The Republic of Italy, the largest and most innovative European sovereign borrower, is to launch its first ever syndicated BTP and its first with a 15 year maturity. The deal will be launched in February by Citigroup/SSSB, ING Barings and UniCredit Banca Mobiliare. Maria Cannata, director general for public debt at the Italian treasury, told EuroWeek that the change in law on the fiscal treatment of BTPs for foreign investors, which became effective on January 1, 2002, has produced strong interest in Italian debt from accounts that were unwilling to participate before because of the difficulties of reclaiming withholding tax. "This increased interest makes us confident that a new maturity in the format of BTPs has a great chance of being a success," she said.
February 01, 2002