Abu Dhabi picks banks for benchmark dollar bond – leads

Dubai: The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has mandated banks to arrange a benchmark-sized US dollar bond issue, according to a document from lead managers, marking the sovereign’s return to the international bond market after an absence of seven years.

Abu Dhabi has hired Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Citigroup and JP Morgan to organise investor meetings in the UAE, Europe and the United States starting from Tuesday, the document showed.

A 144A/Reg S deal, which allows the securities to be sold in the United States, may follow subject to market conditions.

Abu Dhabi last issued in April 2009 when it priced a $3 billion bond split between tranches of five and ten years.