Seaborn Networks (Seaborn) and Natixis have closed the debt financing for Seabras-1, a new subsea fibre optic cable system between the commercial and financial centres of Brazil and the US.
Natixis acted as sole Structuring Bank, Underwriter, and Mandated Lead Arranger for the senior debt facilities. Given the involvement of the French export credit agency Compagnie Française d’Assurance pour le Commerce Extérieur (COFACE), Natixis also acted as COFACE Agent for the transaction. Seabras-1 was developed by Seaborn, with equity being provided by Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, as announced in January 2015. Natixis also acted as exclusive Equity Advisor for the equity-raising process. On the debt side, Seaborn was advised by Portland Advisers.
The global amount of debt of approximately USD270 million was provided on a fully-underwritten basis by Natixis. In its capacity as Structuring Bank and Mandated Lead Arranger, Natixis was instrumental in creating a structured and bankable solution to address the intricacies of subsea telecom development. In its role as COFACE Agent, Natixis guided the structuring and negotiating processes of the transaction in order to lock in the benefit of COFACE coverage for the senior lenders.
Seabras-1 will use next-generation coherent technology to deliver high-capacity and low latency telecommunications for one of the fastest-growing transoceanic routes in the world, offering point-to-point bandwidth and connectivity services between New York and São Paulo. Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks previously announced it commenced construction of Seabras-1 in September 2014. The Seabras-1 cable network should become operational within the next two years and has already sold substantial capacity, including to Microsoft Corporation, which contracted with Seaborn in September 2014 to be a foundational customer on the subsea network. In addition, Tata Communications announced in January 2015 its investment for purchase of significant capacity on Seabras-1.
Larry Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of Seaborn, says: “We are extremely pleased to have accomplished this important project milestone with the guidance and support of Natixis. Seabras-1 has certainly benefited from the breadth and depth of experience that each of the Natixis teams has brought to this pioneering set of transactions.”
Olivier Delay, Managing Director and Head of Global Infrastructure & Projects, Americas at Natixis, says: “We are delighted to work with Seaborn and Partners Group in the development of Seabras-1, which will be a key project aimed at improving communications between North and South America. Natixis is excited to have provided innovative and collaborative solutions to close the debt financing, complementing our already-strong relationship with Seaborn through our role as Equity Advisor. We look forward to continuing to work with these world-class partners as Seabras-1 moves from construction to operation.”
