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Published On: Fri, Oct 7th, 2016

TelEm signs multi-million bond agreement with RBC

GREAT BAY – TelEm Group and RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Ltd. announced the signing of a $32 million Bond agreement after months of negotiations.

The TELeM Group uses the bond issue to finance future capital expenditure and refinance current debt obligations. This bond supplements an €8 million loan obtained from the European Investment Bank (EIB) last year for an island-wide Fibre to the Home project.

According to Andrew Boissiere – Vice President Corporate and Investment Banking and TelEm Group Chief Financial Officer Helma Etnel, the bond agreement was officially signed in August 2016 and represents a significant achievement for both companies.

In RBC Merchant Bank’s case the bond arrangement entailed delicate negotiations with six major investors, who are together providing the necessary capital. This is the second time that the TelEm Group has successfully approached the regional capital markets to secure large funding from regional investors.

I am very grateful to the TelEm Group for its confidence in RBC’s ability to deliver on this undertaking and to all of the parties that made this transaction a success, especially the investors, whose proceeds will assist the TelEm Group with achieving its corporate objectives” said Boissiere.

He continued, “The RBC Group has maintained a long-standing relationship with the island of St. Maarten highlighted by several large corporate transactions for Princess Juliana Airport and St. Maarten Harbour. We are very proud to continue this relationship through this Bond issue for the TelEm Group and continue the path of further enhancing the telecommunication infrastructure of the island.”

RBC takes pride in its regional scope, its broad network of institutional partners and international expertize in arranging financing throughout the Caribbean region. It continues to be a leader in structuring financing for multiple sectors including but not limited to Governments, Telecom, Hospitals, Utilities and Ports”, concludes the RBC official.

According to Etnel, the bond and consequent loan arrangement means TelEm Group in essence, has been able to renegotiate more favourable terms and conditions and will now be accountable to one company via a trustee, instead of to several financiers as before.

We are most thankful to RBC Merchant Bank for their patience and hard work in securing this bond arrangement and look forward to a continued relationship,” said Etnel.

She thanked TelEm Group consultant Marit Beishuizen for her “outstanding” contribution with the coordination of “a very complicated arrangement.”

There were many elements that had be to monitored and coordinated with various lawyers and financial institutions, so Mrs. Beishuizen’s role in managing the entire process was critical to its success and the mutually satisfactory outcome,” Etnel said.

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TelEm Chief Financial Officer Helma Etnel, (front 2nd right) met with RBC Merchant Bank Vice President Corporate and Investment Banking Andrew Boissiere, (front 2nd left) at the TelEm Group Main Building to formally announce the signing of a new bond agreement. The top officials met in the presence of the TelEm Group Supervisory Board of Directors and Management Board. Also present on the occasion were Manager Business Banking (SXM & Saba) Rachel Lo Fo Wong (front left) and consultant Marit Beishuizen (back row 2nd right). Photo contributed