• Friday, March 29, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

FMDQ admits N13.50bn Union Bank bonds on platform

Union Bank

At a ceremony which held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (“FMDQ or the OTC Exchange”) commemorated the listing of Union Bank of Nigeria PLC N7.19 billion Series 1 and N6.31 billion Series 2 Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Bonds under its N100.00 billion Debt Issuance Programme (“the Union Bank Bonds”) on its platform.

As is customary of the OTC Exchange, a prestigious ceremony was held at its business complex, Exchange Place, to mark this noteworthy achievement.

Present to celebrate the successful admission of the Union Bank Bonds on FMDQ were the issuer, Union Bank of Nigeria PLC (“Union Bank”), represented by the Managing Director/CEO, Emeka Emuwa, and other representatives of Union Bank.

Also present at the ceremony were the sponsor of the Bond on FMDQ and the Registration Member (Listings), Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited (Stanbic IBTC Capital), and representatives from the Joint Issuing Houses, Barclays Securities Nigeria Limited, Standard Chartered Capital & Advisory Nigeria Limited, Union Capital Markets Limited, as well as the solicitors to the listing, Aluko & Oyebode, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, amongst others.

Kaodi Ugoji, Associate Executive Director, Corporate Development, FMDQ, whilst welcoming the guests gathered to commemorate this achievement, applauded the issuer for successfully raising N13.50 billon from the debt capital markets (DCM).

She went on to highlight that FMDQ’s listings, quotations and noting service has been tailored to provide, among others, a unique opportunity for issuers, Governments (federal & State) and Corporates alike, to raise the profiles of their issues and access a deep pool of funds from the DCM, thereby meeting their long-term funding needs. She further reiterated the OTC Exchange’s commitment to continue to develop initiatives that will make the Nigerian DCM highly liquid, deep and well-developed.

In delivering his special address, Emeka Emuwa, commented, “Union Bank PLC is pleased to be listing its inaugural Series 1 & 2 issuances under its N100.00 billion Debt Issuance Programme on FMDQ Platform. The issuance of the Series 1 & 2 Bonds is a key milestone of our corporate funding strategy and listing the Bonds on FMDQ ensures growth in liquidity and transparency within the fixed income market in Nigeria”.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsor to the issue and FMDQ Registration Member (Listings), Kobby Bentsi-Enchill, stated, Stanbic IBTC Capital is pleased to have supported Union Bank PLC with the issuance of the Series 1 & 2 Bonds under the Debt Issuance Programme as well as the listing on FMDQ. FMDQ has made significant strides with enhancing the liquidity of the DCM, and the listing of the Series 1 & 2 Bonds by Union Bank PLC further provides a competitive investment option for fund managers looking for sustainable returns over and above comparable treasury benchmarks. We are excited to continue a fruitful partnership with FMDQ and Union Bank PLC”.

Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO of FMDQ, in his closing remarks, congratulated the issuer for successfully raising the Bonds, and commended the sponsor to the issue and Registration Member (Listings) of FMDQ, Stanbic IBTC Capital, for its concerted efforts towards ensuring the success of the issuance. Onadele stated that the Nigerian DCM has continued to make essential strides towards its development and the listing of the Union Bank Bonds on FMDQ marks another milestone in the success of the DCM. He further reiterated that FMDQ, through consistent collaboration with its stakeholders, shall continue to further deepen and effectively position the Nigerian DCM for growth, in support of the realisation of a globally competitive and vibrant economy.

 

ENDURANCE OKAFOR