Armenian government may place another issue of Eurobonds

ArmBanks.am, Armenia

28.04.2020 19:40

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia is considering a new issue of Eurobonds, possibly even in the national currency dram, Finance Minister Atom Janjughazyan said at an extraordinary parliamentary meeting today, convened to revise downward the budget indicators.

"In September 2019, when we placed the third issue of Eurobonds, investors said they were ready to invest 4-5 times more than the declared volume, but if we submitted an application for $2-2.5 billion, it would not be a fact that they would agree on this volume and under such conditions," said Janjughazyan.

According to him, the government is preparing large-scale programs and in this regard, it is considering various ways of attracting funds – Eurobonds, dram-denominated bonds for foreign investors, Eurobonds in drams.

"I hope that we will find the best solution,” the minister said. In 2019 September, Armenia placed $500 million worth of Eurobonds on the international capital market with a 10-year maturity and 3.95% coupon yield.

Armenia first issued $ 700 million worth dollar-denominated bonds in September 2013 at the yield of 6.25 percent and a maturity of 7 years. The bulk of $ 700 million was used to repay a $ 500 million Russian loan ten years ahead of schedule. The second issue was carried out in March 2015 in the amount of $ 500 million with a yield of 7.25% and a maturity period of 10 years.

According to the latest data of the National Statistics Committee, the country's total public debt at the end of November 2019 amounted to $7.166.076 billion. The external public debt stood at $5. 626.252 billion,–0-

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS