El Corte Ingles in €3.8 billion debt refinancing deal

 

Spanish department store El Corte Ingles, the country's largest privately held company, said on Monday it had reached a deal to refinance three quarters of its €5 billion debt.

El Corte Ingles, one of Spain's largest employers and most venerable retailers, has been hit by austerity and falling sales and has cut prices to compete with cheaper retailers, particularly in the food sector.

The chain said in a statement it had agreed with lenders Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, Sabadell, Popular and Bankia to refinance 76% of its debt, or €3.8 billion. The new loans will mature in 2021.

El Corte Ingles also said assets worth €7.4 billion and annual revenues of around €15 billion would help it persuade other banks to refinance the remainder of its debt.