University announces the issue of £300m 3% bonds due 2055

Cardiff University today announces that it has priced the issue of £300m 3% bonds due 2055. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The bonds are expected to be assigned a rating of Aa2 (stable outlook) by Moody’s. The bonds were priced at a spread of 0.85% over the relevant reference gilt ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The University will use the net proceeds from the bond for general corporate purposes, including investment in research and teaching facilities, as well as other University assets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan said: “We are delighted with the success of this issue and the strong support shown by investors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Proceeds of the sale will help finance our strategic goals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We aim to provide new research, teaching and student facilities through our Master Plan that are among the best in the world.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

HSBC, Lloyds Bank and Morgan Stanley acted as Joint Bookrunners. Rothschild provided independent debt advice to the University and Mills & Reeve provided legal advice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Any investment decision made in connection with the Bond issue must be based solely on the information contained in the final Prospectus relating to the Bonds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In connection with the issue of the Bonds, Lloyds Bank plc (the Stabilising Manager) (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilising Manager) may over allot Bonds or effect transactions with a view to supporting the price of the Bonds at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilising Manager (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilising Manager) will undertake stabilisation action. Any stabilisation action may begin on or after the date on which adequate public disclosure of the terms of the offer of the Bonds is made and, if begun, may be ended at any time, but it must end no later than the earlier of 30 days after the issue date of the Bonds and 60 days after the date of the allotment of the Bonds. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment must be conducted by the Stabilising Manager (or persons acting on behalf of the Stabilising Manager) in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​