Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa Plc., UBA, Kennedy Uzoka says the $500 million Eurobond raised by the bank, which was 240 percent over-subscribed, reflects the strong global investor appetite for UBA’s credit and support for the Group’s pan-African financial services strategy.
According to the Bank, the Global Offering is a five-year senior unsecured benchmark bond (144A/Reg S) listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and will further support the Group’s strategic vision, as it continues to grow its franchise across the continent and client segments.
The bond, which is rated by both Fitch (B, stable outlook) and S&P (B, stable outlook), matures in June 2022 and was issued with a coupon rate of 7.75 percent, priced at an effective yield of 7.875 per cent. This pricing is seen by the global investor community as the best possible pricing for a debut issue from a financial institution of Nigerian origin in current markets. The pricing was at par to the recent bond issue by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which issued $1 billion in February 2017.
Kennedy Uzoka GMD CEO UBA
Investor interest was global, including the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the US.
“This successful dollar-denominated offering further illustrates global investor confidence in the strong fundamentals of our Group. The $500 million bond will complement our stable funding base and support the growth of our balance sheet and the overall business. More importantly, this medium-term funding will further enhance our strength in financing profitable, impactful projects on the African continent,” Uzoka stated.
Also commenting on the Eurobond, the Group CFO, Mr Ugo Nwaghodoh said, “UBA’s debut global offering is another milestone for us. It is timely in the Group’s growth phase and aligns with our strategic plan to profitably grow the balance sheet, as we maintain our prudent risk management and benchmark asset quality ratios.”
The United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than 14 million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 19 African countries. With the presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.
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