Abu Dhabi prices $10bn of bonds

06 October 2019
The transaction was oversubscribed and is made up of 5- ,10- and 30-year tranches

Abu Dhabi has priced a $10bn multi-tranche international bond offering.

The transaction comprised three tranches: a $3bn tranche at 2.125 per cent due in 2024, priced at 65 basis points (bps) over US Treasuries; a $3bn tranche at 2.5 per cent due in 2029, priced at 85 bps over US Treasuries; and a $4bn tranche at 3.125 per cent due in 2049, priced at 110 bps over US Treasuries.

The Department of Finance said the bonds were well received in the international debt capital markets, with the order book peaking at more than $25bn. Orders came from more than 650 unique accounts.

"We are pleased to witness the achievement of the lowest ever coupons by the government of the emirate of Abu Dhabi since the debut issuance in 2007," said Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba al-Zaabi, chairman of the Department of Finance Abu Dhabi.

"The government of the emirate of Abu Dhabi has managed to achieve the tightest 5-, 10- and 30-year coupon for a GCC conventional bond. This reflects on the investors’ high confidence in the emirate’s wise leadership, continuous focused growth strategy as well as its high buffers."

The final geographical allocation for the bonds stood at 78 per cent from international investors and 22 per cent from Middle East investors.

BNP Paribas, Citigroup, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan and MUFG were joint lead managers and joint bookrunners, and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and SMBC Nikko were co-lead managers for the offering.

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