FG launches diaspora bond to fund budget deficit

08 Jun 2017
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The DMO said the federal government has filed a statement for the diaspora bond with the United States Securities and Exchange and an application will be made for the bond to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Nigerian Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun

The Debt Management Office has announced the commencement of Nigeria’s first diaspora bond, which is targeted at Nigerians living abroad, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Earlier in January, Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance announced that the National Assembly had approved the diaspora bond and the proceeds will be used to support the government’s development agenda and budget deficit. The minister said the diaspora bond – which could reach $300 million –  will be rolled out after the government completed its $1 billion Eurobond offering.

The DMO said the federal government has filed a statement for the diaspora bond with the United States Securities and Exchange and an application will be made for the bond to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited have been appointed as international joint lead managers, while First Bank of Nigeria and United Bank for Africa have been appointed as the Nigerian lead managers.

“The bonds will be direct, general obligations of Nigeria, denominated in U.S. Dollars,” the DMO said. “There will be a series of investor meetings in the United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland commencing on June 13, 2017. Pricing is expected to occur following the investor meetings, subject to market conditions.”


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