REG - WH Smith PLC - Successful completion of refinancing

WH SmithAnnouncement

25/03/2025 07:00

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RNS Number : 9368B  WH Smith PLC  25 March 2025

WH Smith PLC

 

The global travel retailer

 

25 March 2025

 

Successful completion of refinancing

 

WH Smith PLC ('WHSmith' or the 'Group'), the global travel retailer, today
announces the successful completion of a £200m issue of US Private Placement
(USPP) notes and a bank term loan of £120m.

The USPP notes, which represent WHSmith's debut issue in the USPP market, have
a maturity of seven, ten and twelve years and have been issued on investment
grade terms. At the same time, WHSmith has agreed a £120m three-year bank
term loan with two uncommitted extension options of one year each, which
would, subject to lender approval, extend the tenor of the new bank loan to
four and five years, if exercised. The additional bank loan is provided by a
syndicate of existing lending banks comprising: Fifth Third Bank National
Association, HSBC UK Bank PLC, Banco Santander SA, London and Skandinaviska
Enskilda Banken AB (PUBL).

The Group's existing £400m revolving credit facility ('RCF') is retained and
matures in June 2029. The RCF has one remaining uncommitted extension option
of one year, which would, subject to lender approval, extend the maturity date
to June 2030, if exercised.

This refinancing will diversify the Group's sources of debt financing and
extends the Group's debt maturity profile in advance of the convertible bond
maturing on 7 May 2026. The income statement cost of the convertible bond is
c.4.6% including the non-cash debt accretion charge. The income statement cost
of the replacement financing will be c.6.3%.

 

Max Izzard, Group Chief Financial Officer, WHSmith, commented:

"We are pleased to have successfully completed our refinancing, which includes
our first US Private Placement and a new bank term loan. The refinancing
strengthens our balance sheet, extends our debt maturity profile, and
diversifies our capital structure. It also gives the Group access to a new
debt investor base in the future, and we are pleased to have the continuing
support of our banking partners."

 

 

Enquiries:

 

WH Smith PLC

Nicola Hillman                        Media Relations
                                     +44 1793 563354

Mark Boyle                             Investor
Relations
+44 7879 897687

 

Brunswick

Tim
Danaher
 
+44 20 7404 5959

 

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