26th Mar 2010 11:48
Warner Estate Holdings PLC
Successful Completion of Debt Refinancing
On 26 March 2010 Warner Estate Holdings PLC and certain subsidiaries (together "Warner Estate" or the "Group") entered into new facilities with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays and extended and amended its current banking facility with Lloyds Banking Group (the "Refinancing") in relation to its directly owned property assets.
Following the Refinancing the Group's earliest scheduled debt maturity will be on 27 April 2012. Further details on the key terms of the Refinancing are provided in the Appendix.
The conclusion of the refinancing discussions, which have been ongoing since late 2008, allows management to focus its efforts on maximising income and capital growth. The Group's objectives are to rebuild value in its property investments, funds and joint ventures and to expand its asset management business.
Date: 26 March 2010
Enquiries:
Warner Estate Holdings PLC Philip Warner, Chairman Mark Keogh, Finance Director Robert Game, Property Director Web: www.warnerestate.co.uk
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Tel: 020 7907 5100 |
Rothschild Alex Midgen Richard Blackwell
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Tel: 020 7280 5000 |
Numis Securities Limited Heraclis Economides
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Tel: 020 7260 1000 |
City Profile Jonathan Gillen Simon Courtenay
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Tel: 020 7448 3244
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Appendix
Further details on the Refinancing
The Group has entered into new facilities with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays, and extended and amended its current banking facility with Lloyds Banking Group. The refinanced facilities total £261.3million and are secured on properties, units in the Apia Regional Office Fund and the Ashtenne Industrial Fund managed by Warner Estate and income arising from the Group's asset management business. Two of the facilities, which together total £176.3million, will expire on 27 April 2012 and the third facility matures on 31 December 2012.
The Group will pay LIBOR plus a weighted average cash interest margin of 1.6% and weighted average non-cash interest margin of 2.8%. £155million of debt will be hedged initially and interest rate hedging arrangements will be reviewed periodically. In respect of one facility the Group will pay an exit fee equal to 5.0% of the outstanding loan on the maturity date. In respect of another facility the Group will pay an exit fee at maturity that approximates to 20% of the excess of the value of the properties secured against the facility over the debt at that time. The Group is obliged to amortise one of the facilities at £250,000 per quarter. Additionally, Warner Estate will issue warrants representing a total of 5% of the issued share capital to two of the lenders in conjunction with the refinancing entitling them to subscribe for ordinary shares in Warner Estate at a subscription price of 5 pence for each ordinary share.
One facility has no loan to value ('LTV') covenant. Another facility has no LTV covenant for 12 months following which it will have an LTV covenant of 117.5%. The third facility has an initial LTV covenant of 113%. The LTV covenants on the two latter facilities will reduce over the term of the respective facilities. One facility has two interest cover covenants set at 125%, based on rental income, and 175%, based on total income. Another facility has an initial facility debt service cover ratio covenant of 135% and an initial Group debt service cover ratio covenant of 108%; each of the two debt service cover ratio covenants will vary over time.
Related Shares:
Wt Wner Usd