Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) announced
a massive $14 billion corporate bond sale this week. The company plans on using the proceeds for stock repurchases, dividend
payments, debt refinancing and other budget items.
While certainly impressive, Oracle’s sale is not even one of the five biggest corporate bond sales of all time.
The Top 5
Here are the top five:
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T):
$17.5 billion (2015)
Last year, AT&T held a huge bond sale to finance its purchase of DirecTV, the largest U.S. satellite-TV provider. The deal
went off without a hitch, and investor interest was reportedly four times the amount offered.
Dell: $20 billion
(2016)
Back in May, Dell sold $20 billion in bonds to fund its buyout of EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC). The deal was originally slated to raise $16 billion, but the total was
upped to $20 billion due to overwhelming investor interest.
Actavis: $21 billion (2015)
Actavis had no problems raising the funding it needed to buy Allergan in 2015. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
(ADR) (NYSE: TEVA) then stepped in and scooped up
Allergan’s generic drugs business.
Related Link: Citi
Researchers Speculate On Next Interest Rate Move
Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (ADR) (NYSE: BUD): $46 billion (2016)
This staggering bond sale earlier this year was intended to raise funding for a buyout of SABMiller (SABMiller plc
(ADR) (OTC: SBMRY)). While it may not be the largest
corporate bond sale in history, it did set the record for the most investor orders when it received $110 billion in
demand.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ): $49
billion (2013)
Even with the surge in global demand for corporate bonds in the past two years, the largest deal in history has held its spot
for three years now. Back in 2013, Verizon held this massive $49 billion sale to fund its buyout of Vodaphone Group Plc
(ADR) (NASDAQ: VOD)’s 45 percent stake in
Verizon.
Disclosure: The author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.
© 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.