* Despite domestic political turmoil at home the Ba1/BBB-/BB+ rated Republic of Lithuania was able to launch a second tap of its Eu150m 7.875% April 14, 2003 euro-denominated bond this week. The add-on, the second to the original Eu100m issue from late September was brought at a issue/fixed re-offer price of 98.176 and spread of 395bp over Bunds. Sole lead JP Morgan reported that the issue had been driven by a strong bid from German retail investors. On Thursday, however, Standard & Poor's warned that the political fall-out from the Lithuanian government's planned sale of a 33% stake in oil company Mazheikiu Nafta, could jeopardise the country's BBB+ rating.
November 05, 1999