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30.01.2024
Grifols Bond Yield Falls Amid Legal Battle with Short-Seller
Grifols Bond Yield Falls Amid Legal Battle with Short-Seller
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Grifols' bond yield saw a notable drop following its legal action against Gotham City Research over accounting irregularities, sparking a lawsuit and regulatory scrutiny as Grifols denies wrongdoing and seeks damages for the decline in stock value.

The GRFSM 1.625 15-Feb-2025 EUR bond (XS2076836555) has witnessed a notable shift in its yield, dropping by 108 basis points to 4.8% over the past ten days.

Yield curve illustration showing the performance of the GRFSM bond (XS2076836555), with a 1.625% coupon, due on February 15, 2025, in Euros.

The drastic alteration in the bond's yield stems from recent legal action undertaken by Spanish pharmaceutical giant Grifols against short-seller fund Gotham City Research and its affiliates. Grifols initiated a lawsuit against Daniel Yu, the founder of Gotham City Research, along with his company and associates, concerning a report released by the fund that alleged accounting irregularities within Grifols.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, seeks damages for the detrimental impact the report had on Grifols' stock value, which plummeted by over 30%, equating to a loss exceeding 2.8 billion euros. Grifols vehemently denied any wrongdoing and emphasized its intention to pursue both injunctive and monetary relief against the defendants.

The report by Gotham City Research prompted regulatory scrutiny from the Spanish supervisor CNMV, which is investigating the allegations against Grifols and assessing whether Gotham's actions complied with European market regulations. Notably, Grifols' board members highlighted the potential conflict of interest for Gotham, as the fund stood to profit from the decline in Grifols' share price due to its significant short positions.

The company's senior unsecured debt is rated as follows: 'B+' by Fitch, 'B-' by S&P, and 'Caa1' by Moody's.

Moody's estimates indicate that Grifols' consolidated leverage was at 8.4x by June 2023 after the €1.6 billion debt reduction from the asset sale, with a projected improvement to a range of 5.5x-6.0x in 2024 driven by revenue growth and cost savings initiatives.

About Grifols

Grifols SA, headquartered in Spain, specializes in the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. The company operates across four main business segments: Bioscience, Hospital, Diagnostic, and Raw Materials. The Bioscience division is dedicated to researching, developing, manufacturing, and marketing products derived from human plasma for therapeutic purposes. The Hospital division provides non-biological pharmaceutical products and medical supplies to hospital pharmacies. The Diagnostic division supplies clinical analysis and laboratory testing tools to laboratories, hospitals, and blood banks. The Raw Materials division encompasses the sale of intermediate biological products and manufacturing services to third parties. Grifols SA has production facilities in various locations, including Spain, the United States, Mexico, and Australia, and controls several subsidiaries. Grifols SA has a market capitalization of €5.93 billion as of January 26, 2024.

This article does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bondfish does not recommend using the data and information provided as the only basis for making any investment decision. You should not make any investment decisions without first conducting your own research and considering your own financial situation.