NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR
INTO, OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, ANY JURISDICTION
WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RELEASE, PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS NOTICE
OR THE MEMORANDUM (AS DEFINED BELOW).
22 October 2024
THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT AND OF HOLDING PERIOD
ARRANGEMENT AND CASH PROCEED ARRANGEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH GHANA'S
EUROBOND EXCHANGE OFFER
The Republic of Ghana ("Ghana"), acting through its Ministry of
Finance, announces the commencement on 22 October 2024 of the
Holding Period (as defined below) related to its recently concluded
Eurobond Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation (together, the
"Invitation") on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Invitation
Memorandum dated 5 September 2024 (the "Invitation Memorandum"), available by
accessing the Transaction Website (https://projects.sodali.com/ghana),
subject to eligibility confirmation and registration. Terms used in
this announcement but not defined herein have the respective
meanings given to them in the Invitation Memorandum.
Notice of
Settlement of Exchange Offer
In connection with the Issue Date of 9 October
2024,
(i)
all of Ghana's Eurobonds covered by the Invitation as listed on
Table A below (the "Old
Notes") were exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer and
were subsequently cancelled,
(ii) those
Holders who submitted (and did not subsequently withdraw) valid
Electronic Consents, Exchange Instructions or Proxy Instructions
certifying their status as Eligible Holders by 5:00 p.m. (New York
City time) on 30 September 2024 (the "Expiration Deadline") received
Consideration pursuant to the terms of the Invitation
Memorandum,
(iii) the
Custodian (as defined in the Invitation Memorandum) received the
relevant portion of the Consideration and, where applicable, the
Consent Fee regarding Holders of Old Notes that (a) failed to
submit Consent Instructions, Exchange Instructions and/or
Eligibility Certifications certifying their status as Eligible
Holders by or before the Expiration Deadline ("Non-Participating Holders") or (b) did
so submit by certifying their status as Ineligible Holders instead
("Ineligible Holders"),
(iv) those
Eligible Holders who submitted (and did not subsequently withdraw)
valid Consent Instructions by the Early Consent Deadline received
their applicable share of the Consent Fee, and
(v) the
World Bank Guarantee was accelerated in full and terminated, and
the World Bank Payment was distributed to holders of the 2015
WB-Guaranteed Notes.
Further, on 11 October 2024, Ghana completed the
First Amortisation Payment on the Down Payment New Notes and
Post-Default Interest New Notes, and the First Special
Consideration Payment on the Short-Term Disco New Notes, Long-Term
Disco New Notes and Long-Term Par New Notes.
Eligibility to
Receive Consideration Pursuant to Holding Period
Arrangement
If any Non-Participating Holder submits a Holding
Period Instruction certifying their status as Eligible Holder at or
prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on 9 December 2024 (which
is the first Business Day following 60 calendar days after the
Issue Date) (the "Holding Period
Termination Deadline" and the period from the Issue Date up
to the Holding Period Termination Deadline, the "Holding Period"), the Consideration to
which such Eligible Holders are entitled, which for purposes of the
Holding Period Arrangement consist only of Par New Notes (see
Table B below showing for indicative
purposes only the Old Notes-to-Par New Notes exchange ratio
pursuant to the Exchange Offer), together with any payments of
principal and interest paid on the relevant New Notes since the
Issue Date and held by the Custodian, will be delivered, subject to
the terms and conditions of the Invitation Memorandum, to the
relevant Direct Participants in the relevant Clearing System on
behalf of such Holder on 16 December 2024 (which is the fifth
Business Day following the Holding Period Termination Deadline)
(the "New Notes
Holding Period Distribution
Date").
Requirements for
Holding Period Instruction
Non-Participating Holders must submit (or arrange to
have submitted on their behalf) Holding Period Instructions in
accordance with the following requirements:
Euroclear /
Clearstream New Notes
In order to submit a Holding Period Instruction,
Direct Participants must submit (and not subsequently withdraw) an
electronic instruction through the relevant Clearing System at or
prior to the Holding Period Termination Deadline specifying that it
is submitted on behalf of a beneficial owner who was an Eligible
Holder of Old Notes as of the Issue Date and that is either (a)
outside of the united states or (b) either accredited investors or
QIBs, or, if located in the EEA, is a qualified investor as defined
in the Prospectus Regulation or
DTC New
Notes
In order to submit Holding Period Instructions, DTC
Direct Participants must submit (and not subsequently withdraw) an
Agent's Message through ATOP (each as defined in the Invitation
Memorandum) at or prior to the Holding Period Termination Deadline
specifying that it is submitted on behalf of a beneficial owner who
was an Eligible Holder of Old Notes as of the Issue Date and that
is (a) either an accredited investor or QIBs and (b) if located in
the EEA, a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus
Regulation
Non-Participating Holders may only submit Holding
Period Instructions in respect of principal amounts of the relevant
minimum denomination of the relevant Series of Notes and the
relevant integral multiple in excess thereof with respect to each
Series of Notes. A separate Holding Period Instruction must be
submitted on behalf of each individual beneficial owner of Old
Notes that is subject to the Holding Period. The minimum
denomination of the relevant Series of Old Notes is as per the
Invitation Memorandum (see Table A
below).
Cash Proceeds
Arrangement for Ineligible Holders and those that Fail to Certify
Eligibility during Holding Period
In respect of:
(i)
Ineligible Holders that submitted (or arranged to have submitted on
their behalf) a valid Consent Instruction at or prior to the
Expiration Deadline and which certified that they are Ineligible
Holders, and
(ii)
Non-Participating Holders that fail to submit (or arrange to have
submitted on their behalf) a Holding Period Instruction certifying
that they are Eligible Holders at or prior to the Holding Period
Termination Deadline,
the New Notes that such holders would have otherwise
received pursuant to the Exchange Offer had they participated in
the Exchange Offer and certified their eligibility, will be sold by
the Custodian or Ghana, as the case may be, in one or more
transactions (each, a "Sale") as soon as reasonably
practicable following the Holding Period Termination Deadline and
expected on the fifth Business Day following the completion of all
relevant Sales (the "Substitute
Consideration Distribution Date"). Such Non-Participating
Holders and Ineligible Holders will be subject to the Cash Proceeds
Arrangement.
Relevant Ineligible Holders will also receive on the
Substitute Consideration Distribution Date any Consent Fees to
which they are entitled if they submitted a valid Consent
Instruction before the Early Consent Deadline pursuant to the
Invitation and that is held by the Custodian. Such Consent Fees
will be delivered through the relevant Clearing Systems to the
Direct Participants on behalf of the relevant Ineligible
Holders.
The sale of the New Notes pursuant to the Cash Proceed
Arrangement will be conducted on the best terms reasonably
available in the open market at the time of the sale. The proceeds
from these sales will be in cash, and while Non-Participating
Holders that failed to certify their eligibility during the Holding
Period and Ineligible Holders (the "Cash Proceed Arrangement Holders") will
not receive the Second Special Consideration Payment, the value of
the sale proceeds is expected to reflect the accrued value of that
payment. The proceeds of these Sales, net of any costs, fees, and
taxes (the "Net Cash
Proceeds"), will be held for the benefit of such holders
until all relevant Sales are completed after the Holding Period
Termination Deadline.
On the Substitute Consideration Distribution Date each
Cash Proceed Arrangement Holder will receive its pro rata share of
the Net Cash Proceeds of the Sale of the Consideration and the
First Special Consideration Payment (on the Long-Term Par New
Notes) that such holders would have otherwise received pursuant to
the Invitation, together with any payments of principal and
interest paid on the New Notes subject to such Sales since the
Issue Date and held by the Custodian (the "Substitute Consideration"). Cash
Proceed Arrangement Holders will also receive on the Substitute
Consideration Distribution Date any Consent Fee to which they may
be entitled pursuant to the Invitation and held by the Custodian.
The Substitute Consideration and the applicable Consent Fee will be
delivered through the relevant Clearing Systems to the Direct
Participants on behalf of the Cash Proceed Arrangement Holders.
The Net Cash Proceeds
may be less than the nominal value of the New Notes due to market
conditions and the volume of New Notes sold. Ghana will have
no obligation to make any payments beyond the Substitute
Consideration (and any Consent Fee, if applicable), and payment of
this amount will fully satisfy Ghana's obligations under the
Exchange Offer.
Neither Ghana, the Custodian, nor the Information and
Tabulation Agent will be liable for any errors or delays in the
delivery of the New Notes, the Substitute Consideration or the
Consent Fee (if applicable) by any Direct Participant in the
Clearing System, or any intermediary responsible for the delivery
thereof. No additional payments will be made in the event of any
delay.
***
Table A-Old
Notes
Description of the Old
Notes
|
ISINs and
CUSIP
|
Outstanding
Amount
|
Authorised
Denominations
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.875% Notes due 2023
|
ISINs:
US374422AB97 (Rule 144A); XS0956935398 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
374422 AB9 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$148,759,605
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1 in
excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.125% Amortising Notes due 2026
|
ISINs:
US374422AC70 (Rule 144A); XS1108847531 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
374422AC7 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1 in
excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 10.750% Amortising Notes due
2030
|
ISINs:
US374422AD53 (Rule 144A); XS1297557412 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
374422 AD5 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$930,107,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.625% Amortising Notes due 2029
|
ISINs:
US374422AG84 (Rule 144A); XS1821416234 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
374422 AG8 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.627% Amortising Notes due 2049
|
ISINs:
US374422AH67 (Rule 144A); XS1821416408 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
374422 AH6 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$750,000,000 7.875% Amortising Notes due 2027
|
ISINs:
US37443GAA94 (Rule 144A); XS1968714110 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAA9 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$750,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 8.125% Amortising Notes due 2032
|
ISINs:
US37443GAB77 (Rule 144A); XS1968714540 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAB7 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.950% Amortising Notes due 2051
|
ISINs:
US37443GAC50 (Rule 144A); XS1968714623 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAC5 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 6.375% Amortising Notes due 2027
|
ISINs:
US37443GAG64 (Rule 144A); XS2115122538 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAG6 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.875% Amortising Notes due 2035
|
ISINs:
US37443GAH48 (Rule 144A); XS2115141751 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAH4 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$750,000,000 8.750% Amortising Notes due 2061
|
ISINs:
US37443GAJ04 (Rule 144A); XS2115147287 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAJ0 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$750,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.750% Amortising Notes due 2029
|
ISINs:
US37443GAL59 (Rule 144A); XS2325748106 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAL5 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.625% Amortising Notes due 2034
|
ISINs:
US37443GAM33 (Rule 144A); XS2325747397(Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAM3 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$500,000,000 8.875% Amortising Notes due 2042
|
ISINs:
US37443GAN16 (Rule 144A); XS2325747637 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAN1 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$500,000,000
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
U.S.$525,000,000 Zero-Coupon Notes due 2025
|
ISINs:
US37443GAK76 (Rule 144A); XS2325742166 (Regulation S)
CUSIP:
37443GAK7 (Rule 144A)
|
U.S.$525,000,000(1)
|
Minimum
denominations of U.S.$200,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000
in excess thereof
|
_____________________
(1) The Recognised Principal Amount
used for purposes of the exchange in respect of the Zero-Coupon
Notes is equal to the initial proceeds at the issue date of the
relevant amount of Zero-Coupon Notes plus accrued interest computed
at the implicit yield at issuance of 6.309% up to (and including)
31 December 2023. Such amount is U.S.$485,192,766 in respect of the
total U.S.$525,000,000 nominal amount.
|
***
Table B - The Par Menu
Exchange Ratio
Old Notes
|
ISIN
|
CUSIP
|
Down Payment Par New
Notes(1)
|
Long-Term Par New
Notes(1)
|
Post-Default Interest Par New
Notes(1)(2)
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.875% Notes due 2023
|
XS0956935398
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$69.457500
|
US374422AB97
|
374422AB9
|
$40
|
$960
|
$69.457500
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.125% Amortising Notes due 2026
|
XS1108847531
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$74.364062
|
US374422AC70
|
374422AC7
|
$40
|
$960
|
$74.364062
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 10.750% Amortising Notes due
2030
|
XS1297557412
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$0.000000
|
US374422AD53
|
374422AD5
|
$40
|
$960
|
$0.000000
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.625% Amortising Notes due 2029
|
XS1821416234
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$54.042188
|
US374422AG84
|
374422AG8
|
$40
|
$960
|
$54.042188
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.627% Amortising Notes due 2049
|
XS1821416408
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$56.614688
|
US374422AH67
|
374422AH6
|
$40
|
$960
|
$56.614688
|
U.S.$750,000,000 7.875% Amortising Notes due 2027
|
XS1968714110
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$54.435938
|
US37443GAA94
|
37443GAA9
|
$40
|
$960
|
$54.435938
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 8.125% Amortising Notes due 2032
|
XS1968714540
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$60.429687
|
US37443GAB77
|
37443GAB7
|
$40
|
$960
|
$60.429687
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.950% Amortising Notes due 2051
|
XS1968714623
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$71.264375
|
US37443GAC50
|
37443GAC5
|
$40
|
$960
|
$71.264375
|
U.S.$1,250,000,000 6.375% Amortising Notes due 2027
|
XS2115122538
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$55.781250
|
US37443GAG64
|
37443GAG6
|
$40
|
$960
|
$55.781250
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.875% Amortising Notes due 2035
|
XS2115141751
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$68.906250
|
US37443GAH48
|
37443GAH4
|
$40
|
$960
|
$68.906250
|
U.S.$750,000,000 8.750% Amortising Notes due 2061
|
XS2115147287
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$71.968750
|
US37443GAJ04
|
37443GAJ0
|
$40
|
$960
|
$71.968750
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 7.750% Amortising Notes due 2029
|
XS2325748106
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$60.217500
|
US37443GAL59
|
37443GAL5
|
$40
|
$960
|
$60.217500
|
U.S.$1,000,000,000 8.625% Amortising Notes due 2034
|
XS2325747397
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$67.016250
|
US37443GAM33
|
37443GAM3
|
$40
|
$960
|
$67.016250
|
U.S.$500,000,000 8.875% Amortising Notes due 2042
|
XS2325747637
|
N/A
|
$40
|
$960
|
$64.299375
|
US37443GAN16
|
37443GAN1
|
$40
|
$960
|
$64.299375
|
U.S.$525,000,000 Zero-Coupon Notes due 2025
|
XS2325742166
|
N/A
|
$36.967068
|
$887.209629
|
$0.000000
|
US37443GAK76
|
37443GAK7
|
$36.967068
|
$887.209629
|
$0.000000
|
______________________________
(1)
Amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars per
U.S.$1,000 in principal amount of Existing Notes
(2)
The resulting aggregate nominal amount of
Post-Default Interest Notes received by each participating Eligible
Holder has been rounded to the nearest dollar.
|
***
This announcement is released by the Republic of Ghana,
represented by its Ministry of Finance, and contains information
that qualified or may have qualified as inside information for the
purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014, including as it
forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European
Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, encompassing information relating to
the Exchange Offer and the Consent Solicitation described
above.
This notice only includes certain terms of the Exchange Offer
and Consent Solicitation and a complete description of the terms
and conditions of the Exchange Offer and the Consent Solicitation
is set out in the Invitation Memorandum. Holders must refer to the
Invitation Memorandum for further details on the Exchange Offer and
the Consent Solicitation and for details regarding their
participation, the New Notes and settlement.
Any questions regarding the terms of
the Invitation may be directed to the Dealer Managers or to the
Information and Tabulation Agent at the addresses and telephone
numbers specified below:
Dealer
Managers
Merrill Lynch
International
2 King
Edward Street
London
EC1A 1HQ
United
Kingdom
|
Standard Chartered
Bank
One
Basinghall Avenue
London
EC2V 5DD
United
Kingdom
|
Attention: Liability Management Group
Telephone: +44 207 996 5420
Email: DG.LM-EMEA@bofa.com
|
Attention: Liability Management
Email: Liability_Management@sc.com
|
Information and Tabulation
Agent
Sodali &
Co
In
London: The Leadenhall Building, 122
Leadenhall Street
London,
EC3V 4AB
United
Kingdom
|
In
Stamford:
333
Ludlow Street, 5th Floor
South
Tower, CT 06902
United
States of America
|
In Hong
Kong: 29/F, No. 28 Stanley
Street
Central,
Hong Kong
|
|
|
|
Telephone: +44 20 4513 6933
|
Telephone: +1 203 658 9457
|
Telephone: +852 2319 4130
|
|
|
|
Email: ghana@investor.sodali.com
|
|
Transaction Website: https://projects.sodali.com/ghana
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Disclaimer
This announcement must be read in conjunction with the
Invitation Memorandum. No offer or invitation to acquire or sell
any securities is being made pursuant to this announcement. The
Dealer Managers do not take responsibility for the contents of this
announcement.