Eurobond: Meaning, benefits and risks

The Eurobond issuance in Kenya had been in the pipeline for the last seven years. However, everything was just ink and paper until last week when the Government received $2 billion (Sh175.1 billion) in its account with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) after it completed the issuance of a 10-year $1.5 billion (Sh131.3 billion) and a five-year $500 million (Sh43.8 billion) Eurobonds on the Irish Stock Exchange market.

The 10-year and five-year bonds, which carry a coupon of 6.875 per cent and 5.875 per cent, respectively, recorded a large order book, with a total subscription exceeding $8 billion (Sh700.2 billion), much more over and above what Kenya sought to raise in the global capital markets.