TELEKOM MALAYSIA TO BENEFIT FROM LOW INTEREST COST WITH USD150 MILLION SYNDICATED TERM LOAN FACILITY
Kuala Lumpur, Monday, 6 December 2004 - Telekom Malaysia Berhad
today signed a Term Loan Facility of USD150 million and the
proceeds from the Facility will be used to refinance its existing
term loan facility that the Company undertook four years ago.
More importantly, the new financing will allow Telekom Malaysia
to establish a new price benchmark for itself in the international
market particularly after its recent 2-notch credit upgrade
of its foreign currency rating by Moody's from Baa2 to A3.
The credit upgrade reflects the strong financial profile of
Telekom Malaysia and its leading position in the telecommunications
industry. As a result of its strong credit standing, Telekom
Malaysia was able to obtain financing at far better terms
than other similar companies in the region.
The 2.5 year Term Loan Facility was provided by a consortium
of three relationship banks comprising The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi,
Ltd., Labuan Branch, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., Labuan Branch
and National Australia Bank Limited, Labuan Branch.
The signing of the Facility is part of Telekom Malaysia's
liability management strategy to actively manage its debt
portfolio on an ongoing basis with the objective to maximise
cost savings. As the Facility is intended to refinance Telekom'
Malaysias existing loan, it will not increase the Company's
overall gearing position. In fact, the Company has been actively
reducing its overall gearing position through surplus cashflow
derived from operations and investments. The new Facility
will have a positive impact on Telekom Malaysia's current
strong cashflow position, as it will enable the Company to
achieve significant cost savings in interest expense based
on a very competitive level of interest payable under the
new Facility.
Signing on behalf of Telekom Malaysia was its Group Chief
Financial Officer, Jaffa Sany Ariffin.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Jaffa Sany Ariffin, said
: "We are pleased that the financial markets have recognised
and acknowledged the financial strengths and cashflow potential
of Telekom Malaysia as reflected in the strong credit rating
and in the competitive financing facility that our relationship
banks have provided us. This financing facility will enable
Telekom Malaysia to enjoy good interest saving which will
further help to strengthen the financial performance of the
Company."
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