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March 11, 2005
Launch of a €2 billion syndicated facility
set to refinance existing €2.5 billion
Vivendi Universal
announced today, the launch of a €2 billion syndicated facility. Following the
disclosure of its 2004 annual results, Vivendi Universal has taken advantage of
current favorable trends on the Euroloan market to refinance its existing €2.7
billion syndicated loan put in place in February 2004, later reduced to € 2.5
billion in July of that same year.
With an initial tenure of 5 years, the
syndication can be extended for a further two years before the second
anniversary at the latest.
Margin reductions in the market combined with
Vivendi Universal’s improving financials and rating upgrade result in more
favorable pricing conditions. At current rating levels, Vivendi Universal will
pay a margin of 28 bp, compared to 57 bp on the €2.5 billion facility awarded
previously. Furthermore, covenants have been revised to take into account the
company’s return to investment grade status.
Vivendi Universal has
mandated BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, SG Corporate and
Investment Banking and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc to arrange this new
facility, in their role of Mandated Lead Arrangers and
Bookrunners.
Important Disclaimer: This
press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ
materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks
and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not
limited to, the risk that Vivendi Universal will not be able to obtain the
necessary approvals to finalize certain transactions as well as the risks
described in the documents Vivendi Universal has filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission and with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers.
Vivendi Universal does not undertake nor does it have any obligation to provide
updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and security
holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi Universal and with
the French Autorités des Marchés Financiers and with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (at www.sec.gov )
or directly from Vivendi Universal.
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