The Korea Development Bank issued a $3bn bond on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange on Friday 16 February, marking its return after nearly two decades, as stated by LuxSE in a issued on Monday 19 February. The bond offering, structured in two tranches, includes a $1.75bn portion with a three-year maturity and a $1.25bn segment due in five years.

, director of international capital markets and a member of the executive committee at LuxSE, commenting on KDB’s decision to return, highlighted the use of LuxSE’s FastLane service, designed to expedite the process for non-European sovereign, sub-sovereign and agency (SSA) issuers. Delestienne stated that KDB’s re-engagement could encourage more Korean issuers to consider European markets, which would offer a wider range of investment opportunities to European investors. LuxSE hosts listings for 112 SSA issuers globally.

KDB, a state-owned bank operating in 19 countries, chose LuxSE for its latest global bond issuance to accommodate its growing global SSA investor base, noted Dong Bin Joo, KDB’s chief financial officer and executive director of the financial management division. This strategy not only demonstrates KDB’s dedication to expanding its investor base but also strengthens the link between South Korea’s financial sector and the international investor community, said Joo.

Both KDB and LuxSE acknowledged the latest bond issuance as a significant step towards broadening KDB’s investor reach and deepening financial and economic ties between South Korea and Europe.