OREANDA-NEWS. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) returned to the US dollar bond market yesterday with the pricing of a \$2.25 billion 7-year global benchmark bond issue, proceeds of which will be part of the bank’s ordinary capital resources and used in its non-concessional operations.

"We are pleased with the transaction and the broad sponsorship from investors globally which allowed us to upsize the transaction to \$2.25 billion at a tighter reoffer compared to the initial guidance,” said ADB Treasurer Pierre Van Peteghem.

The 7-year bond, with a coupon rate of 1.875% per annum payable semiannually and a maturity date of 18 February 2022, was priced at 1.912% to yield 11.5 basis points over the 1.50% US Treasury notes due January 2022.

The transaction was lead-managed by Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, RBC CM, and TD Securities. A syndicate group was also formed consisting of BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Credit Suisse, Deutsche, HSBC, Mizuho, Nomura, SEB, SMBC Nikko, and Standard Chartered Bank.

The deal marks ADB's second global benchmark outing in the US dollar global bond market in 2015.

The issue achieved wide primary market distribution with 30% of the bonds placed in Asia, 43% in Europe, Middle East and Africa and 27% in the Americas. By investor type, 38% of the bonds went to central banks and official institutions, 51% to banks, 9% to fund managers, and 2% to other types of investors.

ADB plans to raise around \$16 billion to \$18 billion from the capital markets in 2015.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.