E-Malt.com News article: 3353

Australia: Foster’s Group Limited announced on 29 September 2004 that it has successfully priced a US$300 million offering of 4.875% notes due October 1, 2014. The 10-year offering was priced at a spread of 88 basis points over the benchmark 10 year US Treasury or a re-offer yield of 4.884%.

The securities were issued by Foster’s wholly owned subsidiary, Foster’s Finance Corp. and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Foster’s Group Limited. The issue is rated Baa1 by Moody’s and BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s.

The net proceeds from the offering of the notes will be used to repurchase some or all of the company's US$200 million 6.75% Notes due 2005 and up to €120 million of the company's €300 million 5.75% Medium Term Notes due 2005, the tender of which was advised to the market on 24 September 2004.

The note offering is a further step in the Group’s previously announced intention to restructure a portion of its interest rate and debt maturity profile.


29 September, 2004