Displaying items by tag: Loan
East Africa Portland Cement Company defaults on loan
26 October 2020Kenya: East Africa Portland Cement Company has defaulted on a long-term loan from KCB Bank. The bank has demanded immediate repayment of the full loan, according to the Business Day newspaper. The cement producer’s current liabilities grew by 70% year-on-year to US$126m in the financial year to June 2019. In a report made to parliament Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu said, “This movement was largely due to the transfer of long-term loans to current liabilities on account of default on existing loan covenants.”
Cemex secures loan extension
14 October 2020Mexico: Cemex says that it has agreed upon an amendment to its facilities agreement to extend US$1.1bn of term loan maturities to 2025 from 2022, and US$1.1bn of commitments under the revolving credit facility to 2023 from 2022. It says that the sustainability criteria incorporated into the interest rates of the facilities agreement, now worth US$3.2bn, make it ‘one of the largest sustainability-linked loans in the world.’ The company adds that it will prepay US$530m to institutions participating in the extension, corresponding to the July 2021 amortisation under the facilities agreement, and extending its debt maturity profile through to July 2023.
The group has also decided to redenominate its debt away from the US dollar. US$313m of exposure under the term loans that are part of the facilities agreement will convert to Mexican Pesos and US$82m will convert to Euros.
Cimenterie de Côte Ouest-Africaine announces plans for 2.5Mt/yr cement plant in Togo
30 September 2020Togo: Cimenterie de Côte Ouest-Africaine (CimCo) says that it has hired Germany-based Intercem Engineering and Gebr. Pfeiffer for the supply and installation of a 2.5Mt/yr-capacity integrated cement plant in Lomé, Maritime Region. Togo First News has reported that the company has secured a US$35.8m loan from Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD) towards construction of the US$179m plant.
CimCo said, “The targeted goal is to contribute to the satisfaction of cement demand in Togo and the region by taking advantage of the geographic location of the port of Lomé, as well as to contribute to the country's economic growth by boosting the competitiveness of the industrial sector along with performances of the infrastructure sector.”
Bashundhara Group plans 4Mt/yr cement plant in eastern Bangladesh
23 September 2020Bangladesh: Bashundhara Group has taken a loan of US$82.0, which it says will go towards the construction of a 4.0Mt/yr cement plant in eastern Bangladesh for a total investment of US$117m. The Daily Star newspaper has reported that the new plant will produce cement primarily for export to northeast India. Bashundhara Group’s two cement plants currently have the capacity to produce 5.1Mt/yr of its King Brand cement.
Bank Asia is the lead arranger for the syndicated loan, which it will provide along with Dhaka Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Pubali Bank, Social Islami Bank and United Commercial Bank. Full repayment is due in 2027.
PPC updates on finance arrangements
21 September 2020South Africa: PPC says that it has extended existing short-term banking facilities with its two primary South African lenders until at least September 2021 and deferred scheduled interest and capital repayments on long-term facilities until March 2021. The company says that it will “enhance its security position through a security pool arrangement” and “reduce the levels of gearing in South Africa through a combination of a capital raise and asset sales.” It added, “Any capital raise is conditional on the implementation of the other project steps.”
PPC also signed a new working capital facility with its third South African lender, which it says “provides on-going liquidity until December 2021.”
China Tianrui Group Cement takes out US$14.4m loan
14 August 2020China: China Tianrui Group Cement says that it has secured a loan worth US$14.4m. Reuters has reported that a Chinese bank granted the loan, which will support capital expenditure projects in the current fiscal year.
Fives receives government loan
15 July 2020France: The government has given a 90% guarantee for a Euro200m loan taken by process technologies and automation specialist Fives from six banks. The company said that the loan, “allows Fives to secure its required liquidity in a time when the Covid-19 crisis has slowed down the business activity in many of its markets. It will also contribute to finance the group’s technological and commercial developments to prepare the future and confirm its positioning as a key player in the industry of the future.”
Najran Cement pays off loan
02 July 2020Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement has announced that it has completed the repayment of a US$12m loan from Banque Saudi Fransi. Mubasher news has reported that the loan had been due for repayment in instalments in the first half of 2020. The cement producer retains US$94.6m in outstanding loans.
Cementos Bío-Bío takes loan
01 June 2020Chile: Cementos Bío-Bío has taken a loan worth US$37.6m from BCI-Itaú bank and Scotiabank. It took the measure ‘to ensure the company’s liquidity’ in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Cementos Bío-Bío said, “The Covid-19 pandemic brings risks due to its impact on the world and local economy. The company estimates that it will strongly affect construction, impacting cement dispatches.” It added, “The company maintains a comfortable cash position,” with liquidity of US$53.3m.
Najran Cement takes out loan
30 April 2020Saudi Arabia: Najran Cement Company has signed a financing agreement with Bank Al-Jazira for a loan of US$94.5m. Under the agreement, repayments are to be made at a rate of US$13.6m/yr for four years, and the remaining amount settled in the final year of the financing period ending 2025.