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Overview

ICBC contributes to $1.25 billion USD revolving credit facility to Best Buy Co. for general corporate purposes in 2021 (Linked to Record ID#107473)

Commitments (Constant USD, 2023)$88,667,465
Commitment Year2021Country of ActivityUnited StatesDirect Recipient Country of IncorporationUnited StatesOverseas JurisdictionUnited StatesSectorBusiness And Other ServicesFlow TypeLoan

Status

Project lifecycle

Pipeline: Commitment

Pipeline: PledgePipeline: CommitmentImplementationCompletion

Timeline

Key dates

Commitment date
May 18, 2021
Last repayment (originally scheduled)
May 17, 2026

Stakeholders

Organizations involved in projects and activities supported by financial and in-kind transfers from Chinese government and state-owned entities

Ultimate beneficial owners

At least 25% host country ownership

Funding agencies

State-owned Commercial Banks

  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)

Cofinancing agencies

Private Sector

  • Bank of America, N.A.
  • Bank of the West
  • BBVA USA (formerly BBVA Compass or Compass Bank, now PNC Financial Services)
  • Citibank, N.A.
  • Credit Suisse AG
  • HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Chase Bank, formerly the Chase Manhattan Bank)
  • MUFG Bank, Ltd. (Formerly Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU))
  • Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
  • U.S. Bank National Association

State-owned Commercial Banks

  • Bank of China (BOC)

Receiving agencies

Private Sector

  • Best Buy Co., Inc.

Guarantors

Private Sector

  • BBC Investment Co.
  • BBC Property CO.
  • Best Buy Stores, L.P.
  • BESTBUY.COM, LLC.

Loan description

May 2021 syndicated $1.25 billion USD revolving credit facility from BOC and ICBC for general corporate purposes in United States

Interest rate (t₀)1.21875%Interest typeVariable Interest RateMaturity5 years

Narrative

Full Description

Project narrative

On September 19, 2007, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of multiple banks, including Bank of China (New York Branch), entered into a $2.5 billion USD unsecured revolving credit facility with Best Buy Co., Inc., a Minnesota-based multinational consumer electronics retailer. The loan had a maturity period of five years, terminating in September 2012, and the interest rate was based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.32% to 0.60%, depending on Best Buy’s credit rating. The proceeds of the loan were used by Best Buy Co., Inc. for general corporate purposes, including working capital, potential acquisitions, and operational expenses. The agreement permitted the facility to be increased up to $3 billion USD with lender consent. While Bank of China (New York Branch) contributed $40 million USD to this loan (Record ID#107468), the following lenders also participated: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Bank of America, N.A.; HSBC Bank USA, N.A.; U.S. Bank National Association; Credit Suisse (Cayman Islands Branch); LaSalle Bank National Association; Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.; UBS Loan Finance LLC; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; William Street Commitment Corporation; The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Chicago Branch; Citibank, N.A.; Fifth Third Bank; Wachovia Bank, N.A.; Royal Bank of Canada; and The Bank of Nova Scotia. The loan was guaranteed by Best Buy Stores, L.P., BBC Property Co., and BBC Investment Co.. On June 17, 2008, the parties entered into an amendment in which they altered certain definitions. On October 7, 2011, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of multiple banks, including Bank of China (New York Branch), entered into a $2.5 billion USD revolving credit agreement with Best Buy Co., Inc., a Minnesota-based multinational consumer electronics retailer. The loan was structured into two tranches: a $1.0 billion USD 364-day revolving credit facility and a $1.5 billion USD five-year revolving credit facility. The 364-day facility matured in October 2012, while the five-year facility matured in October 2016. The interest rate was LIBOR plus a margin that varied based on Best Buy’s credit rating. The proceeds of the loan were used by Best Buy Co., Inc. for general corporate purposes, including liquidity management, working capital, and potential acquisitions. While Bank of China (New York Branch) contributed $16 million USD to the 364-day facility (Record ID#107469) and $24 million USD to the five-year facility (Record ID#107470), the following lenders also participated: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; U.S. Bank National Association; Citibank, N.A.; Compass Bank; The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.; Bank of America, N.A.; Barclays Bank PLC; Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch; Goldman Sachs Bank USA; HSBC Bank USA, National Association; Royal Bank of Canada; The Royal Bank of Scotland plc; DnB NOR Bank ASA; Fifth Third Bank; Lloyds TSB Bank plc; UBS AG, Stamford Branch; Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.; Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA); Standard Chartered Bank; and The Bank of Nova Scotia. The loan was guaranteed by Best Buy Stores, L.P., BBC Property Co., and BBC Investment Co.. On June 27, 2016, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 15 banks, including Bank of China (New York Branch) and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) New York Branch, entered into a $1.25 billion USD five-year revolving credit agreement with Best Buy Co., Inc., a Minnesota-based multinational consumer electronics retailer. The loan had a maturity date of June 27, 2021, and the interest rate was LIBOR plus an applicable margin based on Best Buy’s credit rating. The proceeds of the loan were used by Best Buy Co., Inc. for general corporate purposes, including liquidity management and operational expenses. While Bank of China (Record ID#107471) and ICBC (Record ID#107472) participated in this loan, the following lenders also participated: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; U.S. Bank National Association; Compass Bank; Citibank, N.A.; Bank of America, N.A.; Barclays Bank PLC; Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch; Goldman Sachs Bank USA; Royal Bank of Canada; The Royal Bank of Scotland plc; Fifth Third Bank; UBS AG, Stamford Branch; Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A.; and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. The loan was guaranteed by Best Buy Stores, L.P., BBC Property Co., and BBC Investment Co. On May 18, 2021, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 12 banks, including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) New York Branch and Bank of China (New York Branch), entered into a $1.25 billion USD five-year revolving credit agreement with Best Buy Co., Inc., a Minnesota-based multinational consumer electronics retailer. The loan had a maturity date of May 18, 2026, and the interest rate was LIBOR plus an applicable margin based on Best Buy’s credit rating. The proceeds of the loan were used by Best Buy Co., Inc. for general corporate purposes, including liquidity management and operational expenses. While Bank of China (Record ID#107473) and ICBC (Record ID#107474) participated in this loan, the following lenders also participated: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; U.S. Bank National Association; Bank of America, N.A.; BBVA USA; Citibank, N.A.; Bank of the West; MUFG Bank, Ltd.; Royal Bank of Canada; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; and Goldman Sachs Bank USA. The loan was guaranteed by Best Buy Stores, L.P.; BBC Property Co.; BBC Investment Co.; and BestBuy.com, LLC.

Staff comments

1. The entirety of the loan contract can be accessed at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/764478/000076447821000032/bby-20210518xex10_1.htm 2. Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. It operates globally, offering technology products, services, and solutions to consumers through retail stores and online platforms. 3. AidData estimates the interest rate by adding the 6-month average LIBOR rate in May 2021 and an applicable margin based on the company’s credit rating at the time (BBB+ or 1.035%). 4. The individual contribution of the 13 lenders to this $1.25 billion USD syndicated loan are unknown. For the time being, AidData has estimated the contribution of China BOC and ICBC by assuming that each lender contributed an equal amount ($96153846.15 AUD) to the loan syndicate. 5. loan agreement attached to source ID 215304 can be accessed in its entirety via https://d1lge852tjjqow.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000764478/ad85e64c-d86d-487a-9203-6b52011fbf1d.pdf and https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2x0e58repx5s3s7vxhisl/215304.pdf?rlkey=beha255mavn1wo49ga52419vg&st=byp8iwtn&dl=0