World Bank Prices Dual Tranche 4.5 and 7-Year SOFR Index-Linked Benchmarks Raising USD 3 Billion

The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, Aaa/AAA) today priced USD 1.0 billion 4.5-year and USD 2.0 billion 7-year benchmark bonds – both linked to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) index.

The World Bank has continued to support the development of the SOFR market with a range of SOFR-linked benchmarks across the yield curve, since the World Bank’s first SOFR-linked benchmark in 2018. The transactions meet increasingly global investor demand from a broader range of investors seeking high-quality, SOFR-linked floating rate assets. Orders of over USD 3.8 billion were placed from investors, with several investors placing orders in both tranches. Joint lead managers for the transactions are BMO Capital Markets, Scotiabank, and Wells Fargo Securities.

Jorge Familiar, Vice President & Treasurer, World Bank said: “This dual-tranche transaction highlights the growing interest we are seeing from investors from around the world for SOFR-linked, floating rate assets, with maturities across the yield curve. The firm establishment of the SOFR market is important to the health of the global financial system on which our developing country members rely.”

Investor Distribution

Joint Lead Manager Quotes

“The World Bank continues its leadership in US dollar markets as the first Supranational, Sovereign and Agency (SSA) issuer to print a SOFR-linked Floating Rate Note (FRN) to kick-off the new year. A dual-tranche FRN enabled short and long-term focused global investors to participate, a far-reaching and inclusive audience for the World Bank’s first US dollar benchmark of the year. At $3 billion in size, we can firmly conclude that the term “USD benchmark” no longer exclusively applies to fixed-rate offerings. Kudos to the World Bank Treasury on tremendous reopening of the SSA FRN markets,” said Sean Hayes, Head of US Syndicate & Credit Sales, BMO Capital Markets.

“Scotiabank is proud to support the World Bank’s dual tranche SOFR-linked Sustainable Development Bond transaction, its first USD-denominated transaction of 2022. This new issue demonstrates the World Bank focus on the development of the SOFR market. Furthermore, the benchmark size of each of the two tranches highlights the wide appeal of the World Bank name to investors across the maturity spectrum. The issue, which supports the financing of a combination of green and social projects, programs, and activities in IBRD member countries, highlights the World Bank’s position as a market leader in sustainable finance,” said Cesare Roselli, Global Head of SSA (Sovereign, Supranational, and Agency) Origination, Scotiabank.

“The World Bank’s first US dollar benchmark transaction of the year is a success in many fronts: IBRD garnered substantial demand to price a sizable USD 3 billion transaction in two-tranches, including an admirable USD 2 billion longer dated 7-year tranche–the second time IBRD achieves that feat. The World Bank did all of this while maintaining its status as the prime SSA SOFR-linked floating rate note issuer while expanding this product’s investor base further across the globe. Congratulations again to the WB team!” said Carlos Perezgrovas, Head of SSA Origination, Wells Fargo Securities.

Transaction Summary