FRANKFURT, Aug 17 (Reuters) - German battery maker Varta ( VARGF )
said on Saturday it had reached a restructuring
agreement with its creditors, bringing on sports car
manufacturer Porsche to save the ailing business.
Varta's ( VARGF ) debt will be reduced from 485 million euros
($534.86 million) to an initial 200 million euros, the company
said.
Lengthy negotiations between major shareholder Michael
Tojner, creditors and Porsche led to a compromise to relieve
Varta ( VARGF ) of debt and provide it with fresh capital.
Tojner and Porsche will become the new owners of Varta ( VARGF ) and
will provide a capital injection of 60 million euros.
A further 60 million euros will come from the creditors as
senior secured loans.
A third investor could come on board later.
"We are in advanced discussions with other investors who
would like to join us," Varta ( VARGF ) Chief Executive Michael Ostermann
told Reuters.
($1 = 0.9068 euros)