UC RUSAL completes $9.33 bln debt refinancing
MOSCOW. Sept 29 (Interfax) - UC RUSAL has signed signing of all agreements with its major lenders in relation to the debt refinancing totaling $9.33 billion, the aluminum giant said in a press release.
Debt of $1.4 billion owing to Russian banks will be refinanced soon, the company told Interfax.
RUSAL said in the press release that on September 23, 2011, the Company and Sberbank signed an amendment to the $4.58 billion loan agreement effective immediately. This amendment includes extension of the maturity of the loan until September 2016 and the cancellation of the Vnesheconombank (VEB) guarantee.
On September 29, 2011, the up to $4.75 billion facility agreement with 13 Russian and international banks, including BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA, ING Bank N.V., Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Gazprombank, Natixis, Nordea Bank AB (publ), The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, Sberbank of Russia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SCGIB, UniCredit Bank AG and WestLB AG was signed and came into force. The facility proceeds are planned to be used to take out the outstanding debt under the International Override Agreement dated December 7, 2009. The facility may be joined by other financial institutions in the course of syndication.
According to the agreement the facility will be provided in two tranches: Tranche A amounting to $3.75 billion to be repaid in equal quarterly installments starting from the 15th month after the first drawdown and with a final maturity failing 60 months after the first drawdown. Loans under tranche A will bear interest at the rate of 3-month LIBOR plus margin based on Total Net Debt/EBIDTA ratio to be revised quarterly; and Tranche B amounting to USD1 billion to be repaid in equal quarterly installments starting from the 63rd month after the first drawdown with a final maturity date failing 84 months after the date of the facility documentation. Loans under tranche B will bear interest at the rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 3.85% per annum.
Certain restrictions imposed currently by the International Override Agreement will be lifted by the facility once the international debt is repaid.
Oleg Mukhamedshin, UC RUSAL Director for Equity and Corporate Development said: "Despite the difficult situation in the world financial markets, RUSAL, as planned and on schedule, has successfully signed the debt refinancing agreements with its major lenders. It brings additional financial soundness to the Company in the currently unstable financial environment and opens new development opportunities including investments in capacity extension programmes and the possibility of paying dividends to Company's shareholders."
RUSAL did not say when dividends might be paid or how much might be paid. This is for the board to decide, it said.
RUSAL has said the syndicated loan facility is guaranteed by RUSAL's Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Sayanogorsk and Novokuznetsk smelters, SUAL, RTI Limited, RS International GmbH and RUSAL Marketing GmbH.
The facility proceeds will be primarily used to fully take out the outstanding debt under the international facilities governed by the International Override Agreement entered into by RUSAL and international lenders on December 7, 2009, while the balance will be used to repay RUSAL's other debt.
RUSAL's net debt was $11.426 billion as of June 30, 2011, which will enable it to resume dividend payments. The overall amount includes a $4.75 billion syndicated loan, debt of around $4.5 billion to Russia's Sberbank and around $2 billion owing to Russian lenders, including Sberbank, Gazprombank and VTB .