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HUTCHISON TELECOM
ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF HK$9 BILLION CREDIT FACILITY
25 November
2005
Hutchison
Telecommunications International Limited has successfully
completed a HK$9 billion three-year senior revolving loan
facility with a consortium of 18 banks. As a result of strong
demand, the amount of the facility has been increased from
HK$8 billion to HK$9 billion.
The facility will
be used to refinance existing maturing facilities and is
priced at a margin of 0.75% above HIBOR, compared to 0.85%
above HIBOR on the maturing loan.
The banks
providing the facility are ABN AMRO Bank N.V.; Calyon; HSBC;
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; WestLB; Export
Development Canada; BayernLB Hong Kong; Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited; ING Bank N.V.; The
Royal Bank of Scotland plc; SG Corporate and Investment
Banking; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; United Overseas
Bank Limited; Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, Hong Kong
Branch; Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A., Hong Kong Branch;
Rabobank International, Hong Kong Branch; Malayan Banking
Berhad Hong Kong Branch and Wing Hang Bank, Limited.
Commenting on the
facility, Tim Pennington, Chief Financial Officer, Hutchison
Telecom said, "We are delighted by the response of banks
to our facility. Due to the strong demand we were able to
increase the facility size to HK$9 billion at competitive
pricing. This will provide Hutchison Telecom with the finance
to support its investment programme in developing
markets."
This is the fifth
major financing for the Hutchison Telecom group of companies
this year. On March 31 the Company’s Israeli subsidiary,
Partner Communications, raised NIS2 billion (approximately
US$430 million) in the largest domestic bond financing seen in
Israel. Hutchison Essar, the Company's Indian operator,
concluded in October two three-year credit facilities
aggregating to INR19,450 million (approximately US$440
million). This facility is among the largest syndicated
financings seen in India this year. In May Hutchison Telecom’s
Hong Kong mobile operation raised HK$6 billion (approximately
US$770 million) in a three-year revolving credit facility. The
current HK$9 billion three-year credit facility for Hutchison
Telecom is the Company’s second financing in the Hong Kong
market this year.
“Our growth
strategy has brought in results that position the Company well
in the capital markets. The success of these transactions
reflects the international banking community’s faith in the
operating and financial strengths of Hutchison Telecom”, Mr
Pennington said.
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