Number crunchers turn positive on telecoms

EUROPEAN BONDS

       
Deutsche Telekom’s slow progress in selling
assets has worried the ratings agencies

Should credit investors be starting to look favourably at European telecom bonds despite the volatility of the market?

Immediate indications suggest not. There are still credit concerns about France Telecom’s contingent liabilities and at Deutsche Telekom deleveraging is making slow progress. Vodafone faces questions about whether goodwill from acquisitions is overstated on its balance sheet.

Technical factors are also worrying investors. The frantic hedging efforts of bank lenders committing themselves to France Telecom’s e15 billion ($13 billion) syndicated refinancing facility last month blew out the company’s spreads in the credit default swap market, spooking bondholders.

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