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Hutchison Telecom Announces Completion of HK$9 Billion Credit Facility

Posted on: Friday, 25 November 2005, 09:00 CST

HONG KONG, Nov. 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ("Hutchison Telecom"; "the Company"; SEHK: 2332; NYSE: HTX) today announces that it has successfully completed a HK$9 billion three-year senior revolving loan facility with a consortium of 18 banks. As a result of strong demand, the amount of the facility has been increased from HK$8 billion to HK$9 billion.

The facility will be used to refinance existing maturing facilities and is priced at a margin of 0.75% above HIBOR, compared to 0.85% above HIBOR on the maturing loan.

The banks providing the facility are ABN AMRO Bank N.V.; Calyon; HSBC; Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; WestLB; Export Development Canada; BayernLB Hong Kong; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited; ING Bank N.V.; The Royal Bank of Scotland plc; SG Corporate and Investment Banking; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; United Overseas Bank Limited; Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, Hong Kong Branch; Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A., Hong Kong Branch; Rabobank International, Hong Kong Branch; Malayan Banking Berhad Hong Kong Branch and Wing Hang Bank, Limited.

Commenting on the facility, Tim Pennington, Chief Financial Officer, Hutchison Telecom said, "We are delighted by the response of banks to our facility. Due to the strong demand we were able to increase the facility size to HK$9 billion at competitive pricing. This will provide Hutchison Telecom with the finance to support its investment programme in developing markets."

This is the fifth major financing for the Hutchison Telecom group of companies this year. On March 31 the Company's Israeli subsidiary, Partner Communications, raised NIS2 billion (approximately US$430 million) in the largest domestic bond financing seen in Israel. Hutchison Essar, the Company's Indian operator, concluded in October two three-year credit facilities aggregating to INR19,450 million (approximately US$440 million). This facility is among the largest syndicated financings seen in India this year. In May Hutchison Telecom's Hong Kong mobile operation raised HK$6 billion (approximately US$770 million) in a three-year revolving credit facility. The current HK$9 billion three-year credit facility for Hutchison Telecom is the Company's second financing in the Hong Kong market this year.

"Our growth strategy has brought in results that position the Company well in the capital markets. The success of these transactions reflects the international banking community's faith in the operating and financial strengths of Hutchison Telecom", Mr Pennington said.

Notes to editors: About Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited

Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited (Hutchison Telecom or the Group) is a leading global provider of telecommunication services.

The Group currently offers mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Hong Kong, and operates or is rolling out mobile telecommunication services in Macau, India, Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Indonesia and Vietnam. It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel and operates brands including "Hutch", "3" and "Orange".

Hutchison Telecom is a listed company with American Depositary Shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker HTX and shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong under the stock code 2332.

A subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa Group, Hutchison Telecom is dedicated to providing superior telecommunication services in markets with high growth potential. For more information about Hutchison Telecom, see http://www.htil.com/ .

For further information, please contact: Mickey Shiu Hutchison Telecom Work: +852-2128-3107 Mobile: +852-9092-8233 Email: mickeyshiu@htil.com.hk

Hutchison Telecom

CONTACT: Mickey Shiu of Hutchison Telecom, +852-2128-3107, or+852-9092-8233, or mickeyshiu@htil.com.hk

Web site: http://www.htil.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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