ESLA Bond rated best in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Ghana’s ESLA Bond Transaction has been recognised as the best restructuring deal for last year at the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) Finance Achievement Awards 2017.

ESLA Plc is an institution established for the purpose of raising money to clear the outstanding energy sector debts. A release issued in Accra at the weekend said: “The ESLA Bond Transaction is part of nine transactions across EMEA that were recognised in various categories at this year’s awards.”

“Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, one of the lead managers for the transaction of the ESLA Bond, received this special award at a ceremony in London. Fidelity Bank was commended for their professionalism and innovation in the management of the ESLA Bond,” it added.

The release said ESLA Plc, in 2017, set out to raise GH¢6 billion for the first tranche of the GH¢10 billion debt, adding that the managers of the transaction, led by Fidelity Bank and Standard Charted Bank, eventually raised GH¢4.7 billion.

It stated that ESLA Plc successfully closed its books for the issue of the ESLA Bond on Friday, November 3, 2017 after extending the timeline for the issue of the 10-year bond by one week.

Also in January 2018, ESLA Plc raised additional GH¢615 million (GH¢615,947,860) through the 10-year bond that it reopened.

The bond, which was reopened on Monday, January 22, 2018 and closed on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, targeted between GH¢100 and GH¢130 million from the market.