Gazprom will issue Eurobonds to refinance 1993-2000 loans due to mature in 2013.
The Russian gas monopoly and the design company Blue Stream Pipeline Company B.V. (BSPC B.V.) took out loans to finance the Blue Stream project to lay a natural gas pipeline across the Black Sea. Gazprom also received loans to purchase equipment from an Italian consortium, Tragaz, to modernize Russia's natural gas pipeline system.
Italy's state export crediting agency, SACE S.p.A., is a guarantor for a Gazprom Eurobond issue. Deutsche Bank and MCC S.p.A. (Italy) are lead managers and underwriters for Gazprom's two Eurobond issues. Eurobonds will be listed on the Dublin stock exchange.
Gazprom will raise funds beyond its 2005 borrowing program, its press service said.
The Russian gas monopoly and BSPC B.V. will refinance their loans to reduce the cost of borrowings and lift encumbrance on export proceeds under an export contract on natural gas deliveries overseas.
