Votorantim Raising Cash for Cement Acquisition

Brazil’s Grupo Votorantim has tapped WestLB to arrange a 1-year bridge financing of between $600m-$800m for its acquisition of a cement company. The 1-year loan is heard to be paying well under 50bp over Libor, according to bankers away from the transaction. A group of MLA candidates has been tapped and a retail syndication is expected in early 2008. In November 2006, Votorantim Cimentos acquired Ribeirao Grande, a Brazilian cement company, for $195m, according to Dealogic.