Fitch Assigns railway's Eurobond 'BBB'Final Rating

22.05.06 20:44
/REUTERS, May 22, 06/ - Fitch Ratings has assigned eurobonds of Temir zholy finance company, the subsidiary state company of Zheleznye dorogi of Kazakhstan 'BBB' final rating. Bonds have been issued by two Tranches to the total sum of $800 m., ABN Amro and Citigroup performed as lead-managers The first Tranche of bonds with maturity in 2011 made $450 m. and the second one with maturity in 2016 - $350 m. Below is the original text of Fitch's message. FITCH ASSIGNS KAZAKHSTAN TEMIR ZHOLY BOND 'BBB' FINAL RATING Fitch Ratings has today assigned Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Finance B.V's USD450 million and USD350m unsecured bonds issue senior unsecured BBB' ratings. The issuer is indirectly and ultimately owned by JSC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy ("KTZ"). KTZ is also a guarantor of the issuer's bond. KTZ's Issuer Default and foreign currency senior unsecured debt ratings are 'BBB'. The Outlook on the Issuer Default rating is Stable. The bond issue will be used initially to refinance the group's existing short- term debt and provide cash for future corporate requirements. As the group will have immediate surplus cash proceeds, KTZ has stated to Fitch that it will deposit this money with two international banks and certain domestic banks predominantly rated 'BB' and above. The bond document includes a limitation on the change in business and disposal of assets provisions. The former provision refers to KTZ and its subsidiaries at a minimum owning and operating Kazakhstan's national railway network and its relevant infrastructure as well as relevant network services (as defined in the bond documentation). The disposal of assets is restricted, and the disposal of defined "core assets" of the issuer and its consolidated guarantors is capped at 15% (since 31 December 2004) of the group's consolidated property, plant and equipment as shown in the most recent audited balance sheet. Guarantors, including "eligible transferees", can encompass guarantors of the bond who are not subsidiaries of KTZ but are engaged in the business of railway transportation in Kazakhstan and are controlled by the government of Kazakhstan. Currently, bond guarantors also include KTZ's wholly-owned subsidiaries, JSC Kazzheldortrans and JSC Lokomotiv. A provision for the redemption of the bond at the option of the bondholders can be triggered, upon the issuer ceasing to be a subsidiary of KTZ, KTZ ceasing to be controlled by the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan or any guarantor ceasing to be a subsidiary of KTZ or otherwise controlled by the government of Kazakhstan. The bond documentation has limited negative pledge provisions. Contacts: John Hatton, London, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7417 4283; Nikolai Lukashevich, Moscow, +7 095 956 9968. Media Relations: Alex Clelland, London, Tel: +44 20 7862 4084; Alla Izmailova, Moscow, Tel: +7 495 956 9903. [2006-05-22]