The NZX have advised the market today that Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has received notice from Washington Securities Pty Ltd that it intends to make an unsolicited offer to bondholders to purchase their Fonterra 7.75% bonds due 10/03/15 (NZX: FCG010).
Washington Securities is intending to offer bondholders $0.80 per bond, significantly less than the current market value (which was $1.07438 per bond at the close of trade on Wednesday 14 August 2013).
The proposed offer is expected to open on 19 August and close on 7 October 2013.
However, bondholders should be aware that Washington Securities may make further offers to targeted groups of bondholders over the next six months.
This is not the first time Washington Securities has made unsolicited offers to New Zealand investors, having targeted other listed debt and equity issuers in recent months.
Fonterra strongly recommends that any bondholder who receives a letter from Washington seek independent financial advice and check the most recent market price for their bonds at ww.nzx.com/markets/NZDX/bonds/FCG010.
Bondholders are under no obligation to accept any offer or to take any action in respect of it. Further, bondholders have the right to cancel any acceptance of the offer up to 10 working days after the date on which they accepted the offer.
For further indicative bond pricing investors can refer to our bond section here.
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