8th Jun 2006 07:00
Wolseley PLC08 June 2006 Loan Refinancing---------------- Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing andheating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of buildingmaterials, announces a new €2.8 billion syndicated loan facility, which wassigned on Friday 2nd June 2006. The proceeds will be used for general corporatepurposes, initially repaying existing facilities totalling some €1.23 billion.The new facility is a single 5-year, multicurrency, revolving credit facility. The syndication was originally targeted at €2.0 billion and was heavilysubscribed with commitments over €3.0 billion being received; the facility waseventually scaled back to €2.8 billion. A group of 27 banks committed to thefacility, and will form the core of Wolseley's relationship banks going forward. Wolseley Group Treasurer, Mike Verrier, said:"This successful syndication follows on from our record breaking US$1.2 billionprivate placement late last year and again demonstrates that Wolseley isrecognised as a strong investment partner, with a proven track record." Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking andLloyds TSB acted as Bookrunners on the transaction and The Royal Bank ofScotland acted as agent. Certain statements included in this announcement may be forward-looking and mayinvolve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results todiffer materially from those expressed or implied by the forward lookingstatements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projectionsrelating to results of operations and financial conditions and the Company'splans and objectives for future operations including, without limitation,discussions of the Company's business and financial plans, expected futurerevenues and expenditures, investments and disposals, risks associated withchanges in economic conditions, the strength of the plumbing and heating andbuilding materials market in North America and Europe, fluctuations in productprices and changes in exchange and interest rates. All forward-lookingstatements in this respect are based upon information known to the Company onthe date of this announcement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publiclyupdate or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of newinformation, future events or otherwise. It is not reasonably possible toitemise all of the many factors and events that could cause the Company'sforward-looking statements to be incorrect or that could otherwise have amaterial adverse effect on the future operations or results of the Company. Notes to EditorsWolseley plcWolseley plc is the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing andheating products and a leading supplier of building materials to professionalcontractors in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group sales for theyear ended 31 July 2005 were approximately £11.3 billion and operating profit,before goodwill, was £721 million. Wolseley has more than 67,000 employeesoperating in 14 countries namely: UK, USA, France, Canada, Ireland, Italy, TheNetherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Luxembourgand Denmark. Wolseley is listed on the London and New York Stock Exchanges (LSE:WOS.L, NYSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. Enquiries: Media: Wolseley plc T: +44 (0) 118 929 8886 Penny Studholme M: +44 (0) 7860 553834 Corporate Communications Director ----------------------- Brunswick T: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 Andrew Fenwick Nina Coad -----------------------Investor / Analysts: Wolseley plc T: +44 (0)118 929 8744 Guy Stainer M: +44 (0) 7739 778187 Head of Investor Relations ----------------------- Barclays Capital BNP ParibasNigel Pavey Simon Allocca+44 20 7773 3048 +44 20 7595 6562 Citigroup Lloyds TSBAndrew Man Liz Williams+44 20 7986 2356 +44 20 7356 1651 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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