What is a Warrant?

What is a Warrant?

James Eves

30 years: Equity capital markets

In this discussion of warrants, James touches on the details of warrants and explains Siemens’ 2012 issuance.

In this discussion of warrants, James touches on the details of warrants and explains Siemens’ 2012 issuance.

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What is a Warrant?

2 mins 59 secs

Overview

A warrant in the equity-linked market is usually a call option. This is an instrument with a fixed maturity that offers the buyer the chance to pay a fixed price for shares at a premium to the existing share price.

Key learning objectives:

  • Define a warrant

  • Explain how a warrant is priced

  • Discuss how a bond plus warrant package can be traded separately and why it may be desirable.

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Summary

What is the difference between an American and a European option?

American Option – An option that can be exercised at any time before the expiration date.

European Option – An option that can only be exercised at the expiration date.

How is the value/price of a warrant determined?

Considering the following:

  1. Volatility of underlying shares
  2. The Dividend Yield
  3. Premium to current share price
  4. Maturity

What is a bond plus warrant package, and why would issuers use this?

This is mostly seen in the equity-linked market. In theory, the 2 parts can be traded separately as a straight bond and an independent warrant.

With the mark-to-market, the value of warrants is recognised through changes in the underlying share price, to avoid this, issuers may issue a bond in their desired currency and have a warrant in their ‘functional’ currency. This meant that the conversion of the warrants would be based on its fundamental share price performance rather than being influenced by changes in FX rates.

What is an example of this?

Siemens (a German engineering company) wanted USD debt financing – however, its functional currency was Euros. As a result, they issued a $3bn bond with Euro-dominated warrants in 2012.

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James Eves

James Eves

Career banker with over 25 years working in investment banking. James has worked in many aspects of banking including equity capital markets, origination, IPOs and hybrid capital.

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