(May 11): Amazon.com, Inc is preparing to issue Swiss franc bonds for the first time, as Big Tech hyperscalers turn to new debt markets to fund artificial intelligence (AI) spending.
Amazon has mandated BNP Paribas SA, Deutsche Bank AG and JPMorgan Chase & Co for a six-part Swiss franc bond sale across maturities from three to 25 years, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.
A representative for Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tech companies have issued a series of bumper-sized bonds in Europe as they diversify beyond dollar debt to raise huge sums earmarked for investment in AI infrastructure. Google parent company Alphabet Inc raised about three billion Swiss francs (US$3.9 billion) in February, the most ever by a corporate borrower, while Amazon’s debut euro bond in March set the same record for that currency.
Amazon, Meta Platforms Inc, Microsoft Corp and Alphabet are planning to invest as much as US$725 billion this year in AI data centre equipment and other capital expenditure, a bigger tally than previously expected.
“The Swiss market continues to offer steady demand for high-grade names and a strong bid for familiar US corporate issuers,” said Apostolos Bantis, a managing director of fixed income at Union Bancaire Privee Ubp SA. “Issuing several maturities at once also lets borrowers tap different investor pockets, raise more money, and keep concessions tight while the window remains open,” Bantis added.
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