Crown reports refinancing agreement
AUSTRALIA -- As reported by the Australian: "James Packer's Crown Ltd yesterday announced that it had completed a $1.01 billion refinancing agreement in a move to extend the maturity profile of its debt finance portfolio.
"In a brief statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, Crown said: 'Proceeds of the new debt facilities will be used to pay down Crown's existing $2.15 billion syndicated loan facility.'
"The facility matures in 2010.
"...The new debt facility was structured in three tranches, with the bulk -- $600 million - syndicated among 11 Australian and international banks on a five-year term at an interest rate of 5.5 per cent.
"A $200 million bilateral loan facility was struck with the National Australia Bank on a five-year term at interest of 5.13 per cent..."
