Two European high-yield borrowers are lining up deals as the pace of euro supply begins to pick up following the holiday period.
Bankers and investors are expecting euro issuance to accelerate next week, with several market participants on Monday predicting that volumes could reach and possibly exceed €10bn this month.
There has already been €750m raised by VodafoneZiggo, which last week issued €2.1bn-equivalent of sustainability-linked financing across US and European markets.
“From what I’ve gathered, the calendar will really pick up in earnest from next Monday,” said one high-yield portfolio manager.
French sugar and ethanol producer Tereos and Southeastern European media firm United Group opened up Europe’s high-yield primary market on Monday.
Tereos is looking to raise €300m of senior unsecured funding through subsidiary Tereos Finance Groupe 1 to finance the cash tender offer for its €600m 4.125% June 2023 senior notes, as well as to refinance other debt.
“The business has been performing well and the bonds being refinanced mature in 2023, so it’s a natural time for them to come to market and stay on top of their financing needs,” said one high-yield banker.
Lead-left BNP Paribas, which is also acting as global coordinator alongside Natixis and Rabobank, is marketing a five non-call two-year for the issuer, which is due to be rated B+/B+ (S&P/Fitch).
“It is interesting, they have a big [debt maturity] hump in 2023 and they are coming pretty early and paying to take that out, so I look at it and wonder what they know about the next few years that investors don’t,” said the portfolio manager.
“I’ve always liked the 2023s and held the view that they would get taken out. The question you should ask is “do you want to roll into anything longer?’.”
The new deal will extend the borrower’s maturity profile while leaving the total amount of debt unchanged. In November, Tereos reported net debt of almost €2.37bn, with leverage standing at 5.5x.
United Group, which spans the divide between emerging markets and high-yield, is marketing two-part euro senior secured notes, in the form of a €580m eight-year non-call three fixed-rate bond at IPTs of 5% area and a €400m seven-year non-call one FRN in the high 4s. The proceeds, along with cash on hand, will repay a bridge facility drawn for the acquisition of Wind Hellas.
“The thing that is interesting is that for a company that started at a relatively modest size, they have about €5bn of debt outstanding, which is massive,” said a second leveraged finance banker.
“That probably puts them in the top few percent of issuers in the market and so I think it is interesting to see at what point people start to be a bit full on the name.”
A second fund manager acknowledged the highly acquisitive nature of the company and the high level of debt but said he felt comfortable around the managements' ability to deliver results.
JP Morgan is global coordinator and physical bookrunner. The trade is expected to be rated B2/B.
There is further EM-themed euro high-yield issuance from outside of Europe. Mexican restaurant operator Alsea on Monday announced a €275m 5NC2 that it will use to refinance debt.
The notes are expected to be rated B1/BB– (Moody’s/Fitch), and Bank of America, ING (B&D), Santander and Societe Generale are global coordinators and joint active bookrunners.