Summary
Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) announced on August 1, 2019, the pricing of a $1.2 billion senior notes offering. This offering consists of $600.0 million in 5.00% Senior Notes due 2027 and $600.0 million in 5.25% Senior Notes due 2029. The company intends to use the net proceeds from this issuance, along with existing liquidity, to refinance existing debt. Specifically, FCX plans to redeem all outstanding 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 and fund concurrent cash tender offers for up to $430.0 million of its 4.00% Senior Notes due 2021, 3.55% Senior Notes due 2022, and 3.875% Senior Notes due 2023.
Key Highlights
- 1FCX priced a $1.2 billion senior notes offering comprised of two tranches: $600 million of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2027 and $600 million of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2029.
- 2The offering is intended to refinance existing debt obligations.
- 3Proceeds will be used to redeem all outstanding 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023.
- 4The company will also use proceeds to fund a cash tender offer for up to $430.0 million of its 4.00% Senior Notes due 2021, 3.55% Senior Notes due 2022, and 3.875% Senior Notes due 2023.
- 5The offering is expected to close on or about August 15, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions.
- 6J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as the representative of the underwriters, and is also involved in FCX's revolving credit facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary purpose of the offering is to refinance existing debt. FCX plans to use the proceeds to redeem its 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 and to fund tender offers for other maturing notes, effectively extending its debt maturity profile and potentially lowering its overall interest expense.
FCX is issuing $1.2 billion in new notes. This will be used to redeem $600 million of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 and to fund tender offers for up to $430 million of other notes (2021, 2022, and 2023 maturities), totaling up to $1.03 billion in tendered debt. The net proceeds may also be supplemented by cash on hand or available liquidity.
Yes, the filing notes that certain underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in and may continue to engage in business dealings with FCX. Specifically, an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC serves as an administrative agent and lender for FCX's revolving credit facility, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. are acting as dealer managers for the tender offers. This means some of these entities may receive fees or purchase tendered notes, potentially benefiting from these transactions.