The multi-tranche facility is provided by a consortium of four domestic and international banks and was raised on a project finance basis for five new commercial retail properties, which Prime Kapital recently opened in Romania and a sixth one currently under development. These include Zalau Value Center, Dambovita Mall (in Targoviste), Sepsi Value Center (in Sfantu Gheorghe), Barlad Value Center, Prahova Value Centrer (in Ploiesti), as well as the retail mall project, currently under construction in Alba Iulia.
With the local and head office operations of the Raiffeisen Bank and Alpha Bank financial services groups acting as arrangers and underwriters of the transaction, the new €125 million facility complements other lines of committed long-term capital available to Prime Kapital, for project development purposes.
Prime Kapital Partner Johan de Lange stated: “The level of appetite that we have encountered among local and international banks during the transaction for this multi-property financing was really encouraging. We believe that the institutional funding support is a validation of Prime Kapital’s retail asset investment strategy with its strong focus on geo-diversified, locally dominant, sustainable green developments. We are also really pleased about the successful openings of Dambovita Mall as well as the Sepsi, Barlad, and Prahova Value Centers, amidst all the uncertainty created by the Covid pandemic during the last 24 months.”
In line with the sustainability objectives of Prime Kapital and its funding partner MAS plc, the proceeds of this new facility will support the development of a further number of new green projects that form part of its secured development pipeline in CEE.
Periklis Voulgaris, Executive Vice President Wholesale Banking at Alpha Bank Romania, says: “This is an important project in terms of value and complexity, which supports Prime Kapital with its development plans. Moreover, this financing aligns with our strategy on sustainable and green projects that provide real value to the community and the business environment.”
Raiffeisen Bank S.A. acted as debt coordinator of the financing, which was arranged and underwritten by Raiffeisen Bank S.A., Alpha Bank Romania S.A., Raiffeisen Bank International AG, and Alpha Bank S.A. with Alpha Bank Romania acting as a facility and security agent. The banking and property law teams at the international law firm Dentons acted as legal advisors to the lenders.
