London, Feb. 8 - Turkish food company Ulker has launched syndication of an $800 million, five-year amortising term loan via sole bookrunner Citigroup, which backs the company's acquisition of the Godiva Chocolatier business, a banking source said on Friday.
Campbell Soup Co. agreed in December to sell the luxury chocolate business for $850 million to Yildiz Holding, which is the owner of the Ulker Group.
The loan pays an initial margin of 275 basis points (bps) over LIBOR. Thereafter it moves according to a grid based on a net debt to EBITDA ratio.
Banks are invited to join the deal as sub-underwriters, which relies on other banks participations to reduce commitments, or to lend on a clearly defined take-and-hold basis for a specific amount. Banks will receive an upfront fee of 125 bps for a take-and-hold commitment of $100 million, or a sub-underwriting commitment of $125 million, which has a final target hold of $75 million.
Ulker is Turkey's largest food company.