Bladex Successfully Launches Inaugural US$200 Million AT1 Notes Offering, Attracting Strong Global Investor Demand

Core Points - Bladex successfully priced its inaugural Additional Tier 1 (AT1) capital offering, raising US$200 million with a 7.50% coupon, attracting significant interest from global institutional investors [1][2][3] - The transaction was over three times oversubscribed, indicating strong market confidence in Bladex [1][2] - The issuance aims to optimize Bladex's capital structure in compliance with local regulations and the Basel III framework, supporting future loan growth while maintaining capitalization above regulatory requirements [2][3] Company Overview - Bladex, established in 1979 by central banks of Latin America and the Caribbean, focuses on promoting trade finance and economic integration in the region [4] - The bank is headquartered in Panama and has representative offices in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and a representative agency in the United States [4] - Bladex is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Mexican Stock Exchange, with a diverse shareholder base including central banks and institutional investors from twenty-three Latin American countries [4] Leadership Insights - CEO Jorge Salas highlighted that the issuance is a key milestone in Bladex's transformation, broadening access to new investor pools and reinforcing long-term growth strategy [3] - CFO Annette van Hoorde de Solis expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the strong oversubscription allowed for competitive pricing and prudent expansion of the loan portfolio [3] Transaction Details - The AT1 securities are rated BB-/Ba2/BB- by S&P, Moody's, and Fitch, respectively [4] - The transaction was jointly led by Bank of America Securities and J.P. Morgan Securities, with Jefferies acting as Bookrunner [3]