Testing service provider ALS Limited (ASX:ALQ) has successfully secured US$300 million credit facility for the tenor of 3 years.
In the announcement to Australian Securities Exchange, ALS has announced the completion of refinancing of its current bank debt facilities. It has been done through the execution of new revolving credit facilities for as much as USD 300 million.
The funding includes a series of new committed multi-currency bilateral revolving credit facilities which will replace the maturing bank facilities totalling USD 40 million, currently undrawn. Â
Besides providing flexibility in operations, these new debt facilities will add the financial backbone to placement and acquisition transactions. ALS now have the sufficient liquidity required for the payment of US Private Placement notes which are due to be matured shortly.
Moreover, the list of financers includes Australiaâs two big four banks Westpac Banking Corporation and Commonwealth Bank of Australia while other major banks includes Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Wells Fargo, and Mizuho Bank. These Banking group have provided the balanced mix of service capability and geographic reach to the ALSâs worldwide operations.
ALS CEO and Managing Director Raj Naran stated that the new long-term facilities secured by the five major banks demonstrates the ALSâs high credit worth, the consistent track record of growth, cash flow generation and the robust balance sheet of the company.
Well, in the recap of companyâs recent performance, it has been observed that ALS shown 21.1% growth in its bottom line. That means companyâs underlying profit for Fiscal 2018 has gone up to $142.2 million, from previous $117.4 million in FY17. As a result, ALS has delivered $0.28 underlying earnings per share, up 21.9% on $0.23 underlying EPS reported in Fiscal 2017. On the credit worthiness front, the group has achieved the leverage ratio of 1.7 times net debt over underlying EBITDA at the Fiscal year ended 31st March 2018.
At the end of refinancing process ALS can be seen well positioned for future growth underpinned by strong level of liquidity. In the past one year, ALSâs stock has surged 2.38% while it has been picking up pace since the last few months as the stock has mounted as much as 9.93% over the past three-month period.
Whereas, in todayâs trading session ALS Limited has edged up by 0.733% to last trade at $8.250 on 24 October 2018. On the same date it last traded at a PE of 79.210 x with market capitalization of $4.02 billion.
Disclaimer
The advice given by Kalkine Pty Ltd and provided on this website is general information only and it does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. You should therefore consider whether the advice is appropriate to your investment objectives, financial situation and needs before acting upon it. You should seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice) as necessary before acting on any advice. Not all investments are appropriate for all people. Kalkinemedia.com and associated websites are published by Kalkine Pty Ltd ABN 34 154 808 312 (Australian Financial Services License Number 425376). website), employees and/or associates of Kalkine Pty Ltd do not hold positions in any of the stocks covered on the website. These stocks can change any time and readers of the reports should not consider these stocks as advice or recommendations.