STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 16, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- OMHEX AB (publ) has signed today a SEK 2,100 million multi-currency revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks led by SEB Merchant Banking as Mandated Lead Arranger. OMHEX owns and operates the largest securities market in Northern Europe and is a leading provider of marketplace services and solutions for the financial and energy markets. OMHEX was recently assigned an A+ long-term rating by Standard & Poor's. The credit facility consists of a SEK 600 million 5-year revolving credit facility and a SEK 1,500 million 364-day extendable multi- currency revolving credit facility with a Swedish krona swing-line option.
The facility will be used to refinance existing credit facilities for general corporate purposes and may also be used as a backstop facility for the recently established Swedish krona commercial paper program, which has been assigned a K1 rating by Standard & Poor's.
"We are pleased to complete our new funding structure. It gives OMHEX access to more cost effective funding. We are happy to see that SEB Merchant Banking, Nordea, Handlesbanken, Den Danske Bank and Sampo have confirmed their role as our core banking partners and we look forward to further developing this relationship," says Per Nordberg, CFO, OMHEX.
The margin, which is initially set at 0.75 percent p.a., ranges from 0.75 percent p.a. to 1.05 percent p.a. and is linked in a grid to the Borrower's Net Debt/EBITDA ratio.
Following a successful syndication, the facility was substantially oversubscribed, but OMHEX decided not to increase the facility amount.
Nordea and Svenska Handelsbanken are joining as Arrangers, whilst Co- Arrangers are Danske Bank and Sampo Bank plc.
For additional information please contact:
Per Nordberg, Chief Financial Officer OMHEX +46 70 569 52 42 Maria Andark, acting VP Corporate Communications OMHEX +46 70 597 52 76 SEB Merchant Banking Fredrik Bjorkman, Debt Capital Markets, Structured Finance +46 8 506 23 229 Marialaura Aymerich, Debt Capital Markets, Structured Finance +44 20 7246 4697
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