Australia's Toll Group has improved its debt position and opened up new investment opportunities by negotiating its second issuance of US Private Placement (USPP) notes for the equivalent of US$250 million, which is anticipated to be drawn down on 4 December 2013.
Grant Devonport, Toll Group Chief Financial Officer, said the raising significantly reduces the group’s refinancing requirements for the current financial year and is an important step in Toll’s ongoing capital management.
“This is an excellent outcome for Toll,” said Devonport. “It is a unique transaction in that it is the first time anyone has raised Singapore dollars (SGD) and Hong Kong dollars (HKD) in the USPP market. This, coupled with the fact the offer was well oversubscribed demonstrates the significant appetite for Toll’s credit and ongoing balance sheet support from both the international and Australian markets.
“This transaction is an integral part of Toll’s refinancing objectives and assists us by increasing the average duration of debt as well as further diversifying our funding sources. We will look to complete the refinancing of our remaining Singapore dollar and Hong Kong dollar funding in the near term, and do not expect a material change in Toll’s interest expense.”
The US Private Placement market is an unrated debt market offering long term funding from a sophisticated investor base.