South Canterbury bond speculators reap fat reward as finance firm fail
The Timaru-based finance company called in the receivers today, triggering the government's retail deposit guarantee which will pay out the face value for the firm's debenture and bond holders.
Prices for the company's listed bond maturing in 2012, after the extended guarantee, fell to a deep discount earlier this year, with the yield reaching 40% in March. That meant audacious punters could buy them cheap and get paid out in full if South Canterbury failed.
"There will be a lot of money made in the listed bonds with prices up to 20, 30 and 40 percent, which was all paid today," chief executive Sandy Maier said in a conference call. "A lot of bets in the casino paid off big time today."
The yield had abated in recent weeks, and was last at 24% before trading in the security was suspended. The government will have to pay-out $125 million on the bonds.
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