(Bloomberg) -- Guy Hands’ Annington Funding Plc plans to use part of the proceeds it receives from a sale of military homes back to the UK government to “reshape” its balance sheet and rationalize the current debt structure.
As part of the process, the company plans to buy back and redeem seven series of notes with a total aggregate amount of £3.35 billion ($4.3 billion), repay a £400 million floating-rate term loan and cancel a £100 million revolving credit facility, according to a statement Tuesday.
Earlier today, Annington, now backed by Terra Firma Capital Partners, said it agreed to sell its interests in the Married Quarters Estate, which it acquired from the government in 1996, back to the defense ministry and surrender its 999-year lease of all the remaining estate units to the ministry for about £6 billion.
Read: Guy Hands’ Annington Sells Military Homes in £6 Billion Deal
“Given the significant changes to the asset structure of Annington, following the transaction, the group provides noteholders with an opportunity to reassess their exposure,” according to the statement. Remaining proceeds will be used to provide capital to invest in new property investments through the acquisition of residential real estate assets, it added.
The company currently has seven series of unsecured fixed rate notes guaranteed by Annington Ltd., Annington Property Ltd. and Annington Homes Ltd. with a weighted average maturity of 12.9 years and a weighted average cost of debt of 3.47%. It plans to buy back or redeem all of them.
Annington launched tender offers to buy all outstanding 3.184% notes due 2029, 2.308% notes due 2032, 3.685% notes due 2034, 3.935% notes due 2047 and 2.924% notes due 2051. The tender offers expire 4 p.m. London time on Jan. 7, according to the statement. It also plans to redeem 2.646% notes due 2025 and 4.750% notes due 2033.
Debt Redemption
The debt redemption and repayment of the term loan are expected to all settle on Jan. 14. The revolving credit facility is also expected to be canceled on the same date.
After completion of the deal and the ensuing debt rejig, Annington intends to ensure the principal of its outstanding remaining notes is around 55% of the value of its cash, property, and other assets. The firm “does not anticipate conducting refinancings in the market in the near term” and will instead pay interest, and repay maturities from cash balances, net rental income and/or realizations from its portfolio.
Barclays Bank Plc, Goldman Sachs International, JPMorgan Securities Plc and NatWest Markets Plc will act as dealer managers to the tender offers.
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