The World Bank has issued the largest ever Hong Kong dollar (HKD)-denominated bond issued by a foreign entity in the country, breaking its own record set last August.
The $8 billion five-year sustainable development bond has a coupon of 2.8755%, matures on 23 April 2031, and was priced at par. It is the second HKD-denominated bond by the bank, and marks the largest ‘Wonton Bond’ – public HKD-denominated bonds issued by supranationals, sovereigns, agencies, or corporations in Hong Kong.
In 2026, both the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the African Development Bank Group have issued wonton bonds of HKD 4 billion and HKD 3 billion.
Jorge Familiar, vice president and treasurer of the World Bank Group, commented, “[The issuance] reflects our global funding strategy, built on reaching investors across a wide variety of markets and currencies. This allows us to mobilize resources efficiently and continue to deliver on our mission to end poverty focused on creating jobs for the benefit of communities worldwide.”
HSBC and Standard Chartered were lead managers on the transaction, which was primarily placed with local bank treasuries. The bond will be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
The World Bank has been rated Aaa by Moody’s and AAA by S&P Global Ratings.
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