Saudi Arabia sells $7 billion in three-part bonds

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia was set to raise $7 billion with a three-tranche bond deal on Wednesday, a document showed, as the world’s biggest oil exporter seeks to replenish state coffers battered by low oil prices and expectations of lower output.

Riyadh last month increased its debt ceiling to 50% of GDP from a previous 30% in March as it plans to increase borrowing amid the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The kingdom, acting through the ministry of finance, sold $2.5 billion in 5-1/2-year bonds at 260 basis points (bps) over U.S. Treasuries, $1.5 billion in 10-1/2-year bonds at 270 bps over the same benchmark and $3 billion in 40-year bonds at 4.55%, the document showed.

A spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Finance did not respond to a request for comment.

Saudi Arabia received around $54 billion in combined orders for the bonds, a sign of strong investor appetite, though some fund managers said the bonds did not offer the returns they expected.

“Very tight pricing. No juice for investors of the bonds,” a Dubai-based fixed income strategist said.

The 40-year bonds are the longest-dated ever issued in dollars by a Gulf borrower, said Dino Kronfol, chief investment officer of global sukuk and MENA fixed income at Franklin Templeton.

A Saudi banker said the deal seemed to be targeted at foreign investors, given the long maturity and the spreads on offer.

Citi, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Bank of China, Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC and Samba Capital have been hired to arrange the debt sale.