NOT FOR RELEASE,
PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR
RESIDENT IN, ANY JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE,
PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE INVITATION
MEMORANDUM (AS DEFINED BELOW).
Colombo, Sri Lanka,
December 16, 2024
THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI
LANKA
FINAL RESULTS OF CONSENT SOLICITATION AND
INVITATION TO EXCHANGE (THE "INVITATION") IN RESPECT OF THE
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA'S EXISTING
BONDS
On November 25, 2024, the Government of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (the "Republic"), launched:
(i) a solicitation of
consents (i) from Holders of the Republic's outstanding Aggregated
CAC Existing Bonds with respect to the Aggregated CAC Existing
Bonds Proposed Modifications, to be effected by way of a mandatory
exchange of such bonds for the applicable New Securities or
Substitute Consideration (the "Aggregated CAC Consent Solicitation");
and (ii) from Holders of the Republic's Non-Aggregated CAC Existing
Bonds with respect to the Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds
Proposed Modifications and the Non-Aggregated CAC Modified Bonds
Proposed Modifications, to be effected by way of a mandatory
exchange of such bonds for the applicable New Securities or
Substitute Consideration (each a "Non-Aggregated CAC Consent
Solicitation" and together with the Aggregated CAC Consent
Solicitation, the "Consent
Solicitations");
(ii)
an invitation to Eligible Holders of the Aggregated CAC
Existing Bonds and the Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds (as
modified, if applicable) to exchange their Existing Bonds for the
applicable New Securities (as further described in the invitation
memorandum (as defined below)) (respectively, the "Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds Invitation to
Exchange" and the "Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds Invitation
to Exchange"); and
(iii) an invitation to Eligible
Holders of 2022 Bonds to exchange their 2022 Bonds for the
applicable New Securities (the "2022 Invitation to Exchange", and
together with the Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds Invitation to
Exchange and the Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds Invitation to
Exchange, the "Invitations to
Exchange").
The Consent Solicitations and Invitations to Exchange
are hereafter collectively referred to as the "Invitation". The invitation memorandum
in respect of the Invitation dated November 25, 2024 is hereafter
referred to as the "Invitation
Memorandum".
The following table sets out the final results of the
Invitation as at the Expiration Deadline:
|
|
Principal Amount
Outstanding(1)
|
Instructions received as a %
of the Principal Amount Outstanding
|
Aggregated CAC Existing
Bonds
|
|
|
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 5.750% Bonds due April 18, 2023
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAV88 / 85227SAV8
Regulation
S: USY8137FAK40 / Y8137FAK4
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000
|
98.21%
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 6.850% Bonds due March 14, 2024
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAY28 / 85227SAY2
Regulation
S: USY8137FAN88 / Y8137FAN8
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
97.18%
|
U.S.$500,000,000 6.350% Bonds due June 28, 2024
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SBA33 / 85227SBA3
Regulation
S: USY8137FAQ10 / Y8137FAQ1
|
U.S.$500,000,000
|
99.64%
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000 6.200% Bonds due May 11, 2027
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAT33 / 85227SAT3
Regulation
S: USY8137FAH11 / Y8137FAH1
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000
|
96.99%
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 6.75% Bonds due April 18, 2028
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAW61 / 85227SAW6
Regulation
S: USY8137FAL23 / Y8137FAL2
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000
|
98.98%
|
U.S.$1,400,000,000 7.850% Bonds due March 14, 2029
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAZ92 / 85227SAZ9
Regulation
S: USY8137FAP37 / Y8137FAP3
|
U.S.$1,400,000,000
|
98.61%
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000 7.550% Bonds due March 28, 2030
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SBB16 / 85227SBB1
Regulation
S: USY8137FAR92 / Y8137FAR9
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000
|
99.05%
|
Non-Aggregated CAC Existing
Bonds
|
|
|
|
U.S.$650,000,000 6.125% Bonds due June 3, 2025
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAN62 / 85227SAN6
Regulation
S: USY8137FAC24 / Y8137FAC2
|
U.S.$650,000,000
|
96.54%
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000 6.850% Bonds due November 3,
2025
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAQ93 / 85227SAQ9
Regulation
S: USY8137FAE89 / Y8137FAE8
|
U.S.$1,500,000,000
|
98.42%
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 6.825% Bonds due July 18, 2026
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAR76 / 85227SAR7
Regulation
S: USY8137FAF54 / Y8137FAF5
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
99.20%
|
2022 Bonds
|
|
|
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 5.875% Bonds due July 25, 2022 (the
"2022 Bonds")
|
Rule 144A:
US85227SAK24 / 85227SAK2
Regulation
S: USY2029SAH77 / Y2029SAH7
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
73.13%
|
____________
(1) As of the date of
the Invitation Memorandum. The term "Outstanding" for each Series
of Existing Bonds has the meaning ascribed to it in the applicable
Existing Indenture.
The Invitation expired at the Expiration Deadline, and
no further Instructions in respect of the Existing Bonds may be
given pursuant to the Invitation. As such, the Republic announces
today that it has received Instructions that result in 97.86% of
the aggregate principal amount Outstanding of Existing Bonds being
either modified pursuant to the Proposed Modifications and
exchanged for New Securities, or otherwise exchanged for New
Securities.
On the basis of the final results, the Republic hereby
confirms that:
(a) the Minimum
Participation Condition has been met;
(b) pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of the Invitation, the Non-Aggregated CAC
Existing Bonds Requisite Consents have been met and as such the
Republic will implement the Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds
Proposed Modification and, immediately thereafter, the
Non-Aggregated CAC Modified Bonds Proposed Modification by way of a
mandatory exchange of the Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds for an
allocation of New Securities;
(c) pursuant to and in
accordance with the terms of the Invitation, the Aggregated CAC
Existing Bonds Requisite Consents have been met and as such the
Republic will implement the Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds Proposed
Modifications by way of a mandatory exchange of the Aggregated CAC
Existing Bonds for an allocation of New Securities; and
(d) all Settlement
Conditions have been satisfied or will be satisfied by the
Settlement Date.
The following table sets out a summary of the New
Eurobonds which the Republic expects to issue (subject to the terms
and conditions described in the Invitation Memorandum) pursuant to
the Invitation:
|
|
Principal Amount to be
Issued
|
Step-Up
Macro-Linked Bonds due 2030
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966241528 / 296624152
Regulation S:
XS2966241361 / 296624136
|
U.S.$1,086,993,557
|
Step-Up
Macro-Linked Bonds due 2033
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966241791 / 296624179
Regulation S:
XS2966241445 / 296624144
|
U.S.$2,132,120,275
|
Step-Up
Macro-Linked Bonds due 2036
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966241874 / 296624187
Regulation S:
XS2966241957 / 296624195
|
U.S.$999,165,345
|
Step-Up
Macro-Linked Bonds due 2038
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966242252 / 296624225
Regulation S:
XS2966242096 / 296624209
|
U.S.$1,999,171,191
|
Step-Up
Governance-Linked Bonds due 2035
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966242336 / 296624233
Regulation S:
XS2966242179 / 296624217
|
U.S.$1,439,672,065
|
4.00% PDI
Bonds due 2028
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966242419 / 296624241
Regulation S:
XS2966242500 / 296624250
|
U.S.$1,647,735,257
|
USD Step-Up
Bonds due 2038
|
Rule 144A:
XS2966242765 / 296624276
Regulation S:
XS2966242682 / 296624268
|
U.S.$1,126,487,250
|
Pursuant to the Invitation, the Republic also expects
to issue (subject to the terms and conditions described in the
Invitation Memorandum): (i) Local LKR Bonds in aggregate principal
amount of LKR 155,728,601,320; and (ii) Exchange Fee Bonds due 2024
in aggregate principal amount of U.S.$215,237,873 (ISIN / Common
Code: Rule 144A: XS2966243144 / 296624314, Regulation S:
XS2966243060 / 296624306).
Eligible Holders who have participated in the
Invitation will receive their allocations according to their chosen
options (being either the Global Bonds Option or the Local Bonds
Option), subject to the terms and conditions specified in the
Invitation Memorandum.
The Republic also hereby announces to Holders that the
Committees' Expenses Shortfall to be deducted from the First PDI
Amortization Amount is U.S.$11,173,118.53, equal to approximately
U.S.$6.78 per U.S.$1,000 in principal amount of PDI Bonds, and as
such Holders who have submitted Instructions will (subject to the
terms and conditions of the Invitation) receive a net amount of
approximately U.S.$63.22 per U.S.$1,000 in principal amount of PDI
Bonds on the Accrued Consideration Settlement Date.
Subject to the terms and conditions described in the
Invitation Memorandum, the New Eurobonds, the Exchange Fee Bonds
and the Local LKR Bonds will be issued on or around December 20,
2024, with the complete settlement process expected to be finalised
shortly thereafter.
On or around December 20, 2024, the Republic will: (i)
in respect of the Existing Bonds other than the 2022 Bonds, arrange
for the cancellation of the Existing Bonds; and (ii) in respect of
the 2022 Bonds, arrange for the mark-down of the 2022 Bonds to
reflect the aggregate principal amount tendered and accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Invitation. For the avoidance of doubt,
Holders of the 2022 Bonds who did not submit Instructions in
respect of the Invitation, will continue to hold their 2022
Bonds.
Following the Settlement Date, the Republic will
arrange for the delisting of the Existing Bonds (other than the
2022 Bonds) from the SGX and the ISM (as applicable). For the
avoidance of doubt, the 2022 Bonds which are outstanding following
the Settlement Date will remain, for the time being, listed on SGX,
however the Republic may, in the future, decide (in its sole
discretion) to delist such then-outstanding 2022 Bonds.
For the avoidance of doubt, in preparation for the
Settlement Date all uninstructed Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds and
Non-Aggregated CAC Existing Bonds may be blocked from trading by
the relevant Clearing Systems on or promptly following this
announcement (and as a result any secondary market trades in
respect thereof will not be able to settle).
Eligible Holders that submitted Instructions prior to
the Expiration Deadline but that have not submitted (or arranged to
have submitted on their behalf) valid Settlement Account Details,
will be subject to the International Holding Period Arrangement as
described further in the Invitation Memorandum.
Eligible Holders that submitted Instructions prior to
the Expiration Deadline but that have not submitted (or arranged to
have submitted on their behalf) valid Local Settlement Details,
will be subject to the Local Holding Period Arrangement as
described further in the Invitation Memorandum.
Eligible Holders (other than Holders of the 2022
Bonds) that did not submit (or arrange to have submitted on their
behalf) Instructions prior to the Expiration Deadline, will be
subject to the International Holding Period Arrangement as
described further in the Invitation Memorandum.
Ineligible Holders will be subject to the Cash
Proceeds Arrangement as described further in the Invitation
Memorandum.
The Republic expects to publish an announcement upon
the Settlement Date with further details on the International
Holding Period Arrangement and Local Holding Period
Arrangement.
Terms used in this announcement but not defined herein
have the respective meanings given to them in the Invitation
Memorandum.
This
announcement is made by Sri Lanka and constitutes a public
disclosure of inside information under Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as
it forms part of domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Any questions regarding the terms of the Invitation
may be directed to the Dealer Manager and questions regarding
settlement should be directed to the Information, Tabulation and
Exchange Agent. The contact details for each are specified
below:
Dealer Manager
Citigroup Global Markets Inc
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York
10013
United States
|
Telephone: +1 212 723 6106
(in New York)
+91 22 6175 9707 (in
Asia)
Email: gosl.invitation@citi.com
|
Information, Tabulation and Exchange
Agent
Sodali & Co
|
In London:
|
In Stamford:
|
In Hong Kong:
|
The Leadenhall Building,
122 Leadenhall Street London, EC3V 4AB
United Kingdom
|
333 Ludlow Street, 5th
Floor South Tower, CT 06902
United States of
America
|
29/F, No. 28 Stanley
Street Central, Hong Kong
|
Telephone: +44 20 4513
6933
|
Telephone: +1 203 658
9457
|
Telephone: +852 2319
4130
|
Email:
srilanka@investor.sodali.com
|
Invitation Website:
https://projects.sodali.com/srilanka
|
Disclaimer
This announcement
must be read in conjunction with the Invitation Memorandum, the
launch announcement dated November 25, 2024 and the indicative
results announcement dated December 13, 2024. No offer or
invitation to acquire or sell any securities is being made pursuant
to this announcement. The Dealer Manager does not take
responsibility for the contents of this announcement.
Neither the
Invitations nor the New Securities or the Exchange Fee Bonds have
been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the securities laws of
any other jurisdiction. Unless they are registered under the
Securities Act, the New Securities and the Exchange Fee Bonds may
be offered only in transactions that are exempt from registration
under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the Invitations to Exchange
were directed only to Holders of Existing Bonds that are: (i)
"qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act ("QIBs"), or (ii) non-U.S. persons outside the
United States who (y) if located within a member state of the EEA
or the UK, is a "qualified investor" as defined in Regulation (EU)
No 2017/1129, as amended or Regulation (EU) No 2017/1129 as it
forms part of domestic law of the UK by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, respectively, or a duly designated
proxy thereof, and (z) if outside the EEA and the UK, eligible to
receive the Invitation under the laws of its jurisdiction an in
reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act (each, an
"Eligible Holder"). Any Holder who does not certify its status as
an Eligible Holder will not be entitled to participate in the
Invitations to Exchange (such Holders may however participate in
the Consent Solicitations and are eligible to receive the relevant
redemption consideration of the Exchange Fee Bonds following its
maturity).
European Economic
Area
The New Securities and the Exchange Fee Bonds are not
intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and
should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any
retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a "retail investor"
means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as
defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as
amended, "MiFID II"); (ii)
a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as
amended, the "Insurance
Distribution Directive"), where that customer would not
qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of
Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as
defined in the EU Prospectus Regulation. Consequently, no key
information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as
amended, the "PRIIPs
Regulation") for offering or selling the New Securities or
the Exchange Fee Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail
investors in a Member State has been prepared and therefore
offering or selling the New Securities or the Exchange Fee Bonds or
otherwise making them available to any retail investor in a Member
State may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
United
Kingdom
This announcement is for distribution only to persons
who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to
investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services
and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended,
the "Financial Promotion
Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to
(d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.")
of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United
Kingdom or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to
engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of
the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any New
Securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be
communicated (all such persons together being referred to as
"Relevant Persons"). This
announcement is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be
acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any
investment or investment activity to which the Invitation
Memorandum relates is permitted only by Relevant Persons and will
be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.
The New Securities and the Exchange Fee Bonds are not
intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and
should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any
retail investor in the UK. For these purposes, a "retail investor"
means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as
defined in point (8) of Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
(ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the
"FSMA") and any rules or
regulations made under the FSMA to implement the Insurance
Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a
professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of the
UK Prospectus Regulation; or (iii) not a qualified investor as
defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation. Consequently no key
information document required by document required by Regulation
(EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the
EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs
Regulation") for offering or selling the New Securities or
the Exchange Fee Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail
investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or
selling the New Securities or the Exchange Fee Bonds or otherwise
making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be
unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation.
Italy
None of the Invitation Memorandum or any other
document or materials relating to the Invitation (including this
announcement) have been or will be submitted to the clearance
procedures of the Commissione
Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa ("CONSOB") pursuant to Italian laws and
regulations.
The Invitation is being carried out in the Republic of
Italy ("Italy") as an
exempted offer pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58
of 24 February 1998, as amended (the "Financial Services Act") and article
35-bis, paragraph 3 of
CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended.
Accordingly, Holders of the Existing Bonds that are located in
Italy can tender Existing Bonds for exchange pursuant to the
Invitations through authorised persons (such as investment firms,
banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such
activities in Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act,
CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from
time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993,
as amended from time to time) and in compliance with applicable
laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB, Bank
of Italy or any other Italian authority.
Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws
and regulations concerning information duties vis-à-vis its clients
in connection with the Existing Bonds or the Invitation.