DGAP-News: Firstextile AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Firstextile AG: Secured new 100m USD syndicated loan to broaden further business development 23.07.2014 / 10:21 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Firstextile AG: Secured new 100m USD syndicated loan to broaden further business development - Syndicated loan improves financing structure and secures growth financing in a long-term - CEO sees stepping stone for smooth implementation of the expansion project - Long-term advantages for business performance expected Frankfurt am Main, 23 July 2014 - Firstextile AG (FT8) has secured a 100 million US dollar (approx. 73 million Euros) syndicated loan for its wholly-owned subsidiary China Firstextile (Holdings) Limited. Purpose of the loan is to fund corporate growth initiatives and associated capital expenditures and working capital in a long term. In addition the company improves its financing structure by refinancing more expensive domestic short-term loans. The coordinating arranger of the loan is Nomura International (Hong Kong) Limited. Fred Yang, founder and CEO of Firstextile AG: "The syndicated loan marks a stepping stone for a smooth implementation of the expansion project, which aims to double our current production capacities. At the same time the new loan enables us to repay the domestic 1 year loan with higher interest rate, which will improve our financing structure and increases our planning security over the next 3 years. But most important: This enables us to substantially benefit from the huge opportunities of all our three business segments in the overall very attractive Chinese domestic market." With regards to the company's shareholders Richard Cao, CFO of Firstextile AG, adds: "This syndicated loan is not expected to cause any dilution for the shareholder value. On the contrary: The equity ratio of 70.5 per cent as of 30 March 2014 and our cash position are an excellent basis for a strong debt capability of Firstextile. As a result, we will continue to maintain a sound balance sheet structure. Therefore we are convinced of the long-term advantages for our business performance and this will also benefit our shareholders." The loan facility has a repayment schedule with a first repayment of 5 per cent of the outstanding loan after 18 months, further repayments of 15 per cent of the outstanding loan each every three months thereafter and a final repayment of 20 per cent of the outstanding loan after 36 months. The loan has an interest rate of 4.25 per cent plus 3m LIBOR. Company profile Firstextile is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end yarn-dyed fabrics in the Chinese market. It also markets fabrics and shirts specifically designed for uniforms used by Chinese government institutions and enterprises, as well as its own branded men's wear for the Chinese premium market segment. The company operates modern production facilities in Jiangyin near Shanghai, China, which is one of the main centres of the Chinese textile industry, and it focuses particularly on high product-quality. Net proceeds from the successful completion of the IPO in November 2012, will primarily be used to double annual production capacity from the current 36 million metres to 72 million metres by the end of 2014. End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 23.07.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Firstextile AG Lyoner Str. 14 60528 Frankfurt am Main Germany Phone: +49 (0) 69 6655 4416 Fax: +49 (0) 69 6655 4418 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.firstextile.de ISIN: DE000A1PG8V8 WKN: A1PG8V Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 278919 23.07.2014