Top Japanese banks are going to issue commitment letters for a ¥1.4 trillion ($10.6 billion) loan that backs a Japan Industrial Partners Inc.-led consortium’s takeover offer for Toshiba Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.
(Bloomberg) — Top Japanese banks are going to issue commitment letters for a ¥1.4 trillion ($10.6 billion) loan that backs a Japan Industrial Partners Inc.-led consortium’s takeover offer for Toshiba Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.
Lenders including Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. have agreed to issue the letters this week, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The banks are still demanding senior positions in Toshiba’s management for their representatives, should a takeover happen, the people said.
Sumitomo Mitsui will commit to lending about ¥515 billion, while Mizuho Financial Group Inc. will offer ¥460 billion in borrowing, the people said. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and Aozora Bank Ltd. are also participating in the loan, they added. Representatives for the banks and JIP declined to comment.
Securing financing support from banks is a crucial step in the JIP-led consortium’s proposed takeover of Toshiba, one of Japan’s most iconic companies with businesses ranging from nuclear reactors to power grids and refrigerators.
The lenders were initially looking to sign off by end-December on the syndicated loan. Those negotiations were previously stalled because of issues including covenants and collateral, Bloomberg News has reported. The discussions picked up again in the new year though they extended the deadline last week, people familiar with the matter have said.
JIP has also been in talks for about ¥1 trillion of financing from 20 potential co-investors including chip maker Rohm Co. and financial services firm Orix Corp., Bloomberg News has reported.
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