British Airways owner IAG raises 1.2 billion euros in bond issue

By Sarah Young and Abhinav Ramnarayan

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways owner IAG raised 1.2 billion euros ($1.43 billion) through a bond issue it said would help to see it through what could be a longer than expected pandemic-driven travel downturn.

Airlines are counting on a summer travel reboot after a year of minimal income because of coronavirus restrictions, but rising case numbers in some countries and delays to the vaccine rollout in Europe could derail the recovery.

IAG, which also owns Iberia and Vueling in Spain and Aer Lingus in Ireland, last month said it had sufficient liquidity to ride out the crisis, but on Thursday the group decided to add to its war chest.

Announcing final terms of the bond, IAG said that demand was higher than expected, enabling it to raise 1.2 billion euros, up from the 1 billion originally planned.

It said the proceeds could be used to withstand a more prolonged downturn or provide "flexibility to take advantage of a recovery in demand for air travel".

IAG, which is burning through about 185 million euros a week as a result of the pandemic, has been cutting costs while flying only 20% of its normal capacity.

The senior unsecured bonds were issued in two tranches, with 500 million euros due in 2025 and 700 million euros due in 2029. They were priced at a yield of 2.75% for the first tranche and 3.75% for the second tranche.

IAG said settlement is expected on March 25.

In a low-rate environment and with economies set to reopen, bond investors have become increasingly keen to buy debt from well-known airlines because it is one of the few sectors still offering a high yield, a source familiar with the deal said.

The average yield for European junk-rated corporate debt is 2.59%, Markit's Iboxx indices show.

Although IAG lost its investment grade rating last year after the pandemic wreaked havoc on airlines, progress on COVID-19 vaccinations has led investors to revisit the sector.

"Airlines is one of the few corners of the bond market still offering some juice," the source said. "With international travel expected to reopen this year, investors feel comfortable owning this debt."

Lufthansa and easyJet have both tapped bond markets in recent months, with the German airline repaying a big portion of a government bailout after its latest 1.6 billion euro debt sale and easyJet raising 1.2 billion euros in February.

BBVA, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Santander are managing the IAG issue.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Alexander Smith and David Goodman)