Rolls-Royce seeks to raise £5bn

After weeks of media speculation, UK aero engine manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Holdings, has officially announced its intention to raise £2bn by way of a fully underwritten rights issue. In conjunction, Rolls-Royce also intends to raise gross a further £1bn via a bond issuance and has agreed commitments for a new two-year term loan facility of £1bn and has received an indication of support in principle from UK Export Finance (UKEF) for an extension of its 80% guarantee to support a potential increase of the company’s existing £2bn five year term loan of up to £1bn. The full package will result in