Westpac to sell World Bank bonds

Wednesday 18th June 2008

Westpac is to distribute a new retail investment product from the World Bank, the world's largest development organisation.

Westpac Head of Debt Capital Markets Rod Smith says this investment will appeal to socially responsible institutional and retail investors.

"The notes offer financial and social returns, providing a good return from an AAA/Aaa issuer plus the chance to make a difference in developing countries by investing in the World Bank's funding programme," Smith says.

The notes are senior unsecured obligations of is International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and are not obligations of any Government. The minimum holding of notes is $5,000.

Interest on the notes will be set on July 14 and will be the Base Rate of the four year swap rate less the margin.

The indicative margin is -34 basis points to -36 basis points.
The interest rate would be 7.22% to 7.24% if set today.

The World Bank is an international organisation, established in 1945 and owned by its 185 member countries (including New Zealand). As a global development cooperative, the World Bank's purpose is to work with its borrowing members so they can achieve equitable and sustainable economic growth in their national economies and find effective solutions to pressing regional and global problems.

"This offering gives New Zealanders the chance to invest their money with the world's largest development organisation. They can earn both a financial and social return by supporting the World Bank's financing in a wide variety of social and ethically responsible sectors, such as environment, health and education," World Bank Global Head of Capital Markets Doris Herrera-Pol says.

The offer will open on June 23 for a period of 3 weeks.

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