The World Bank, through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has priced a six-year Swiss franc-denominated benchmark bond maturing in April 2032, raising CHF 300 million to support its sustainable development activities in member countries. The issuance is notable because it marks the largest IBRD Swiss franc transaction since April 2009, underscoring strong investor interest and the institution’s continued presence in the Swiss franc market.
The bond was issued as a Sustainable Development Bond and carries an annual coupon of 0.5925 percent, priced at par. Deutsche Bank served as the lead manager for the transaction, while Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank acted as co-lead manager. The bond will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, adding to its visibility in the Swiss capital market.
Investor demand for the issuance was solid, with orders coming from 43 investors. More than half of the bonds, or 53 percent, were placed with bank treasuries, while the remainder went to asset managers and other investor groups. The World Bank said the deal reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening its footprint in the Swiss franc market and noted that this was its sixth CHF issuance since January 2025.
The funds raised through the bond will support the World Bank’s broader sustainable development work across its member countries. As a Sustainable Development Bond, the issuance aligns with the institution’s long-standing practice of raising capital in international markets to finance activities that address development challenges and generate positive social and economic impact.
The World Bank, established in 1944 and owned by 189 member countries, is the original institution of the World Bank Group. It provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and other creditworthy countries, with the goal of reducing extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. The institution has been issuing bonds in global capital markets for more than 70 years, and its Sustainable Development Bonds are aligned with the International Capital Market Association’s Sustainability Bond Guidelines.
The World Bank also clarified that the net proceeds from this bond are not earmarked for any specific projects or programs. Instead, the funds support the institution’s general financing activities, and payments on the bond are not tied to any individual project. This structure is consistent with the World Bank’s standard approach to sustainable development bond issuances.
