Washington, DC, April 6, 2009 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) priced today a CHF 425 million 10-year maturity bond issue denominated in Swiss francs (CHF). This transaction was joint lead-managed by Credit Suisse and UBS Investment Bank and marks the return of the issuer to the CHF market after an absence of more than 11 years.
Banks were given the green light to conduct a discreet soft-sounding for a CHF 400 million bond issue with a small number of investors on Monday morning, April 6. Feedback from the soft-sounding was extremely positive and the books were open in the early in the afternoon. The book grew steadily and additional interest from institutional investors allowed for the final launch and pricing of a CHF 425 million transaction. The bonds were priced with a spread of +18 basis points over the mid swap reference for 10 years, which translated into an annual coupon of 2.75%, to yield 2.743%.
The primary distribution included 54 accounts, with ticket sizes ranging from CHF100,000 to CHF 60 million. All investors were domiciled in Switzerland. The breakdown by type of investor was as follows:
Investor Distribution:
Insurance companies 49%
Banks 30%
Pension Funds 13%
Asset Managers 8%
The success of this transaction highlights the strong name recognition and rarity appeal enjoyed by the World Bank, as well as its practice of offering high quality and liquid instruments to investors. The issue definitely sets a strong reference in the CHF capital market, as a benchmark for the sector but also for future issuance in the currency.
“This issue marks our return to the Swiss Franc market, and we are gratified to see that the World Bank name has again been so enthusiastically welcomed by a broad range of Swiss investors,” said Doris Herrera-Pol, Director and Global Head of Capital Markets at the World Bank.
Transactions Details:
Issuer: World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD)
Issuer Ratings: Aaa / AAA
Amount: CHF 425 million
Issue Type: Public fixed rate bonds
Coupon: 2.750% (annual)
Issue Price: 100.811%
Reoffer Price: 100.061%
Settlement Date: May 7, 2009
Maturity Date: May 7, 2019
Denomination: CHF 5,000 and multiples thereof
Documentation: Off the issuer’s Global Debt Issuance Facility
Business Days: Zurich
Listing: SIX Swiss Exchange
Clearing Systems: Euroclear, Clearstream
ISIN: CH0100128385
The World Bank is a global development cooperative owned by its member countries. Its purpose is to help its members achieve equitable and sustainable economic growth in their economies and to find solutions to regional and global problems in economic development and environmental sustainability, all with a view to reducing poverty and improving standards of living. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody’s/S&P) is owned by 185 countries. It is the oldest and largest entity in the World Bank Group and provides its members with financing, risk management products, and other financing services, as well as specialized expertise and strategic and convening services requested by its member countries. To fund this activity, IBRD has been issuing debt securities in the international capital markets for 60 years. The World Bank is one of the most recognized and innovative borrowers in the international capital markets. The World Bank designed and issued the first global bond in 1989. Information on the World Bank, its global bonds and a variety of other offerings available for investors is on the World Bank Treasury website (http://www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities).
