April 19, 2024
LG Electronics (LG) has successfully issued a global bond of USD 800 million, marking its first in 17 years. Despite the growing global volatility, LG managed to achieve a negative New Issue Premium (NIP), indicating strong interest from global institutions.
The bonds are denominated in U.S. dollars and divided into two categories: a USD 500 million bond with a 3-year maturity and a USD 300 million bond with a 5-year maturity. The 5-year bond is classified as a Sustainability Bond.
The additional interest rate, or spread, is set at 95 basis points (bp) and 110bp above the US Treasury bond interest rate for the 3-year and 5-year bonds respectively, 40bp lower than the initially proposed spread.
LG received a substantial investment order of approximately USD 9.4 billion (around 12 times the size of the issuance) from a total of 339 institutions. This achievement, based on the maximum order book, marks LG’s bond issuance as the most successful among Korean corporate bonds in 2024, resulting in a negative NIP.
LG’s strong performance and financial stability have been recognized by global investment institutions, despite the decrease in expectations for a U.S. interest rate cut and increased global instability due to the Iran-Israel conflict. LG continues to show steady performance and is diversifying its portfolio, transitioning from a leading home appliance company to a Smart Life Solution company incorporating EV components, B2B and platform-based services.
The foreign currency bond issuance is positive for LG in terms of stable fund raising and diversification of borrowing sources. The successful re-entry into the dollar bond issuance market after a 17-year break underscores LG’s strong presence in the global financial landscape.
The funds raised aim to enhance LG’s future competitiveness through R&D and facility investments, in line with its 2030 Future Vision. The Sustainability Bond’s proceeds will be used for eco-friendly and social projects, including the construction of eco-friendly buildings.