Ann: Telix Successfully Prices A$650M Convertible Bonds, page-69

someone may have done this before, if so, apologies (from chatGPT)

why have these companies issued convertible bond notes not regular shares i.e what are the advantages and these notes

ChatGPT

Biotech companies often opt for issuing convertible bond notes rather than regular shares for several strategic and financial reasons. Here’s a breakdown of why convertible bonds might be preferred:

**1. Lower Immediate Dilution

• Convertible Bonds: These bonds can convert into equity (shares) at a future date, allowing the company to raise capital without immediately diluting existing shareholders' equity.
• Regular Shares: Issuing new shares immediately dilutes existing shareholders' ownership, which can impact stock prices and existing equity value.

**2. Attractive Terms for Investors

• Convertible Bonds: Offer a lower interest rate compared to traditional bonds because they provide the potential upside of converting into equity. This makes them attractive to investors who are willing to accept lower interest payments for the possibility of equity upside.
• Regular Shares: Investors might demand higher returns or different terms if the company opts for a straightforward equity raise.

**3. Flexibility in Capital Raising

• Convertible Bonds: Can be structured with various features such as conversion prices, maturity dates, and interest rates, providing flexibility in meeting financing needs and aligning with the company’s strategic goals.
• Regular Shares: Are less flexible and involve immediate equity dilution, which might not be favorable if the company is in a period of rapid growth or undergoing significant changes.

**4. Potentially Lower Cost of Capital

• Convertible Bonds: Typically have lower interest rates than non-convertible bonds due to the embedded option to convert into stock. This can be advantageous for biotech companies with limited cash flow.
• Regular Shares: Raising equity might come with higher costs or affect the company's stock price negatively due to market reactions.

**5. Strategic Financing Tool

• Convertible Bonds: Can be used to bridge financing needs while providing the company time to reach milestones that could potentially increase its stock price. If the company's stock price rises, conversion of the bonds can lead to additional capital without affecting the company's immediate financial standing.
• Regular Shares: Might be more appropriate for companies in stable or mature stages, where immediate capital needs are pressing and the market conditions are favorable.

**6. Enhanced Investor Appeal

• Convertible Bonds: Attract investors who are interested in the potential for equity upside and the fixed-income security of the bond. This can widen the pool of potential investors and potentially secure better financing terms.
• Regular Shares: Might not attract as broad a range of investors, especially in the case of early-stage biotech firms where risk is high.

**7. Market Conditions

• Convertible Bonds: Might be more favorable in volatile or uncertain market conditions where traditional equity offerings could be less attractive to investors or more challenging to execute.
• Regular Shares: Can be less attractive in volatile markets where investors may be wary of equity dilution or unfavorable market reactions.

**8. Balance Sheet Management

• Convertible Bonds: Initially appear as debt on the balance sheet, which can be advantageous for maintaining flexibility. As they convert to equity, the debt is reduced, potentially improving the company's debt-to-equity ratio over time.
• Regular Shares: Increase equity immediately but do not provide the same flexibility or potential for debt reduction.

In summary, convertible bonds offer a hybrid financing option that provides flexibility, lower immediate dilution, and potentially lower costs compared to issuing regular shares, which can be particularly valuable for biotech companies with high growth potential and significant capital needs.