FirstBank to redeem $300m Bonds before maturity

First Bank of Nigeria Limited will be calling and prepaying holders of $300 million FBN Finance Company BV Subordinated Callable Note due 2020 on August 7, the lender has said.
The fixed rate subordinated Note is held by FBN Finance Company B.V.
Accordingly, FBN Finance Company B.V. exercised its option to call the $300 million 8.25 per cent subordinated notes, raised in the international debt markets, due August 2020.
The lender said calling these notes ahead of maturity, demonstrates the strength of its foreign currency liquidity and the resilience of its balance sheet. “Despite the 2020 Bond being a subordinated Tier 2 instrument, we are able to redeem this without any impact on our capital ratios, due to the surplus Tier 2 capital we currently hold confirming the robust capital base of the bank,” it said.
To ensure the smooth redemption, FirstBank had systematically built up internal liquidity on the back of a strong franchise and its deep market access in the course of 2018. Foreign currency deposits had grown 11.9 per cent year-to-date and 6.9 per cent year-on-year.
FirstBank said it will not be reissuing debt in Eurobond markets in the near term, following the planned redemption. “Reissuance will be a function of our funding needs, market conditions, expected pricing in relation to alternative funding structure and sources. Now, the Bank has ample liquidity to meet foreign and local currency funding needs and maintains enough market access to raise additional funds, if required,” it said.
It is important to note that the bank through its various SPVs , like FBN Finance Company B.V. is a repeat issuer and this exercise would make it the second time FirstBank will call and prepay bondholders following its debut 2007 9.75 per cent $175 million which was called in 2012. It is a known issuer in international debt markets and has significant market access

The bank has remained focused on delivering on its strategic objectives and continues to execute towards; improving its asset quality and risk management; enhancing revenue generation; and optimizing operational efficiency.The Nation