Wachovia Bank, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank launched syndication of a $289.5 million deal for AmeriPath last Wednesday. The credit is broken into a $95 million revolver and a $203.5 million term loan "B." Pricing is LIBOR plus 2 1/4% on both tranches. The deal backs AmeriPath's merger with Specialty Laboratories. Welsh, Carson, Anderson and Stowe is AmeriPath's equity sponsor.
Moody's Investors Service assigned a B1 to both tranches writing that the B2 corporate family rating reflects the increase in operational and financial risk associated with the acquisition. It does not expect Specialty, on a stand alone basis, to become profitable until 2006 and will not generate positive free cash flow until 2007. Standard & Poor's rated the loans BB-.
AmeriPath provides physician-based anatomic pathology, dermatopathology and molecular diagnostic services to physicians, hospitals, national clinical laboratories and surgery centers. Specialty Laboratories performs clinical tests used by doctors to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases. David Redmond, Ameripath's executive v.p. and cfo, did not return a call by press time nor did an official at Welsh, Carson. David C. Weavil, Specialty's ceo and director, declined comment.