Softlogic Finance opens AAA rated 1.4 bn Debenture
Softlogic Finance PLC is pleased to announce the opening of its Debenture Issue of Rs 1.4Billion. The instrument that has been rated AAA by Ram Ratings (Lanka) Ltd, offers 14,000,000 redeemable, guaranteed debentures to the public at a face value of Rs 100/each and has already received approval in principal from the Colombo Stock Exchange. The issue will be open for subscription on 21st of August 2014, and the Prospectus and Application forms will be available at all Softlogic Finance branches in addition to all stockbrokers registered with the Colombo Stock Exchange.
The Debenture issue of Softlogic Finance has been made in collaboration with GuarantCo who have guaranteed the instrument that carries a Barclays Bank guarantee as part of GuarantCo's structure. The Five Year Issue (2014/2019) offers attractive fixed and floating interest rates payable quarterly. The two options include; Option A -a fixed interest rate of 10% payable quarterly with an AER of 10.38% or Option B - based on a floating interest rate of three months net treasury bill + 1.50 p.a., paid quarterly. The transaction is viewed by many as a groundbreaking event, not only as a result of the AAA rating given to the issue, but also due to it paving the way towards more foreign participation in providing alternative solutions to developing the debt capital mar- ket in the country.
GuarantCo is owned by the PIDG members through the PIDG Trust and, in the case of DGIS, through FMO. The GuarantCo concept came from the Private Infrastructure Development Group ("PIDG") which is a multi-donor, membermanaged organisation. Current PIDG members include: the UK Department for International Development ("DFID"), the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs ("SECO"), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs ("DGIS"), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ("Sida"), the World Bank, the Austrian Development Agency ("ADA"), Irish Aid, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau ("KfW"), and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid).
DFI's that undertake financing in developing markets such as Sri Lanka require local lending institutions to maintain impeccable operating standards and adopt international best practices in order to secure these transactions and Softlogic Finance is pleased to have established its credentials in this regard. Softlogic Finance has specialist knowledge and expertise in the SME sector, and this funding line will be utilized to develop relationships with customers who require financial assistance, to build their businesses and improve their livelihoods.