IMAP France advised BIOGROUP on a €2.8 billion refinancing, initiating its debut in the European high-yield bond market. BIOGROUP secured a EUR1.45 billion 7-year term loan priced at E+350 with a 0% floor offered at 99.75; an EUR800 million 3.375% senior secured bond due February 2028; and a EUR250 million 5% unsecured bond due February 2029. Simultaneously, it secured a new Revolving Credit Facility of EUR271 million with 9 banks.
This landmark transaction enables BIOGROUP to diversify its lender base, increase its financing capacity, extend the maturity of its debt, and drastically reduce its interest cost by refinancing a former PIK debt. Despite its B-/B2neg/B ratings, this refinancing was record breaking, with the; (i) tightest loan pricing in Europe over the last 12 months; (ii) joint tightest priced B corporate rated bond; (iii) tightest debut single B Healthcare bond ever and; (iv) tightest CCC rated unsecured bond premium since 2017.
BIOGROUP, the leading player in France and Belgium at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, is benefiting from the tremendous momentum created in recent months and excellent market conditions. Majority-owned by the French and Belgian shareholders, Doctor Stéphane Eimer and Straco respectively, BIOGROUP operates over 742 labs in France and Belgium, with a pro-forma revenue of EUR1.3 billion.
Degroof Petercam acted as financial and rating advisor to BIOGROUP in this transaction. Degroof Petercam is the leading player in M&A and financing advisory in the medical lab testing industry, with 12 transactions completed since January 2020.