SEC oks 8990 Holdings’ P5B bond offer

THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission has approved a plan by mass housing developer 8990 Holdings to offer to retail investors at least P5 billion worth of long-term bonds.

8990 Holdings, which trades on the Philippine Stock Exchange under the ticker “HOUSE,” was given the leeway to upsize the bond offer by another P4 billion in case of strong demand and favorable pricing.

Based on a document released by the SEC on Monday, 8990’s fixed rate bonds will be offered to the public in three series. Series A will mature in five years and three months or by 2020 unless otherwise redeemed by 8990. Series B will mature in seven years or by 2022 while series C will have a 10-year tenor.

Series B bonds can be redeemed by 8990 after five years and three months and during the sixth anniversary of the issue date. Series C can be redeemed on the seventh, eight or ninth year of issuance. Except when the early redemption option is exercised, the bonds will be redeemed at par or 100 percent of face value on maturity date.

8990 plans to list the bonds on fixed income trading platform Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

Proceeds from the offering will be used to refinance existing debt of the issuer and its subsidiaries. A fixed-rate borrowing over a long tenor is also seen eliminating the risk of interest rate fluctuations.

The bonds will be in scripless form and will be issued in minimum denominations of P50,000 each and additional investment in multiples of P10,000. They can be traded in denominations of P10 million in the secondary market.

Mandated to act as joint issue managers are BDO Capital & Investment Corp., First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and SB Capital Investment Corp. The joint lead underwriters are BDO Capital, FMIC, SB Capital and China Banking Corp.