El Paso Corp. is expected to launch a five-year, $1.25 billion "B" loan today as part of its effort to refinance a $3 billion revolver that expires in June. J.P. Morgan and Citigroup are leading the financing, said an official familiar with the deal, adding that the "B" loan will come on the heels of a $1.75 billion revolver that El Paso pitched in earlier this month. Both loans are being talked at LIBOR plus 3 1/2% with a 75 basis point commitment fee, an official said.
So far, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup have each committed $200 million to the revolver, while Bank of America, Credit Suisse First Boston, Royal Bank of Scotland and Goldman Sachs have all committed $175 million, the official said. A J.P. Morgan spokesman declined to comment and officials at Citigroup did not return calls. An El Paso spokeswoman did not provide comment by press time.