Oman issues $3bn bonds in its first foray in the international debt markets this year

Oman raised $3bn with its first foray in the international debt markets this year after receiving strong demand from global investors hunting for high returns in a low yield environment.

Investors made orders worth nearly $14bn for papers offered at a final yield of 4.95 per cent for the long five-year bonds, due in February 2025, and 6 per cent for the 10-year paper, according to a document issued by one of the banks leading the debt sale.

That is below an initial price guidance of around 5.375 per cent and 6.375 per cent on Thursday.

Oman issued $750m in 5-1/2 year and $2.25bn in 10-year bonds, a separate document showed.

Sources previously said the bonds would likely be $2bn in size and be used to cover part of Oman’s budget deficit, estimated at nearly $7.3bn this year.

Oman’s finances have been hurt by a slump in oil prices and the country is struggling to tame a widening fiscal deficit.

The bond sale was seen as a test of Oman’s ability to tap foreign debt markets after it was downgraded to junk status by all the three major rating agencies and comes amid favourable market conditions across emerging markets.

“The low yield environment is a supportive theme. We have a rising number of negatively yielding securities and credits with attractive yield levels like Oman should get a boost,” said Sergey Dergachev, a manager of emerging market corporate debt at Germany-based Union Investment, while the deal was marketed on Thursday.

The initial price guidance put the new paper at a premium of around 30 basis points over Oman’s existing debt curve, said Dergachev.

Citi, JPMorgan and Standard Chartered have been hired to coordinate the transaction, which will be priced later on Thursday.

The three banks are also bookrunners together with First Abu Dhabi Bank, MUFG, Natixis and Societe Generale.