Dometic Lenders OK Debt Deal Extension To Aug 28 - Source
July 30 2009 - 8:08AM
Dow Jones News
Lenders to private equity-owned Dometic have allowed the Swedish
caravan-fittings maker more time to reach a restructuring deal and
have extended a standstill agreement until Aug. 28, a person
familiar with the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Thursday.
Dometic, which London-based buyout shop BC Partners bought in
2005 for around EUR1.1 billion, has been in danger of breaching
covenants on its outstanding loans which total between EUR600
million and EUR700 million.
Together with its restructuring advisor, KPMG, it has been in
talks with both senior lenders and mezzanine investor Intermediate
Capital Group PLC (ICP.LN) to come up with a rescue package.
There are three competing restructuring plans on the table: one
from the lenders, which comprise 25 institutions including Mizuho
Financial Group Inc. (MFG) and UniCredit SpA (UCG.MI), one from BC
Partners, and one from ICG, the people said.
BC Partners declined to comment on whether it would be prepared
to put more cash into the business and said in January that it has
limited exposure to the company and had returned the money it
invested to shareholders 18 months ago. The private equity firm has
faced similar problems at some of its other portfolio companies,
and just weeks ago was forced to write off its investment in Monier
Group when the struggling roofing business was taken over by
lenders.
-By Marietta Cauchi and Ainsley Thomson, Dow Jones Newswires;
+44 207 842 9241; marietta.cauchi@dowjones.com