FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tokyo, January 28, 2020
Notice of Financing through Subordinated Loan
Japan Tobacco Inc. ("JT") (TSE: 2914) hereby announces that it today entered into a subordinated loan agreement ("Subordinated Loan") for an amount of JPY100 billion.
1. Objective and Significance of the Subordinated Loan
In order for sustainable profit growth in the mid-tolong-term, JT has adopted a financial policy to "maintain a strong financial base that secures stability in case of changes in business environment such as economic crises and flexibility enabling expeditious responses to business investment opportunities".
In accordance with the financial policy, JT has decided to raise funds through the Subordinated Loan in order to achieve financial soundness and improve capital efficiency.
While classified as debt, it has features similar to those of equity. As the Subordinated Loan is eligible for equity treatment from rating agencies to the certain extent, it contributes to strengthening our financial base without causing dilution of shares.
2. Overview of the Subordinated Loan
Total Loan Amount | JPY 100 billion |
Loan Agreement Date | January 28, 2020 |
Drawdown Date | January 31, 2020 |
Use of Loan Proceeds | Repayment of existing debts and working capital |
Maturity Date | January 31, 2080 |
JT may, however, make a prepayment on any Interest Payment | |
Date on or after the Interest Payment Date of January 2025. | |
Replacement | There is no contractual provision on replacement restrictions. |
Restrictions | However, when making a prepayment for the Subordinated Loan, |
it is assumed that refinancing will be performed with a product with | |
equity credit assigned by rating agencies to be equivalent to or | |
higher than the Subordinated Loan within the twelve months prior | |
to the prepayment date.* | |
Interest Deferral Clause | JT may defer the payment of interest at its own discretion. |
Subordination Clause | The lender shall have the right of subordinated claim in liquidation |
proceedings, bankruptcy proceedings, reorganization | |
proceedings, civil rehabilitation proceedings or any other | |
equivalent proceedings other than those under the laws of Japan. | |
No terms and conditions of the Subordinated Loan Agreement | |
may be amended in a manner detrimental in any way to any | |
creditors of JT other than the creditors of the subordinated | |
receivables. | |
Lenders | Mizuho Bank, Ltd., MUFG Bank, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking |
Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited | |
Evaluation of Equity | S&P Global Ratings Japan Inc.: Intermediate |
Credit (expected) | Rating and Investment Information, Inc.: Class 3 - Equity Credit 50 |
- JT may decide not to replace the Subordinated Loan with other financial instruments that have an equal or higher equity credit, if JT satisfies predefined financial requirements.
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Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco company with operations in more than 130 countries. With over 63,000 employees, it manufactures and sells some of the world's best-known brands including Winston, Camel, MEVIUS and LD. The JT Group is committed to investing in Reduced-Risk Products (RRP) and currently markets its tobacco vapor products under the Ploom brand and various e-cigarette products under the Logic brand. The Group is also present in the pharmaceutical and processed food businesses. For more information, visit https://www.jt.com/.
Contacts: | Dinesh Babu Thotakura, General Manager |
Media and Investor Relations Division | |
Japan Tobacco Inc. | |
Tokyo: +81-3-5572-4292 | |
E-mail: jt.media.relations@jt.com |
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Japan Tobacco Inc. published this content on 28 January 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 January 2020 06:09:05 UTC