Israel Corporation (TASE: ILCO) subsidiary Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., burdened by $3.5 billion of debt, is nearing completion of an arrangement with its creditors. After Israel Corp. postponed by two weeks a shareholders meeting that was due to have been held today to vote on an injection of cash, because of a lack of agreement between Zim and its bondholders, the Zim bondholders have come to an understanding with the company on an arrangement.
”All we wanted was compensation for the principal, compensation on interest, and an injection of cash,” a party close to the bondholders’ representative body told “Globes”, “and that is what we have received.”
The understanding reached by the sides do cover these points. The bondholders will receive from the company an option to buy 12% of its equity for $700 million, or alternatively to convert a third of the bonds to shares. Zim for its part will receive an option to repay its debt to its bondholders at any time.
On the cash injection, beyond the $350 million committed by Israel Corp., of which $100 million have already been transferred to Zim, it was agreed that Israel Corp. will transfer a further $100 million to Zim if Zim again encounters financial difficulties in the future and is unable to meet payments due under the debt arrangement.
The third element in the arrangement relates to interest compensation. The sides agreed on a higher interest payment to the bondholders on account of the debt rescheduling. Zim was due to repay the debt in 2012, but the company projects a cash flow deficit of some $1 billion by 2013, which is what first set the debt arrangement saga going. The debt repayment will be deferred to 2016, and in return, the bondholders will receive additional interest of 1.2% annually, beyond the 5.4% they receive under the original terms of the bond offering. If Zim fails to meet debt repayments even after 2016, it will pay additional annual interest of 2%.
In 2005-2006, Zim raised $350 billion in three series of bonds issued to investment institutions, to help finance an ambitious ship procurement program. However, the global economic crisis, which caused a severe downturn in the shipping industry, undermined the company’s financial position.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 14, 2009
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009