Demand allowed the lead banks for Lear Corp. to rework the auto supplier's financing package, moving money into a lower-priced term loan and eliminating the company's second lien all together. The deal was also increased by $200 million. The new structure is a six-year, $1 billion term loan priced at LIBOR plus 2 3/4%.
When JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank first brought the financing to the market in early April, it consisted of a $600 million term loan "B" and a $200 million second lien. Price talk was LIBOR plus 3% on the "B" loan and LIBOR plus 4 1/2%-4 3/4% on the second lien (CIN, 4/7).
A Lear spokesman would only say that, "We're pleased that it is being well received."
Prior to the deal being reworked, Standard & Poor's assigned a B+ rating and a 2 recovery rating to the term loan. The ratings agency says the speculative-grade rating reflects the company's distressed operating performance caused by tough industry pressures.