The World Bank announced today that in the coming weeks it plans to launch its fourth U.S. dollar global bond issue. The new issue, which will be between $1.0 billion and $1.5 billion in size, will be underwritten and distributed simultaneously in the Euromarkets and in the U.S. and the Japanese domestic markets. As with the prior issues, these securities are designed to trade globally, on a 24-hour basis, through integrated clearing systems in the U.S. and the Euromarkets.
In preparation for the issue the Bank announced the formation of the management group of investment dealers that will bring the issue to market. Merrill Lynch Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. will serve as joint lead managers. The other members of the management team are Credit Suisse First Boston Limited, Daiwa Securities, Deutsche Bank Capital Markets Group, Goldman, Sachs & Co., IBJ International Limited, Nomura Securities, Salomon Brothers Inc., and UBS Phillips & Drew Securities Limited.
