Non male comunque la mossa di peugeot di consolidare la liquidità con un nuovo bond. Sono tempi duri meglio mettere un pò di grano in cascina prima del downgrade...
UPDATE 1-Peugeot plans bond up to 750 million euros -IFR
Wed Jul 8, 2009 7:13am EDT
* Bond expected to be between 500-750 million euros
* Issue comes ahead of expected S&P downgrade
(Updates yield, adds size, comment, background)
LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - French carmaker Peugeot (
PEUP.PA) is planning to sell a five-year to raise up to 750 million euros ($1 billion), IFR reported on Wednesday.
The final yield has been set at 8.625 percent, and books have closed at over 5 billion euros, said IFR Markets, a Thomson Reuters online news and market analysis service.
The size of the bond will be 500-750 million euros, with an expected coupon of 8.375 percent, IFR Markets said.
Following the sale of a convertible bond to raise up to 575 million euros two weeks ago, the latest issue was seen as a chance for Peugeot to bolster its credit profile ahead of an expected ratings downgrade. [ID:nLN273720]
"I see this as an opportunity more for Peugeot than the investors," said Pierre Bergeron, a credit analyst at Societe Generale. "It is risky for investors to buy new bonds and put them in an investment grade category when Peugeot is likely to be downgraded."
Standard & Poor's said last month it may downgrade Peugeot into junk territory, saying weak auto demand was likely to worsen the French automaker's financial profile. It currently has a BBB-minus rating, the lowest investment grade, on the carmaker.
Fitch ratings cut Peugeot to junk territory in March, along with Renault (
RENA.PA) and Fiat (
FIA.MI), while Moody's cut the carmaker to Baa3, the lowest investment grade ranking, in February and has a negative outlook.
The Peugeot bond is being managed by BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and Natixis.
Italian automaker Fiat (
FIA.MI) is also expected to issue a bond later this year after it said last month it was open to the idea. [ID:nLR230583]
Peugeot five year CDS were unchanged at 440 basis points while cash bonds were also unchanged, a trader said. (Reporting by Victoria Bryan) ($1 = 0.7154 euro)