Deal: Bankers Trust Leads $1B Credit Line for Safeway

OAKLAND, Calif. - Bankers Trust Co. is leading a group of 29 banks in a $1.15 billion financing for Safeway Inc.

Safeway said Thursday that the new unsecured credit agreement provides more flexible covenants than its previous bank facilities as well as an extended maturity date and lower borrowing costs. Borrowings under the previous bank facilities were provided on a secured basis.

Bankers Trust is administrative agent and the Bank of Nova Scotia is documentation agent for the credit facility, which enables the food retailer to borrow up to $1.15 billion, including up to $400 million in Canadian dollars. The new credit agreement matures on May 24, 2000, and provides for two one-year extension options.

Initial pricing is London interbank offered rate plus 22.5 basis points, plus a fee of 15 basis points, according to Loan Pricing Corp.

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