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14.11.2023
LINK Bond Yields Shift After Broadcast Divestiture Deal
LINK Bond Yields Shift After Broadcast Divestiture Deal
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LINK's Bond Yield experiences notable fluctuations driven by the recent strategic decision to divest Message Broadcast, introducing shifts in perceived value and risk associated with LINK's financial instruments.

Amidst recent market dynamics and corporate decisions, the bond in focus, LINK 3.375 15-DEC-2025 EUR (NO0010911506), has undergone a significant yield shift. Over the past week, its yield has seen a substantial decrease of 141 basis points, now standing at 7.2%.

Yield curve illustration showing the performance of the LINK bond (NO0010911506), with a 3.375% coupon, due on December 15, 2025, in Euros.

The movement in the bond's yield is attributed to LINK's recent strategic move. On November 7, 2023, LINK announced a definitive agreement to divest Message Broadcast, a segment of its business, to a U.S.-based private equity firm. The enterprise value for this transaction is set at USD 260 million (EUR 243 million), with an additional earnout of up to USD 30 million. This move not only marks an immediate value creation for LINK but also brings about a substantial deleveraging of the group.

Message Broadcast, primarily serving large U.S. utilities, operates with two revenue streams, messaging solutions and critical events messaging. LINK's decision to divest this segment follows a comprehensive strategic review and a bid from the Buyer, signaling a strategic alignment to maximize shareholder value.

The divestiture aims to enhance earnings predictability for LINK by focusing on its core business, ensuring stable organic gross profit growth in the transparent European market. The transaction not only restructures LINK's capital but also positions it for accretive mergers and acquisitions, aligning with LINK's historical pattern of inorganic growth over the past decade.

André Christensen, Chairperson of the Board, expresses satisfaction with the purchase agreement, emphasizing the attractive valuation achieved in a challenging capital market. The new balance sheet resulting from the transaction provides LINK with the flexibility to pursue M&A opportunities, maintaining leverage well below 3.5x adjusted EBITDA.

The settlement of the transaction involves USD 220 million in cash at close, a USD 10 million seller note with a 5% p.a. cash interest maturing in the summer of 2025, and a USD 30 million cash earnout based on Message Broadcast's 2024 performance. The earnout structure is designed to reward growth, aligning with LINK's aspirations for inorganic EBITDA value creation.

This strategic move is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be finalized early next year. The divestiture of Message Broadcast positions LINK to pursue its global ambitions, with the U.S. market remaining a key priority.

LINK remains unrated by any credit agencies.

About LINK

LINK is an award-winning, leading global provider of mobile messaging and communications platform as a service (CPaaS) solutions for increased engagement. The company serves enterprise, SME, and government customers. LINK offers a Wide range of innovative and scalable mobile solutions, creating valuable digital convergence between businesses and customers, governments and citizens, platforms and users. LINK has 50 thousand active customer accounts globally and exchanges 18 billion messages a year. The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

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.