A Distressed Chilean Mobile Operator Is Handing Steep Losses to Its Bondholders
- Bonds fall to new low as company burns through cash reserves
- WOM expects to have refinancing deal by the end of the year
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Bondholders in WOM SA are getting burned as the upstart company that grabbed more than a quarter of Chile’s mobile phone market in less than a decade finally seems to have bitten off more than it can chew.
Its dollar debt due 2024 and 2028 has the worst month-to-date returns of any hard-currency bonds issued by Chilean corporates, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The 2024s have fallen 5.7%, while its 2028s have dropped 7.1%. The 2028’s yield rose to 23.8% from 14.7% a year ago.