What is the exchange offer?

An exchange offer is a financial transaction where a company offers its bondholders or shareholders the option to exchange their existing securities for new securities, often to adjust terms such as interest rates, maturity dates, or other financial conditions. This can be part of financial restructuring to extend maturities, reduce debt outstanding, or convert debt into equity. In mergers and acquisitions, it involves offering shareholders the chance to exchange their shares for securities, cash, or a combination of both. The mechanism can also be used in various other contexts, including debt settlement, equity restructuring, and even product exchanges where customers can trade in old products for new ones under specific terms and conditions[5).