For first time, Helaba arranges EUR 700 million Schuld­schein in line with LMA standard

Together with Commerzbank AG, Helaba has placed a Schuldschein loan with a value of EUR 700 million for Faurecia SA.

• One of the largest global Schuld­schein issues in 2018
• Second-largest Schuld­schein issue ever issued by a French corporate
• Benchmark issue despite volatile debt capital markets
• First trans­action with standard contract of Loan Market Association (LMA)
• Settlement over digital platform vc trade

Together with Commerz­bank AG, Helaba has placed a Schuld­schein loan with a value of EUR 700 million for Faurecia SA. This makes the debut trans­action by the French company from the auto­motive industry one of the largest global Schuld­schein issues in 2018 and the second-largest ever issued by a French corporate. It sets a benchmark. In addition, the stan­dardised contract template of the Loan Market Association (LMA) was used for the first time for the trans­action settled over the digital platform vc trade. 

Andreas Petrie, Head of Primary Markets at Helaba, reports that “the signs are already pointing to a very successful deal.” The transaction denominated in Euro and US Dollar, which is divided into tranches with different maturity profiles, has already been heavily over­sub­scribed by international investors. Dr. Christopher Gadomski, Helaba inhouse counsel for corporate finance, explains: “The first practical application of the new LMA docu­mentation, in which we played a leading role in estab­lishing last year, has proven to be a resounding success. The docu­mentation process has become consi­derably more efficient. The new LMA-basis of the contract has contributed signi­ficantly to the success of this very internationally-focused issue, in particular thanks to its accep­tance by foreign investors”.

For Susanne Hübers, Senior Relation­ship Manager at Helaba, the mandate for the issue also testifies to Faurecia's confi­dence in Helaba's Schuld­schein capabili­ties. “The trans­action under­scores the fact that our relation­ship has so far been characterised by mutual trust”, emphasises Hübers and adds: “This successful trans­action will contri­bute to a considerably higher visibility for Helaba on the French market and among our customers there”.