Hershey CDS Price Hits High

New York, NY (TheStreet) -- Hershey(HSY Quote) investors are betting that the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups maker will default on its debt obligations over mounting speculation that it will try to outbid Kraft's offer for Cadbury.

Credit default swaps for Hershey have risen 14 basis points to 92 basis points - and, earlier, reached 100 basis points -- according to broker Phoenix Partners Group, reports Bloomberg.

The credit default swaps are being traded by speculators betting against the company's creditworthiness, and other investors as a protection or insurance for their investments as the company's risk profile increases.

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The five-year Hershey credit default swaps have been changing hands at their highest levels since mid-December of last year, says Bloomberg, citing CMA DataVision.

Meanwhile, Cadbury(CBY Quote) shares have soared to five-year record highs, following reports of another bidder in addition to Kraft(KFT Quote), Hershey and a possible Hershey-Ferrero joint-bid. The Swiss food giant Nestlé( NSRGY Quote) is rumored to be another interested suitor.

Kraft has made a $16.4 billion hostile bid for Cadbury, but observers predict that it will ultimately raise its offer through pressure from the other interested parties.

Shares of Hershey have slid 1.4% to $36.38. Cadbury is trading up 2.2% at $53.98. Kraft is up 0.7% at $27.36.

-- Reported by Andrea Tse in New York

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