Bespoke convertibles make a comeback

After a few years of dormancy, convertible bond issuance in emerging Europe and the Middle East is picking up again. A few innovative and highly structured deals have priced this year and bankers are confident of more transactions. Sudip Roy reports on factors driving the activity and the types of investors involved.

WHEN EGYPTIAN COMPANY Weather Investments bought Italy’s Wind Telecom for €12.1 billion last August, analysts heralded the deal as a benchmark transaction. It was, at that time, Europe’s biggest-ever leveraged buyout and also the largest-ever acquisition in Europe by a Middle East/Africa concern. Just as impressive is the financing strategy behind the acquisition. One element is an €825 million exchangeable bond that was issued in February.

The seven-year bond proved a big hit with investors and was several times oversubscribed.

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