17 May 2007 - Global specialty chemicals company Cognis has taken advantage of the favorable current conditions in the capital markets to issue notes and loans with a total value of the equivalent of approximately 1.65 billion euros. In the course of this refinancing, the company repaid its existing bank facilities and its second lien notes and loans, and redeemed a portion of the PIK (pay in kind) notes at its parent level.
The refinancing has enabled Cognis to achieve a considerable reduction in financing costs and improve the liquidity position going forward. Interest savings will be approximately 60 million euros per year. Including the benefit of having no scheduled amortization, the company expects to see a cash benefit of approximately 100 million euros per year.
Comments Cognis CFO Klaus Edelmann: “We are very pleased with how well the refinancing has gone. At 200 basis points above the respective Euribor/Libor rate, the pricing of the new floating rate notes and loans is towards the bottom end of our target price bracket. Interest from the markets was high and the offering was significantly oversubscribed. This shows that we are seen as a reliable partner and enjoy a high level of trust in the financial markets.”
Reduced financing costs
The money raised has been used by Cognis to redeem its existing senior bank facilities, the second lien loans and notes, and about half (350 million euros including accrued and not capitalized interest) of the outstanding PIK notes at parent level. Cognis refinanced this debt on more favorable terms. The existing private equity investors will not receive any payments from this refinancing.
The newly raised capital consists of senior secured floating-rate notes worth 610 million euros and 293 million US dollars and senior secured floating-rate loans also worth 610 million euros and 293 million US dollars. Interest is payable on all notes and loans at 200 basis points above the respective Euribor/Libor rate. They are repayable in September 2013 with a repayment penalty in the first 18 months.
Cognis has also replaced its existing revolving credit facility with a new facility, also worth 250 million euros and maturing in May 2013. The interest rate is 200 basis points above the Euribor rate.
Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan were bookrunners of the whole refinancing. As a precondition for this refinancing transaction and the partial redemption of the PIK notes, Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG has been merged with Cognis GmbH. Cognis GmbH is now an operating company.