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31 October 2017 – Expansión
The NH hotel chain has reduced its debt by €100 million after early redeeming the entirety of a debt obligation issue made in 2013. The issue, amounting to €250 million in total, was due to mature in 2019.
NH has explained that the redemption will be performed on 30 November and will be charged against available cash and, temporarily, through short-term credit lines. Following the operation, the company’s long-term gross financial debt will stand at around €740 million.
The hotel group has explained that this operation will allow it to achieve a net interest saving of around €9.6 million between 30 November (2017) and 1 November 2019, the obligations’ maturity date.
“The redemption and cancellation of the obligations represents a significant milestone in the company’s strategic plan, and seeks to reduce the gross amount and average cost of its indebtedness over the long-term, as well as to prolong its average life”, says NH.
Specifically, with this redemption and without considering the temporary use of short-term credit lines, the average cost of NH’s debt will reduce from 4.2% to 3.8%, whilst its average life will lengthen from 4.4 years to 4.7 years.
Moreover, as a consequence of this redemption, the syndicated credit line signed in 2016 for a limit of €250 million will continue to be available in its entirety, and its maturity is extended automatically until 2021.
In this way, NH is finalising the process to refinance its long-term debt and will hold onto a €250 million convertible bond, which is due to mature in November 2018, as medium-term debt.
Original story: Expansión (by Rebeca Arroyo)
Translation: Carmel Drake