On July 15, Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) successfully placed its fourth bond issue in the amount of 600 million euros at an annual interest rate of 2.45 %. Representatives of BEH and the Ministry of Energy held a Global Investor Call on 13 July and a NetRoadShow involving a series of intensive meetings with a number of global investors on 13-14 July. As investor interest was very strong, the bond was 2.3 times oversubscribed and the interest rate achieved is the lowest since the company has entered the international financial markets. BEH’s previous eurobond issues on the international financial markets achieved an interest rate of 4.875 % in August 2016 and 3.5 % in June 2018. On 15 July 2021, BEH achieved a 7-year maturity of the eurobond issue in August 2028. The lower interest rate and longer tenor of the is-sue will help the company to further reduce its annual interest expenses and to optimize its debt repayments schedule over a longer period of time. The proceeds raised will be used to refinance the 550 million euros, 4.875 % bond issued in 2016, which matures in August 2021, as well as for gen-eral corporate purposes, excluding coal-related activities. The organizers of the bond issue, represented by JPMorgan and Citigroup, and legal advisors Allen & Overy LLP and Linklaters LLP, took into account the efforts made by BEH in the preparation of all the documentation on the issue, as well as the institutional support provided in the process of euro-bonds placement by Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry in its capacity as sole owner of the capital of BEH.
