Telecommunications infrastructure operator CETIN Group, majority owned by PPF Group, has successfully placed a five-year unsecured senior EUR 500 million Eurobond, which matures on 14 April 2027 and carries a fixed annual coupon of 3.125%. Amid difficult market conditions impacted by the war in Ukraine, the order book peaked above EUR 950 million. CETIN Group witnessed strong demand from more than 80 high-quality international investors, primarily asset managers from the UK, Benelux, France, Germany, Austria, and Nordics. 

As in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, a PPF Group company is re-opening the Eurobond market as the first private issuer in the CEE telecommunications sector. 

“I am very pleased by the strong investor demand, confirming their confidence in the business strategy and solid financial position of PPF. For CETIN Group, this is an inaugural Eurobond issue, and it also takes place shortly after the AAA-rated global investment fund GIC became a minority shareholder of CETIN Group,” said PPF CFO Kateřina Jirásková. 

“The successful bond issue will boost CETIN Group’s position as a strong player in the European infrastructure market with long-term contracts generating strong and stable cash flows. All net proceeds from the bond will be used to refinance the existing bank loan facilities of CETIN Group,” added Juraj Šedivý, CEO of CETIN Group. 

The issue’s Global Coordinators were BNP Paribas, Société Générale and UniCredit. HSBC and ING acted as Active Bookrunners, while Crédit Agricole, Credit Suisse, and PPF Banka were Passive Bookrunners. The Co-Managers were the Bank of China, Erste Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Raiffeisen Bank International.