Swiss agricultural group Ameropa has signed a 324 million-euro senior secured multicurrency revolving credit facility with a syndicate of four Romanian banks, it was announced on July 16.
The syndicate comprises Banca Comercială Română (BCR) and Raiffeisen as joint initial mandated lead arrangers, bookrunners and structuring banks, together with ING and UniCredit as mandated lead arrangers and lenders. BCR also acted as facility and security agent and documentation agent.
The facility will be used by Azomures, Ameropa Grains and Chimpex to consolidate and increase their financial debt book by refinancing the existing bilateral facilities and financing new working capital needs.
“We are very pleased to have successfully signed this new facility,” said Ameropa’s CEO Andreas Zivy. “In addition to refinancing existing lines into one single syndicated facility, it allows the Romanian entities of the Ameropa group to substantially increase their bank financing capabilities. The success of this transaction demonstrates the high quality of the group’s operations in Romania and the strength of its relationship with banks, all of which are also lenders to the group at a global level.”
Ameropa is present in 30 countries and has a global exposure in traditional markets on five continents. In Romania, it owns Ameropa Grains, fertiliser plant Azomures and Chimpex, one of the largest operators in the port of Constanta.
