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Not Even Debt Swelling to $35 Billion Fazes Eskom's Bondholders

Not Even Debt Swelling to $35 Billion Fazes Eskom's Bondholders

(Bloomberg) -- Bondholders of Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. appear to be taking South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa at his word.

Even as data showed the state-owned power utility’s debt is approaching $35 billion, yields on the company’s dollar bonds ticked lower on Wednesday as investors bet the government would step in to prevent any chance of a default.

Not Even Debt Swelling to $35 Billion Fazes Eskom's Bondholders

“Eskom is too big to fail,” Ramaphosa said at an investor conference organized by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in Johannesburg, his first engagement with businesses since he won a five-year term in May 8 elections. “If Eskom fails, this economy fails.”

Yields on Eskom’s $1.75 billion of 2021 securities dropped three basis points to 6.31%, and are trading well below the average of 7.24% over the past year. The yield is down 14 basis points since May 8, when Ramaphosa’s ruling African National Congress won a majority in parliamentary elections. Rates on dollar bonds due 2023, 2025 and 2028 also declined.

Eskom’s dollar bonds are rated CCC+ at S&P Global Ratings, seven levels below investment grade and five steps lower than South Africa’s sovereign assessment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Brand in Cape Town at rbrand9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dana El Baltaji at delbaltaji@bloomberg.net

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