Morgan Stanley is leading a refinancing for New World Pasta designed to trim interest costs on the basis of the company's de-leveraging efforts. The existing $150 million "B" term loan is priced at LIBOR plus 4%, but the new loan is being offered at LIBOR plus 31/ 4%. The deal was launched last Thursday. Calls to Morgan Stanley were not returned.
According to a Morgan Stanley fixed-income report issued earlier this year, total debt is expected to decrease by $20 million to $310 million this year and leverage is forecast to decline to 4.8 times from 5.8 times last year. In addition, New World has experienced revenue jumps due to a combination of expanded distribution at Wal-Mart and increased penetration of non-retail channels. Calls to the Harrisburg, Pa., company, which makes branded dry pasta, were not returned.