| Issuer: Unitymedia |
| Amount: €2.66 billion equivalent |
| Date: November 17 2009 |
| Arranger: Credit Suisse |
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European high-yield became the comeback kid of the Eurobond market in 2009 after an 18-month hibernation prompted by the financial crisis. After its return it performed a vital role in sub-investment-grade financing as the leveraged loan market, once the pillar of the high-yield market, was no longer the funding vehicle of choice, particularly in acquisition financing.
The financing of Liberty Global’s November acquisition of Germany-based cable operator Unitymedia from a private equity group including BC Partners and Apollo for $5.2 billion, exemplified the growing relevance of the high-yield bond market as an M&A funding tool.
In late 2009, BC Partners and Apollo commenced a dual-track process as they looked to exit their investment, in which they considered either an initial public offering or a trade sale.
