Presentation of the Preliminary Restructuring Agreement agreed between Eurotunnel and the Ad Hoc Committee
Following 10 months of negotiations, on 23 May 2006, Eurotunnel signed a binding Preliminary Restructuring Agreement with the Ad Hoc Committee. The restructuring plan is strengthened by a financing commitment from a group of financiers and investors comprised of Goldman Sachs, Barclays and Macquarie.
The Agreement preserves, as far as possible, the interests of all the parties involved. It is being presented to the other debt holders and will be presented to Eurotunnel shareholders at the next General Meeting.
The economics of this Agreement are as follows:
- Debt reduction of approximately £3.3bn
- A total “corporate” style debt of £2.9bn, made up of 3 tranches: new Senior debt, Tier 1A (FLF 2) and mezzanine ;
- Listed hybrid notes for a nominal amount of £1bn, convertible from 2009
- The establishment of accretion mechanisms for the existing Eurotunnel shareholders: warrants and the possibility for the Group to buyback the hybrid notes.
The financial restructuring, if accepted, will be implemented through the incorporation of a new French parent company which will, in autumn 2006, launch an exchange offer, in the UK and France, to holders of Eurotunnel Units.
Appendix
A more detailed presentation of the Agreement is attached in the document below.
