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It is too early to name date of new Eurobond issue, deputy finance minister says

It is yet too early to name the date of the Belarusian government's new Eurobond issue, Deputy Finance Minister Maksim Yermalovich told reporters in Minsk on January 21.

He also refused to say in what part of the world Belarus could sell its Eurobonds this year.

Referring to a visit by top government officials to Hong Kong and Singapore in November 2012, Mr. Yermalovich said that it was not a road show for Belarus' new Eurobond issue. "It was a study of investors' interest in buying Belarus' bonds," he said.

The deputy minister said that Belarus would continue promoting its Eurobond offers to potential investors.

In the summer of 2010, Belarus issued a $1-billion Eurobond, placing $600 million with a coupon of 8.75 percent in July and $400 million at 8.25 percent in August.

In January 2011, the country raised $800 million via a new Eurobond sale, projecting initially to raise a total of $1 billion. The seven-year, dollar-denominated $800-million Eurobond was sold at a yield of 8.95 percent. BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland, and Sberbank acted as lead managers for the transaction.

Belarus did not issue Eurobonds in 2012. //BelaPAN