Proactive Investors - Royal Mail (LON:IDSI) has warned that Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s debt-driven takeover could lead to billions of pounds worth of loans being called in.
International Distributions Services PLC, the parent company of Royal Mail, said around £2.4 billion of its loans have clauses attached to them that could allow lenders to demand payment should a deal go through.
Some £1.5 billion of fixed-rate bonds could demand repayment early if the postal group’s investment-grade credit rating is affected by the ‘Czech Sphinx’s’ purchase.
Meanwhile, an unused £925 million borrowing facility could be withdrawn or renegotiated by lenders should the sale go through.
Kretinsky, through his company EP Group, will attempt to buy IDS using a debt-fuelled leveraged buyout, with £2.3 billion of the £3.5 billion offer coming from fresh borrowings.
In results posted by IDS last week before it accepted Kretinsky’s offer it said: “While the board have been seeking assurances in relation to EP Group financing arrangements through due diligence and negotiation of contractual commitments, the financing arrangements of EP Group are outside of the control of the board.
“The directors have concluded that the extent of the uncertainty related to whether existing finance will be recalled following a change in control, together with a lack of visibility or control over the availability of funding… are conditions that constitute a material uncertainty… that may cast significant doubt on the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
Over the last week, Daniel Kretinsky has warned that stamp prices, jobs, and red post boxes could all be at risk of change if he takes over as owner.