PIF taps USD bond market amid high investor demand

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) sold USD 2 bn in USD-denominated bonds, Bloomberg reports, citing a source it says is in the know. The order book exceeded USD 7.5 bn, tightening the pricing to 95 basis points over US treasuries, compared to initial price talk of around 120 bps, the source added.

Good timing? “Soft US labor-market data and the greater expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts make it a favorable time for the PIF to return to the international debt market,” chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Monica Malik told Bloomberg.

A busy year: The PIF sold USD 4 bn in a bond issuance back in January, and closed a USD 7 bn murabaha credit facility — its first ever — in the same month, getting USD 7 bn from a syndicate of 20 banks. It also launched a commercial paper program in June.

ALSO FROM THE FUND- The PIF signed an MoU with Macquarie Asset Management to ramp up investments in infrastructure, digital infrastructure, energy storage, and EVs, according to a statement. Macquarie will also look into establishing a regional office in Riyadh.

IN OTHER DEBT NEWS-

Al Rajhi is teeing up an FCY debt sale: Tadawul-listed lender Al Rajhi Bank is set to issue USD-denominated tier 2 social trust certificates under its updated international issuance program, it said in a bourse disclosure. Proceeds will support the lender’s financial and strategic objectives under its Sustainable Finance Framework. The bank lined up a syndicate of global banks including our friends at HSBC, alongside Citi, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Standard Chartered and Al Rajhi Capital as joint leads.