The Board of African Development Bank has approved the institution’s 2019 borrowing programme to the tune of $7.24 billion to be raised from the capital markets.
A statement said bank accesses a wide array of capital markets with the majority of its borrowing in US dollars and Euros as well as issuances in other public markets such as Australian dollars and pound sterling.
The bank maintains an active presence in the socially responsible investment arena and continues to be a regular issue of Green and Social Bonds. These products serve to satisfy the increasing demand for impact investment but also allow the bank to highlight its development mandate and promote sustainable and inclusive growth.
The institution has also used its ‘High 5’ operational priorities as a platform to continue the issuance of theme bonds, including an inaugural ‘Integrate Africa’ bond, a ‘Feed Africa’ bond awarded Asia Pacific Deal of the Year by mtn-i, more than forty ‘Improve the Quality of the Life for the People of Africa’ bonds, and two taps of its ‘Light Up and Power Africa’ bond.
The bank is keen to innovate to diversify its product range and, as the financial markets continue to look to a future after Libor, was able to combine innovation with its social responsibility program and issue the first ever Green SOFR-linked bond, in November.
The bank will continue to promote the development of African capital markets with the issue of local currency denominated debt to facilitate the financing of its local currency operations, alongside other initiatives.
“We continue to raise our profile in the capital markets to provide cost-effective resources to finance projects and programs on the African continent. We have a strong track record, a diversified funding profile, investors across the world and the benefits of a AAA rating to strongly support the African Development Bank mandate,” the bank’s Treasurer, Hassatou N’Sele said.
