Sydney, April 14, 2010 – The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, rated Aaa/AAA) today priced increases to both its existing Australian dollar benchmark bonds due November 9, 2016 and October 21, 2019. These transactions mark the return of the World Bank to this market after it issued its successful A$1.5 billion 5.75% benchmark due February 17, 2015 earlier this year.
The details for the increased lines are as follows:
The existing 6.00% November 9, 2016 line was increased by A$500 million (from previously A$500 million) to a total of A$1 billion. The increase has an issue price of 99.197 (plus 2.702 accrued interest) to yield 6.15% s/a, which equates to a spread over the February 15, 2017 ACGB of 46.25 basis points.
The existing 5.75% October 21, 2019 line was increased by A$900 million (from previously A$600 million), to a total of A$1.5 billion. The increase has an issue price of 95.837 to yield 6.34% s/a, which equates to a spread over the March 15, 2019 ACGB of 58.75 basis points.
The settlement date for both transactions is April 21, 2010.
The joint lead-managers for the transactions are RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank, and Westpac Banking Group.
The new benchmark offering was launched with an initial target total size of A$600 million across both tranches but the demand grew quickly to allow a total increase across both tranches of A$1.4 billion.
The distribution reflects the highest quality and breadth of investors. The notes were placed with institutional investors in Australia 61%, Asia 21%, Europe 16%, and North America 2%. The investor mix included official institutions, fund managers, banks and insurance companies. Investors remain attracted to the rarity value of the issuer in this market, the global recognition of the name, the strength of the credit, and the continued strategic approach of the World Bank in accessing the Australian Dollar benchmark market.
This transaction cements World Bank as the largest issuer in the Kangaroo market for this calendar year with a total volume of A$2.9 billion. Additionally, it adds liquidity to the existing points on the World Bank Australian dollar benchmark curve.
“We continuously strive to provide investors around the world with the highest quality products that meet their specific investment preferences. Our dialogue with investors is instrumental for us to implement our demand-driven strategy in various markets, and Australia is strategically important for us. By increasing the size of these Australian dollar World Bank benchmarks, we were able to support their liquidity and meet the requests of a diverse group of investors around the world” said Doris Herrera-Pol, Director and Global Head of Capital Markets at the World Bank.
“Today’s transaction reaffirms the World Banks position in the Australian bond market. This transaction had some clear goals, primarily to add liquidity to the existing lines and to bring both the 2016 and the 2019 to a minimum A$1 billion in total outstandings and this was comfortably achieved, with the 2019’s receiving particularly strong interest. We are pleased to have worked with the World Bank and our other joint lead managers to execute this successful transaction" said James Arnold Vice President Debt Capital Markets RBC.
"A very pleasing result for the World Bank in an extremely busy period of primary markets activity which has reconfirmed our view the World Bank remains one of the pre-eminent borrowers in the Australian dollar market” saidDean O’Hara , Head of Syndicate at UBS Investment Bank.
"This is another highly successful transaction for the World Bank which highlights the strength of the name in international capital markets. The strong pricing achieved on the transaction and the overall quality and diversity of the book were testament to this." Becky Giulieri, Director, Frequent Borrowers and Syndicate” said Becky Giulieri, Director, Frequent Borrowers and Syndicate at Westpac Banking Group.
The notes are issued under the laws of New South Wales and documented under the World Bank's Global Debt Issuance Facility. The notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, will settle through Austraclear, Euroclear and Clearstream, and qualify as eligible collateral for repurchase agreements for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s open market operations.
About the World Bank
The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody’s/S&P), is an international organization created in 1944. It operates as a global development cooperative owned by 186 nations. It provides its members with financing, expertise and coordination services so they can achieve equitable and sustainable economic growth in their national economies and find effective solutions to pressing regional and global economic and environmental problems. The overriding goal is to achieve major, sustainable improvements in standards of living worldwide. It has been issuing bonds in the international capital markets for over 60 years to fund its activities. Information on bonds for investors is available on the World Bank Treasury website: (www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities).
