Boeing Loan Demand Hits $14 Billion in Boost to Planemaker

(Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co. has received orders of about $14 billion from around 20 banks for a loan which will give the planemaker more financial flexibility to manage the fallout from its grounded 737 Max jetliners, according to people familiar with the matter.

On the earnings call this morning, Boeing said it had received enough commitments to enter into a $12 billion term loan facility. “Based on the strong demand, the size of facility could exceed this amount when the transaction closes in February,” said Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith.

The loan deal is expected to close on Feb. 6, the people said. It was initially marketed at a size of $10 billion with potential to grow.

A representative for Citigroup Inc., which is leading the financing, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Boeing also declined to comment.

Boeing revealed on Wednesday that total costs for the grounded planes will surpass $18 billion when the tab for restarting production later this year is included.

It’s taking a $2.6 billion pretax writedown to compensate airlines for ballooning losses from a global flying ban that’s expected to stretch to midyear. Deferred production costs also grew by $2.6 billion, clipping the jet’s long-term profit potential, Boeing said in a presentation Wednesday. That’s on top of more than $9 billion in Max-related costs already disclosed.

--With assistance from Jacqueline Poh.

To contact the reporters on this story: Paula Seligson in New York at pseligson@bloomberg.net;Jeannine Amodeo in New York at jamodeo3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Natalie Harrison at nharrison73@bloomberg.net, Nikolaj Gammeltoft

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