Wrapped Up

Apr 27, 2012 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's state-run Bank of Ceylon has sold a 500 million dollar 5-year bond to yield 6.



875 percent a year with the investors oversubscribing the issue 7.7 times, sources familiar with the matter said.



Books were initially opened with a price guidance of 7.

1 percent but the price was later brought down amid strong orders.

Last year Sri Lanka sold a 10-year sovereign bond for 6.25 percent a year.

The 500 million US dollar bond attracted 3.

86 billion US dollars of orders making it 7.

7 times over-subscribed.

Bank of America, Citigroup Inc. and HSBC Holdings managed the sale.

Moody's gave the bond 'B1' rating with a 'stable' outlook.

Fitch rated it 'BB-' the same as Sri Lanka's sovereign rating, citing its 'quasi-sovereign' status.

Bank of Ceylon is Sri Lanka's largest commercial bank in terms of assets and key lender to the state.

Corrected - sovereign bond