BOI hails Tinubu as N250bn bond oversubscribes in five days

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has praised President Bola Tinubu for the rapid oversubscription of the N250bn Series 1 Fixed Rate Bond, achieving this within just five working days. BOI described this as a strong endorsement of both the bank and Nigeria's domestic capital market. The bond was issued through BOI Financing SPV Plc under its $1bn Multi-Currency Instruments Programme. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, detailed this news in a statement on Tuesday.

CEO of BOI, Olasupo Olusi, highlighted that the swift oversubscription would not have been possible without personal incentives approved by the President. He stated that the President's executive support for various incentives was crucial in encouraging investor demand. Olusi emphasized that this support not only boosted BOI's reputation but also signaled to discerning investors the market's capacity to mobilize long-term capital for productive investments. He credited President Tinubu with this significant achievement.

Furthermore, Olusi disclosed a separate N100bn fund approved by the President to assist in adjusting the bond's pricing and mitigating the effects of high interest rates on manufacturers and other BOI customers. He emphasized that this intervention was a clear testament to the President's backing for Nigeria's productive sector.

The ultimate goal of this transaction, according to Olusi, was to leverage investor confidence into more financing for Nigerian enterprises, potentially driving industrial expansion, job creation, and enhancing domestic value chains and economic competitiveness.

The bank views this transaction as a substantial expansion of its funding structure, complementing its established expertise in international capital markets with a deeper draw of long-term capital from domestic institutional investors. It noted that the transaction underscores Nigeria's growing ability to channel long-term savings into productive sectors of the economy.

BOI and its transaction advisers have stated that final subscription and allotment figures will not be disclosed until Securities and Exchange Commission approval is secured, as the transaction continues toward finalization.

The immediate impact of this transaction is viewed as significant due to the robust investor interest, the favorable pricing achieved, and the broad investor base. These factors indicate a sustained interest in high-quality, long-term domestic assets. The proceeds from this issuance will bolster BOI's capacity to provide long-term financing to eligible enterprises in key sectors, supporting investments that enhance productive capacity, local value addition, employment creation, and economic diversification.

This transaction marks another milestone in developing Nigeria's domestic market for long-term development capital, solidifying BOI's role as a dependable and repeat issuer in the capital markets.