Greek bond swap deadline today

Investors in Greek government debt worldwide will tell regulators today whether and how they will participate in a bond swap aimed at giving Athens more time to emerge from a debt crisis, with officials expecting a take-up of about 70 per cent.

Athens gave banks and insurers in 57 countries until September 9th to say whether they intend to take its debt exchange offer, a key part of a second €109 billion bailout package it clinched at a July 21st euro zone summit to avoid bankruptcy.

"September 9th is the cutoff date and it is very likely that we may have a bigger response rate as bond holders rush on the last day," a source close to the procedure said on condition of anonymity.

Greece had threatened to cancel the deal unless it got 90 per cent participation, which would see €135 billion of its outstanding bonds maturing by 2020 swapped or rolled over in a global transaction it wants to conclude next month.

But the country is not in a strong position to walk away from the scheme. It is already faced with the threat of its EU partners blocking an €8 billion bailout aid tranche if it does not improve its debt-cutting performance.

Greek authorities have said they are pleased with the progress of the private-sector involvement (PSI) programme without disclosing details on take-up rates, which bankers say are around 70 per cent - a level they say would still be considered successful.

"Even with a participation rate of 70 percent or better, which is my current view, the PSI will proceed," said an Athens-based banker close to the procedures.

German investors share that view, a big German bondholder told Reuters. A 75 per cent takeup rate would be a success and enough to convince the political side of the deal, 90 per cent was unrealistic from the beginning, he said.

The threat to walk away may merely be a tactic by Athens to get most of bondholders on board, bankers said.

Greece is not planning any announcement on Friday as bondholders' non-binding responses must be aggregated by their respective regulators which will then send data to Athens, a process that may take time, the debt agency chief has said.

A high participation rate would give Athens cash-flow relief and more time to get its fiscal house in order amid rising worries that its commitment and ability to implement economic reforms prescribed by its international lenders is wavering.

If it goes through, the deal may offer some short-term relief to riskier assets and may push Bunds lower, but the move is likely to be short-lived given that Greece is missing its fiscal targets and EU/IMF aid is at risk.
"In a way we are more concerned about Greece getting their money than about this debt swap. There is a risk that Greece will soon run out of money," one trader said.

"The Greek situation is not getting any better and the Italian situation is monitored very closely so I don't see why we shouldn't see any (Bund) buyers on any pullback," the trader said.

Pressured by their taxpayers, euro zone governments insisted that the private sector shared the burden of averting a financial collapse in Greece before agreeing to the new bailout.

A low participation rate in Greece's debt swap may mean reluctant euro zone partners will have to come up with more cash for the overall package to work.

But a take-up rate close to target will not require major plumbing to adjust the rescue package, bankers said, adding that the shortfall could be covered by reallocating funds.

A source close to the procedure expected strong take-up in Europe, where the majority of Greek debt was sold for years.

Reuters