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16. Short-Term Debt and Credit Facilities
Bunge's short-term borrowings are typically sourced from various banking institutions and the U.S. commercial paper market. Bunge also borrows from time to time in local currencies in various foreign jurisdictions. Interest expense includes facility commitment fees, amortization of deferred financing costs and charges on certain lending transactions, including certain intercompany loans and foreign currency conversions in Brazil. The weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 was 2.53% and 12.54%, respectively.
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December 31, |
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(US$ in millions) |
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2010 |
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2009 |
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Lines of credit: |
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Secured |
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$ |
15 |
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$ |
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Unsecured, variable interest rates from 1.27% to 18.70% |
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1,703 |
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166 |
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Total short-term debt |
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$ |
1,718 |
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$ |
166 |
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At December 31, 2010, Bunge had no outstanding amounts under its $575 million commercial paper program. The commercial paper program is supported by committed back-up bank credit lines (the liquidity facility) equal to the amount of the commercial paper program provided by lending institutions that are rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poors and P-1 by Moody's Investors Services. The liquidity facility, which matures in June 2012, permits Bunge, at its option, to set up direct borrowings or issue commercial paper in an aggregate amount of up to $575 million. The cost of borrowing under the liquidity facility would typically be higher than the cost of borrowing under our commercial paper program. At December 31, 2010, no borrowings were outstanding under these committed back-up bank credit lines.
In addition to the committed facilities noted above, from time to time, Bunge enters into uncommitted short-term credit lines as necessary based on our liquidity requirements. At December 31, 2010, $1,075 million was outstanding under these uncommitted short-term credit lines. In addition, Bunge's operating companies had $643 million in short-term borrowings outstanding from local bank lines of credit at December 31, 2010 to support working capital requirements.
At December 31, 2010, Bunge had approximately $575 million of unused and available borrowing capacity under its commercial paper program and committed short-term credit facilities. |