World: SABMiller raises 1 bln euros in a bonds sale

SABMiller Plc raised 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) from its first sale of bonds in the currency in three years as companies from G4S Plc to TeliaSonera AB tapped into Europe’s credit-market rally, Bloomberg reported on November, 29.

The world’s second-biggest brewer issued the notes due January 2020 to yield 70 basis points more than the swaps rate, according to people familiar with the deal. Debt issuance will top at least 16.4 billion euros this week, the busiest since Sept. 16 and above the year’s weekly average of 14 billion euros.

Companies are taking advantage of a rally that pushed the cost of insuring the region’s bank debt to near the lowest in 16 months as they raise funds before the holiday period. Corporate bonds in Europe yield a record low 2.2 percent, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s EMU Corporate index shows.

“These are the last weeks before the holidays, so the last chance to issue this year,” said Harold Van Acht, senior credit analyst at Kempen Capital Management NV in Amsterdam. “Both absolute yield and credit spread levels are generally attractive for issuers and investors still want to put cash to work.”

London-based SABMiller last sold bonds in euros in July 2009 when it raised 1 billion euros of notes due January 2015 priced to yield 170 basis points more than the benchmark swaps rate, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

TeliaSonera, Sweden’s largest telephone company, sold 400 million pounds ($641 million) of bonds due in 30 years, its first deal in the currency, at a spread of 135 basis points more than gilts, according to people familiar with the transaction. British security provider G4S marketed 500 million euros of six- year bonds at 167 basis points more than swaps.