Firms seek to raise P4bn from BSE

The BSE’s bond market has grown by P3.3 billion this year, from P16.1 billion at the end of 2019, spurred by new and additional listings of bonds by local corporates and government. Bonds are instruments of indebtedness issued by corporates, parastatals and government to raise funds from investors.

BSE Limited CEO, Thapelo Tsheole said the bourse had noted high momentum in the bond market as companies sought to bulk up their books against the impact of COVID-19. He said the pending applications worth P4 billion “Companies are using this market to come and protect themselves from the difficulties caused by COVID-19,” he said in a televised media briefing last Thursday. “If you are a listed company and have problems with funding, you can approach investors for debt and offer them interest.