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Overview

Bank of China contributes to $200 million USD syndicated revolving credit facility to California Water Service Company for general corporate and working capital purposes in 2023 (Linked to Record ID#108232, #108231 and #108234)

Commitments (Constant USD, 2023)$28,571,429
Commitment Year2023Country of ActivityUnited StatesDirect Recipient Country of IncorporationUnited StatesOverseas JurisdictionUnited StatesSectorWater Supply And SanitationFlow TypeLoan

Status

Project lifecycle

Pipeline: Commitment

Pipeline: PledgePipeline: CommitmentImplementationCompletion

Timeline

Key dates

Commitment date
Mar 31, 2023
Last repayment (originally scheduled)
Mar 29, 2028

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

  • Bank of China (BOC)

Cofinancing agencies

Private Sector

  • Bank of America, N.A.
  • CoBank, ACB
  • First Hawaiian Bank. Inc.
  • U.S. Bank National Association
  • Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

State-owned Commercial Banks

  • China Bank of Communications (BoCom or BoComm)

Receiving agencies

Private Sector

  • California Water Service Company

Loan description

2023 Bank of China and China Bank of Communications contributions to $200 million USD syndicated revolving credit facility to California Water Service Company for general corporate and working capital purposes

Interest rate (t₀)5.84968%Interest typeVariable Interest RateMaturity5 years

Narrative

Full Description

Project narrative

On October 27, 2009, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of six banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch — entered into a $300 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Company, a water utility company based in California, USA, that provides water and wastewater services to millions of residents. The maturity of the loan is 3 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for general corporate purposes, working capital, and debt refinancing. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch contributed to the loan tranche (Record ID#108218) In addition, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, Compass Bank, and U.S. Bank, National Association. On June 29, 2011, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 13 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. New York Branch — entered into a $300 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Company, a water utility company based in California, USA, that provides water and wastewater services to millions of residents. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for general corporate purposes, working capital, and debt refinancing. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch contributed $30 million USD (Record ID#108219), and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. New York Branch contributed $16.875 million USD to the loan tranche (Record ID#108220). While these Chinese banks participated, other banks also contributed: Bank of America, N.A. ($71.25 million USD), CoBank, ACB ($37.5 million USD), U.S. Bank, National Association ($33.75 million USD), Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ($33.75 million USD), Union Bank, N.A. ($24.375 million USD), First Hawaiian Bank ($15 million USD), Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd., Los Angeles Branch ($9.375 million USD), Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd., Los Angeles Branch ($9.375 million USD), The Northern Trust Company ($7.5 million USD), Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd., New York Branch ($8.18 million USD), and Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd., Los Angeles Branch ($6.82 million USD). On the same day, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 13 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. New York Branch — entered into a $100 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Company, a water utility company based in California, USA, that provides water and wastewater services to millions of residents. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for general corporate purposes and working capital. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch contributed $10 million USD (Record ID#108221), and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. New York Branch contributed $5.625 million USD (Record ID#108222) to the loan tranche. While these Chinese banks participated, other banks also contributed: Bank of America, N.A., CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank, National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Union Bank, N.A., First Hawaiian Bank, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, Ltd., Los Angeles Branch , Hua Nan Commercial Bank, Ltd., Los Angeles Branch, The Northern Trust Company, Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd., New York Branch, and Mega International Commercial Bank Co. Ltd., Los Angeles Branch. On March 10, 2015, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 11 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch — entered into a $300 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch (Record ID#108223) and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch (Record ID#108224) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company, and First Hawaiian Bank. On the same day financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 11 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch — entered into a $300 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch (Record ID#108225) and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., New York Branch (Record ID#108226) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, MUFG Union Bank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company, and First Hawaiian Bank. On March 29, 2019, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 10 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch — entered into a $400 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch (Record ID#108227) and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch (Record ID#108228) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company, and First Hawaiian Bank. On March 29, 2019, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 10 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch — entered into a $150 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch (Record ID#108229) and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch (Record ID#108230) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company, and First Hawaiian Bank. On March 31, 2023, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 8 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch — entered into a $400 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China (Record ID# 108231) and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. (Record ID#108232) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and First Hawaiian Bank. On the same day, March 31, 2023, financial close was reached on a deal in which a syndicate of 8 banks — including Bank of China, Los Angeles Branch and Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., San Francisco Branch — entered into a $400 million USD revolving credit facility with California Water Service Group, a public utility holding company based in California, USA, which provides water utility services through its primary subsidiary, California Water Service Company. The maturity of the loan is 5 years, and the interest rate is LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The proceeds were used by the borrower for debt refinancing and working capital purposes. Bank of China (Record ID#108233) and Bank of Communications Co. (Record ID#108234) participated in the loan. While these Chinese banks contributed to the financing, the following lenders also participated: Bank of America, N.A. (Administrative Agent, Lender, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer), CoBank, ACB, U.S. Bank National Association, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and First Hawaiian Bank.

Staff comments

1. The entirety of the 2023 (Loan 2) loan contract can be accessed at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000110465923041667/tm2311464d1_ex10-1.htm. The dropbox link is accessible here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/oumrobuiurwo8ck7e70mv/Source_ID_218931.pdf?rlkey=ks8nxvdq42161a9zc01sj7nyq&st=voj6fo97&dl=0 2. California Water Service Group is an American public utility company headquartered in San Jose, California. It is the parent company of California Water Service Company, the third-largest publicly traded water utility in the United States, serving over 2 million people in California, Washington, New Mexico, and Hawaii. 3. AidData estimates the interest rate by adding the 6-month average LIBOR rate in SOFR 2023 and an applicable margin based on capitalization ratio (0.95%) 4. It is unclear how much each lender contributed to the loan. For the time being, AidData assumes each lender contributed the same amount $28571428.5714 to the loan. This issue warrants more investigation. 5. The original 2009 loan contract is accessible here: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1035201/000095012309054262/f53858exv10w2.htm. The dropbox link is accessible here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y59th667r8zb1xmlfoqgp/Source_ID_218917.pdf?rlkey=lv3ua2hrjwlf23579vqw6m7hk&st=ey57cc01&dl=0