Brussels, 27 March 2013– NYSE Euronext (NYX) today announced a successful €250 million bond issue on its Brussels-market by UCB, the Belgium-based global biopharmaceutical group.
UCB focuses on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With around 9.000 people in about 40 countries, the company generated revenue of €3.4 billion in 2012.
The bonds, issued by UCB on 7 years with a maturity date in 2020, have been entirely subscribed for the maximum amount of €250 million. Consequently, the subscription period was closed early. The UCB bonds, priced at a nominal of €1000, offer a coupon of 3.75% per year.
“We are delighted with the success of UCB’s bond offering on NYSE Euronext”, said Vincent Van Dessel, Chairman and CEO of NYSE Euronext Brussels.“Bonds offer businesses an attractive source of additional funding that is both flexible and efficient, and we are convinced that the bond offering encourages individual investors to return to the market.” Alain Baetens, Head of Listings Belgium at NYSE Euronext, adds:“Our goal at NYSE Euronext is to channel domestic savings back into productive investment and allow the stock exchange to steadily increase its contribution to financing the real economy.”
BNP Paribas Fortis, ING Belgium and KBC Bank acted as joint lead managers for the issue of this bond.
To celebrate the new listing, Roch Doliveux, CEO of UCB, rang the bell to open trading on NYSE Euronext’s European market. He was accompanied by members of UCB’s management team as well as Vincent Van Dessel, Chairman and CEO of NYSE Euronext Brussels and the listing team.