Capital/Financing Update • Dec 31, 2014
Capital/Financing Update
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Leidschendam, the Netherlands, 31 December 2014
Additional headroom agreed under financial covenants
Fugro has reached agreement with its lenders on a temporary adjustment of two financial covenants and on the related definitions. This provides the company with additional headroom under these covenants. The agreement signals the continued support of Fugro's lenders for the company and its initiatives to restore margins, delever the balance sheet and improve return on capital employed.
Fugro has agreed temporary amendments to the net leverage and fixed charge covenants contained in its EUR 775 million revolving credit facilities (RCF, of which EUR 155 million has been drawn) and its US private placement notes (EUR 762 million at the current exchange rate). Maximum net leverage has been increased up to and including March 2015, and minimum fixed charge cover has been lowered up to and including March 2016 according to the following schedule:
| Test date | Net leverage 1 | Fixed charge cover 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original covenant |
Adjusted Covenant |
Original covenant |
Adjusted covenant |
|
| December 2014 | < 3.00x | < 3.50x | > 2.50x | > 2.00x |
| March 2015 | NA | < 3.25x | NA | > 2.00x |
| June 2015 | < 3.00x | < 3.00x | > 2.50x | > 2.00x |
| September 2015 | NA | < 3.00x | NA | > 2.00x |
| December 2015 | < 3.00x | < 3.00x | > 2.50x | > 2.25x |
| March 2016 | NA | < 3.00x | NA | > 2.25x |
| June 2016 onwards | < 3.00x | < 3.00x | > 2.50x | > 2.50x |
1 net debt/ EBITDA (4 quarters rolling)
2 EBITDA plus operating lease expense/ interest expense plus operating lease expense (4 quarters rolling)
The covenant definitions have been amended in order to bring the calculations in line with common practice. Issued but uncalled bank guarantees, previously included in the net leverage definition, are permanently excluded, up to a threshold well in excess of current outstanding guarantees. In addition, until the end of 2015, exceptional one-off items will be excluded from EBITDA up to a certain agreed threshold. According to these amended definitions, net leverage was 2.4 and fixed charge cover was 3.0 per September 2014.
Certain additional conditions have been agreed with the lenders for the duration of the relief period. Dividend payment in 2016 (over the year 2015) is conditional on covenant compliance at original levels. The majority of any divestment proceeds will be applied to debt reduction.
Paul Verhagen, CFO: "We are pleased to have obtained unanimous support from our lenders, allowing us to continue to execute our strategic plan which is fully focused on restoring Fugro's financial performance by building on our core strengths. We are proceeding vigorously with our stepped-up initiatives to improve profitability and cash flow and delever the balance sheet."
For more information: Media Rob Luijnenburg [email protected] +31 6 5534 7391 (mobile)
Investors Catrien van Buttingha Wichers [email protected] +31 6 1095 4159 (mobile)
Fugro creates value by acquiring and interpreting Earth and engineering data and providing associated consulting services to support clients with their design and construction of infrastructure and buildings. Fugro also supports clients with the installation, repair and maintenance of their subsea infrastructure.
Fugro works around the globe, predominantly in energy and infrastructure markets offshore and onshore employing approximately 13,500 employees in over sixty countries. In 2013 Fugro's revenue amounted to € 2.4 billion; Fugro is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and is included in the AEX-index.
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts, including (but not limited to) statements expressing or implying Fugro's beliefs, expectations, intentions, forecasts, estimates or predictions (and the assumptions underlying them). Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties. The actual future results and situations may therefore differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Such differences may be caused by various factors (including, but not limited to, developments in the oil and gas industry and related markets, currency risks and unexpected operational setbacks).
Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based on information currently available to Fugro's management. Fugro assumes no obligation to in each case make a public announcement if there are changes in that information or if there are otherwise changes or developments in respect of the forward-looking statements in this announcement.
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