 3.5% cash plus SOFR + 4.50% paid in kind (with a 3.5% SOFR floor; after commercial operation, interest is SOFR + 8.00% in cash. Proceeds fund turbine purchases and refurbishment, gas plant expansion, project and transaction costs, repayment of $120 million of existing Texas Capital Bank debt, and general corporate purposes. Key covenants include minimum $10 million unrestricted cash, a minimum 1.15x consolidated debt service coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio starting at 9.00x, a 2.5% commitment fee, a 100% excess cash flow sweep after commercial operation, and a minimum MOIC of 1.35x, rising to 1.50x if extended.
Hallador states that, together with a $2.4 billion contracted forward sales position and expected operating cash flow, this up to $675 million financing package is expected to fund the majority of Turtle Creek’s sub-$800 million estimated project cost.
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Filing Explained
Hallador closed secured project financing, but Turtle Creek remains in development and the facility adds borrowing obligations before operations begin.
On
No equity issuance is disclosed in this filing. Turtle Creek nevertheless remains a proposed project in development: turbine shipment is described as on schedule, while the Generator Interconnection Agreement is expected in the coming weeks and the engineering and construction agreement is in final negotiations.
Hallador says a long-term power purchase agreement is not expected to be required for its final investment decision, but discussions for Turtle Creek’s output remain ongoing. As of
The complete Credit Agreement is expected to be filed as an exhibit to Hallador’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ending
Sources and calculations
- Hallador Energy Company Form 8-K (2026-09-17)
- Hallador Energy Company second-quarter 2026 fundamentals (2026-06-30)
- Available liquidity against the last reported quarterly operating outflow, in days at that rate $28,979,000 / ($23,890,000 / 91) = 110.4 days
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
Term Loan Facility financial
Revolving Credit Facility financial
MOIC financial
Generator Interconnection Agreement technical
final investment decision financial
dispatchable technical
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What debt financing did HNRG’s Hallador Energy secure for Turtle Creek?
How will Hallador Energy (HNRG) use the new financing proceeds?
What are the key interest terms of Hallador’s new Term Loan Facility?
What covenants apply to Hallador Energy’s new credit facilities?
How much of Turtle Creek’s cost does Hallador expect the financing to cover?
What contracted sales support Hallador Energy’s Turtle Creek financing plan?
What is the maturity and extension structure of Hallador’s new term loan?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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Item 1.01 – Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On September 15, 2026 (the “Closing Date”), Hallador Energy Company (“Hallador” or the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Turtle Creek Gas Holdings, LLC (“Turtle Creek”), each as a co-borrower, jointly and severally liable for all obligations thereunder, entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management LLC (“KLIM”), acting for certain managed or advised funds and accounts, the other lenders from time to time party thereto, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as administrative agent, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent.
Term Loan Facility - The Credit Agreement provides for a $600 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”), with $550 million funded at closing and a $50 million delayed draw available for 12 months after closing, subject to an agreed draw schedule and funding conditions.
Revolving Credit Facility - The Credit Agreement permits that Hallador may obtain, on a post-closing basis, a revolving credit facility up to $75 million (the “Revolving Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Facilities”) from one or more commercial banks. The Revolving Facility will not be documented under, and does not otherwise form a part of, the Credit Agreement, but will be secured by a first-priority lien on the Hallador collateral under the Credit Agreement (senior to the lien securing the Term Loan Facility) and will be subject to an intercreditor agreement to be entered into between KLIM and the lender(s) under the Revolving Facility.
The Term Loan Facility matures three years following the Closing Date, subject to a two-year extension option, exercisable with KLIM's approval upon payment of an extension fee equal to 3.0% of the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan Facility.
Closing date proceeds from the Facilities will be used to fund turbine purchases and refurbishment, gas plant expansion expenses, equipment acquisitions, project-cost reimbursements, transaction fees and expenses, repayment of the outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s existing $45 million delayed draw term loan and $75 million revolver with Texas Capital Bank, and general corporate purposes.
Before commercial operation of the applicable project (“COD”), borrowings under the Term Loan Facility bear interest at a rate of 3.5% per annum payable in cash, plus SOFR plus 4.50% per annum payable in kind (“PIK”). After COD, borrowings bear interest at SOFR plus 8.00% per annum, payable in cash. SOFR is subject to a 3.5% floor.
The Term Loan Facility obligations are secured by a first-priority perfected security interest in substantially all real and personal property of Hallador and Turtle Creek, including subsidiary equity interests, subject to customary exceptions and, upon establishment of the Revolving Facility, an intercreditor agreement to be entered into between KLIM and the lender(s) under the Revolving Facility.
Key financial terms include a 2.5% commitment fee, a 100% excess cash flow sweep commencing after COD, and a 1.35x minimum MOIC increasing to 1.50x upon extension. The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants, including: (i) commencing with the test period ending December 31, 2026, minimum unrestricted cash of $10 million and a minimum 1.15x consolidated debt service coverage ratio, and (ii) commencing with the first full fiscal quarter after COD, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 9.00x for the first tested period and 8.00x for each period thereafter. The debt service coverage ratio and leverage ratio covenants are subject to customary equity cure rights (limited to two of any four consecutive fiscal quarters, and no more than three times over the term of the facility); the minimum unrestricted cash covenant is not subject to a cure right.
The Credit Agreement also contains customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default, including limitations on liens, indebtedness, restricted payments, investments, and affiliate transactions, as well as mandatory prepayment requirements with respect to certain proceeds of future indebtedness.
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The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is expected to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2026.
Item 2.03 Creation of Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 17, 2026, Hallador Energy Company issued a press release announcing the transactions described in Item 1.01 above. A copy of such press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly stated in a filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description |
99.1 | Press Release dated September 17, 2026. |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| Hallador Energy Company |
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September 17, 2026 | By: | /s/ERIC VAN DEMAN |
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| Eric Van Deman Chief Accounting Officer |
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EXHIBIT 99.1
Hallador Secures Up to $675 Million Debt Financing for Turtle Creek Gas
Facilities Expected to Fund the Majority of Turtle Creek’s Sub-$800 Million Estimated Project Cost
Company’s $2.4 Billion Contracted Forward Sales Position and Expected Operating Cash Flow Provide Credible Pathway to Fully Fund Turtle Creek
TERRE HAUTE, Ind., September 17, 2026 — Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) (“Hallador” or the “Company”) today announced that on September 15, 2026, the Company closed a $600 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) with a three-year term and, subject to lender approval, a two-year extension option. The Term Loan Facility consists of approximately $550 million funded at closing and an additional $50 million delayed draw term loan commitment available for up to 12 months. In connection with the Term Loan Facility, the Company also has the ability to establish a super-priority revolving credit facility of up to $75 million with a similar tenor, creating a financing package (collectively, the “Facilities”) of up to $675 million.
Hallador expects to use borrowings from the Facilities primarily to fund upcoming payment obligations under its turbine asset purchase agreement, transportation and refurbishment costs, pre-notice-to-proceed and other development costs, and construction of the Company’s proposed new and efficient 460-megawatt natural gas fired Turtle Creek Gas project (“Turtle Creek”), which has an expected total project cost of less than $800 million. Approximately $120 million of the proceeds from the Term Loan Facility will be used to repay the Company’s existing $45 million term loan and $75 million revolving credit facility. Proceeds will also be used for general corporate purposes.
The Company believes the Facilities represent the largest component of its overall financing plan for Turtle Creek and address the majority of Turtle Creek’s expected capital requirements. The Company is actively evaluating and expects to pursue additional financing sources to strengthen its capital structure. Together with the operating cash flow Hallador expects to generate between now and commercial operation of Turtle Creek, supported by the Company’s contracted forward sales position, management believes the Company has a credible pathway and sufficient time to fully fund the project consistent with its objective of little to no equity dilution.
“Closing this loan is the largest single step in financing Turtle Creek,” said Brent Bilsland, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We chose this structure because it carries more debt than traditional bank project financing would typically allow. We are paying a higher rate for that capital, and we accept the trade. As Turtle Creek approaches and enters commercial operation, we expect to be able to refinance the loan on terms that reflect an operating plant.”
Bilsland continued, “Turtle Creek would continue Hallador’s transformation into a multi-fuel independent power producer and expand the scale of our power generation business. By leveraging existing infrastructure and critical generation equipment we have under contract, we believe we have positioned Turtle Creek to reach commercial operation on an accelerated timeline and at a capital cost well below
comparable new generation projects. With demand for reliable, dispatchable power continuing to grow in MISO, we believe the combination of speed to market and capital efficiency makes Turtle Creek a compelling opportunity for Hallador and its shareholders. What the team remains focused on executing is straightforward but not assured: the turbines have to load, clear export, and be refurbished on schedule, and we have to contract the plant’s output at prices that justify the cost, as we have done at Merom.”
Kennedy Lewis Investment Management LLC provided the Term Loan Facility.
PEI Global Partners acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Hallador in connection with this transaction.
Turtle Creek Project Update
Development of Turtle Creek continues to progress. While certain development milestones have taken longer than initially anticipated, none has changed the Company’s view of the project’s economics or its targeted commercial operation date. Turbine shipment activities remain on schedule, and the Company expects to complete the purchase of the equipment in accordance with the terms of the previously filed turbine asset purchase agreement. The equipment is then expected to be transported to Siemens’ U.S. facilities for refurbishment in the coming months.
Hallador’s remaining development milestones continue to advance. The Company expects to execute the Generator Interconnection Agreement (“GIA”) in the coming weeks. Negotiations on the project’s engineering and construction agreement are in their final stages..
Hallador does not expect a long-term power purchase agreement to be a condition to its final investment decision (“FID”). As of June 30, 2026, the Company had approximately $2.4 billion of contracted forward sales under multi-year agreements with utilities and other counterparties. The Company believes this contracted position provides the foundation to proceed to FID on Turtle Creek. As a new natural gas-fired resource, Turtle Creek is expected to be attractive to counterparties seeking long-duration dispatchable supply, and discussions with prospective counterparties for Turtle Creek’s output are ongoing.
Turtle Creek, like the Company’s Merom Generating Station, is located in the MISO market. The Company believes current MISO market pricing for capacity and energy is supportive of new dispatchable generation, and its decision to advance Turtle Creek toward FID reflects that view.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Statements that are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “guidance,” “target,” “potential,” “possible,” or “probable” or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “will,” “should,” or “could” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the availability of the delayed draw term loan commitment, the exercise of the extension option, the establishment of the revolving credit facility, the expected use of proceeds from the Facilities, the timing and outcome of any final investment decision on Turtle Creek, the development, construction, financing and commercial operation of Turtle Creek, the Company’s evaluation and pursuit of additional financing sources, the timing of the Company’s remaining capital requirements, the timing, terms and availability of any additional financing and the Company’s discussions with financing partners, the Company’s ability to achieve its objective of little to no equity dilution, the Company’s contracted forward sales position and the performance of counterparties thereunder, the Company’s ability to contract Turtle Creek’s capacity and
energy on acceptable terms and the timing of FID relative to any such contracts, the Company’s ability to refinance the Term Loan Facility following commercial operation and the terms of any such refinancing, the repayment of existing indebtedness, the timing of turbine shipment, completion of the equipment purchase and refurbishment, MISO market conditions and demand for Turtle Creek’s capacity and energy, the execution of a Generator Interconnection Agreement with MISO, engineering and construction agreements, and agreements for the sale of capacity and energy, expected total project costs and capital requirements, expected operating cash flow, and the Company’s objective of limiting equity dilution. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and analyses made by Hallador and its management in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors appropriate under the circumstances that involve various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, those set forth in Hallador’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Hallador undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law.
About Hallador Energy Company
Hallador Energy Company (Nasdaq: HNRG) is a vertically integrated Independent Power Producer (IPP) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Company has two core businesses: Hallador Power Company, LLC, which produces electricity and provides accredited capacity at its one-Gigawatt (GW) Merom Generating Station, and Sunrise Coal, LLC, which produces and supplies fuel to the Merom Generating Station and other companies. To learn more about Hallador, visit the Company’s website at http://www.halladorenergy.com.
Company Contact
Todd E. Telesz
Chief Financial Officer
TTelesz@halladorenergy.com
Investor Relations Contact
Sean Mansouri, CFA
Elevate IR
(720) 330-2829
HNRG@elevate-ir.com