Alberta Turns to Century Bonds to Raise Money in Market Rout

(Bloomberg) -- Alberta, the province that produces most of Canada’s oil, sold C$300 million ($207 million) in 100-year bonds in a private placement, according to people familiar with the matter.

The debt will mature on June 1, 2120, and will have a 3.06% coupon, according to Bloomberg data. The notes were priced to yield 183 basis points over Canadian government bonds due December 2048.

Alberta is among Canadian provinces turning to private placements and responding to requests from investors to move ahead funding plans. Risk spreads between provincial and federal bonds have blown out in recent weeks in the global credit crunch that stemmed from the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am pleased with this transaction, as we believe it may be the first 100 year bond ever issued by a province in Canada,” Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews said in e-mailed statement. “This will help fund our immediate needs as we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Bank of Canada has taken action to try to restore order to funding markets, announcing a series of measures including a new program through which the central bank can buy provincial paper that matures in 12 months or less.

In the last week, Alberta added C$500 million to its 2030 bonds and issued 260 million Swiss francs ($265 million) of 8-year debt, Bloomberg data show.

The century bond transaction was arranged by Bank of Nova Scotia, Bloomberg data show.

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