Lovells energises EDF’s coffers with e1bn bond issue

Lovells capital markets head Sharon Lewis advised EDF on the euro medium term note (EMTN). The issuance is the first tranche of EDF’s programme, which has a limit of e16bn.

Clifford Chance Paris partner Cedric Burford advised BNP Paribas as arranger of the programme.

Lewis said: “I think it’ll have a specific impact on the market and is likely to be followed by other issuers. It enables the corporates to tap a wider market than the institutional investors that have become subject to many limits, in particular the absence of liquidity due to the credit crunch.”

She added that documentation had to adhere to the French financial ­markets authority while also being consistent with ­English language loan ­documentation.

“It was the first retail offering by a French corporate in years and France’s first one ever of an EMTN programme,” Lewis said.

In September 2008 Lovells advised EDF on its £11bn debt raising for its acquisition of British ­Energy. Clifford Chance advised British Energy, while Herbert Smith advised EDF on the bid.