Gazprom is taking a non-secured syndicated USD 972 mln loan intended for the refinancing of borrowings made by the Company between 2003 and 2004.

ABN AMRO is acting as the book runner on the transaction.

As a result, Gazprom won’t need to collateralize one of its export contracts and will save USD 18 mln in debt servicing expenses.

The loan will be granted in two tranches including a 3.3-year USD 700 mln and 5-year USD 272 mln ones, with the annual interest margins accounting for 1.25% + LIBOR and 1.50% + LIBOR, respectively.

The loan is the largest and longest-term syndicated non-secured transaction ever executed by Russian companies and fixes a new rate for three- and five-year non-secured borrowings.

At the same time, the loan will enable Gazprom to reduce the share of secured borrowings in the corporate loan portfolio as well as slash the total value of borrowings.

The transaction has been agreed upon by Gazprom’s Board of Directors.

Reference:

Operating through over 3,000 locations in more than 60 countries and employing more than 100,000 people, ABN AMRO (the Netherlands) is a leading global bank having some EUR 608.6 bln in overall assets (as of 31 December 2004). ABN AMRO’s securities are listed on the Euronext and New York stock exchanges.

In September 2004, ABN AMRO acted as underwriter, book runner, lead manager and agent on the Gazprom’s USD 1.1 billion syndicated loan subsequently used to re-finance 6 secured loans borrowed by Gazprom over 2000 to 2002.

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