Flying high - the rise and rise of Europe's high-yield bond market

Last year was very busy for issuers and underwriters of high-yield debt securities and the lawyers who act for them. After closing down in August of 2007, the high-yield market in Europe re-opened in the latter half of 2009 and became increasingly busy in the following months. In 2010, global new issuances of high-yield debt securities reached an all-time high of approximately $317bn (£196bn), up from $189bn (£117bn) in 2009. In Europe alone, new issuances amounted to $66.1bn (£40.8bn), up from $44.1bn (£27bn) in 2009. In January 2011, $35.1bn (£21.6bn) of high-yield debt securities were issued globally, of which $9.4bn (£5.8bn) was issued in Europe. If this trend continues, 2011 will be an even bigger year for high-yield than 2010.

March 01, 2011 at 02:54 AM

6 minute read

Europe's high-yield debt market has begun a period of growth and the region's law firms are poised to increasingly pick up mandates in the US-dominated sector. Shearman & Sterling's Ward McKimm and Rebecca Marques report

In Europe alone, new issuances amounted to $66.1bn (£40.8bn), up from $44.1bn (£27bn) in 2009. In January 2011, $35.1bn (£21.6bn) of high-yield debt securities were issued globally, of which $9.4bn (£5.8bn) was issued in Europe. If this trend continues, 2011 will be an even bigger year for high-yield than 2010.

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