The Federal Government has raised funds from its external debt requirements to finance the 2018 budget at a considerably lower cost than projected.
Following the successful pricing, Minister of Finance Mrs Zainab Ahmed said: โNigeria is investing strategically in critical capital projects to bridge our infrastructure deficit, provide a better operating environment for the private sector, and improve the standard of living of our citizens.
โThe proceeds of this issuance will provide critical financing for projects in transportation, power, agriculture, housing, healthcare and education as well as the capital elements of our social investment programmes. Nigeriaโs Economic Recovery and Growth plan is delivering results.โ
A statement last night by Paul Ela Abechi of the federal ministry of finance said Nigeria successfully raised the funds โdespite significant oil and wider macro market volatility.โ
Abechi, media adviser to the minister, noted that โthe successful transaction follows closely behind Nigeriaโs successful engagement with the Fitch rating agency, and their subsequent decision to change the outlook on Nigeriaโs sovereign rating from B+ (negative) to B+ (stable), based on improving macro-economic fundamentals.โ
He added: โThe Federal Republic of Nigeria (the โRepublicโ) today announces that it has priced its offering of $2.86 billion aggregate principal amount of triple series notes (the โNotesโ) under its Global Medium Term Note Programme.
โThe offering has attracted significant interest from leading global institutional investors with a peak combined order book of over $9.5 billion, which reflects an over-subscription of more than three times and demonstrates the on-going confidence of international capital market investors in Nigeriaโs investment story.โ
The Notes he said โcomprise a US$1.18 billion seven-year series, US$1.00 billion 12-year series and a US$750 million 30-year series. The seven-year series will bear interest at a rate of 7.625 per cent, while the 12-year series will bear interest at a rate of 8.75 per cent, and the 30-year series will bear interest at a rate of 9.25 per cent. In each case, they will be repayable with a bullet repayment of the principal on maturity.โ
The offering is expected to close on or about November 21, 2018, subject to the satisfaction of various customary closing conditions. โNigeria intends to use the proceeds of the Notes towards funding of the fiscal deficit and other financing needs. The Notes represent the Republicโs sixth Eurobond issuance, following issuances in 2011, 2013, two in 2017 and one in early 2018 and its first triple-tranche offeringโ Abechi said.
When issued, the Notes will be admitted to the official list of the UK Listing Authority and available to trade on the London Stock Exchangeโs regulated market. Nigeria can also apply for the Notes to be eligible for trading and listed on the Nigerian FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
The pricing Abechi pointed out โwas determined following a series of meetings with investors in London and conference calls with investors globally attended by the Nigerian delegation, which comprised the Minister of Finance, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha, and Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze.
The Joint Lead Managers for the issuance were Citibank Global Markets Limited and Standard Chartered Bank and the financial advisors were FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.
Commenting on the Notesโ pricing, the DMO Director General, Patience Oniha said:
โNigeriaโs continued ability to access the international markets to raise capital is a testament to investorโs confidence which has been supported by continuous engagement with them on various reform initiatives and outcomes.โ
She added that โthe issuance of the Eurobonds, which received the prior approval of the Executive and Legislative arms of government, will not only provide capital to finance various projects, but also contribute towards the achievement of the Debt Management Strategy. The ability to raise US$2.86 billion, which is the exact amount government needed in volatile and challenging market conditions has been described as a stellar outcome โ
