Investors welcome the return of IFFIm’s “Vaccine Bonds” to the Japanese debt market

Investors welcome the return of IFFIm’s “Vaccine Bonds” to the Japanese debt market

27 May 2009

Vaccine bonds offered to Japanese retail investors in two currencies will raise USD 143 million equivalent to help pay for health and immunisation programmes in the world’s poorest countries.

Vaccine bonds offered to Japanese retail investors to help pay for health and immunisation programmes in the world's poorest countries

"It is particularly gratifying to have been involved in the arrangement of this bond issue, the proceeds of which will have a direct impact in improving the lives of many in the most acute need," said Paul Morganti, Managing Director, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc

Press Releases

Tokyo, 27 May 2009 - Vaccine bonds offered to Japanese retail investors in two currencies will raise USD 143 million equivalent to help pay for health and immunisation programmes in the world's poorest countries.

This most recent offering of vaccine bonds by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation Company ("IFFIm") demonstrates Japanese investors' continued support for IFFIm and its humanitarian purpose. IFFIm raises funds that are used by the GAVI Alliance for health and immunisation programmes in 70 of the poorest countries to protect millions of children against preventable diseases. This vaccine bond offering for the Japanese market was arranged by Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co., Ltd.

Investors were given the opportunity and choice of investing in vaccine bonds denominated in two currencies: United States dollars ("USD") and Australian dollars ("AUD"). The currencies were selected based on investor demand.

Summary details of final bond terms:

Issuer: International Finance Facility for Immunisation Company
Issuer Rating: AAA / Aaa / AAA
USD tranche: Amount: USD 105 million
Coupon: 1.00 % per annum (semi-annual payment)
AUD tranche: Amount: AUD 50 million
Coupon: 3.51 % per annum (semi-annual payment)

Common terms:

Settlement Date: May 26, 2009
Maturity Date: May 25, 2012
Uridashi Price: 100%
Denomination: USD 1,000 and AUD 1,000
Listing: Luxembourg
Lead Manager: Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc

Investment opportunity with an ethical bonus

"We are delighted to see that Japanese retail investors have continued interest in IFFIm vaccine bonds. The funds raised, thanks to Mitsubishi and its clients will help the GAVI Alliance save many more lives. So far IFFIm has raised more than US$ 2 billion for immunisation," said Alan Gillespie, Chairman the IFFIm Board.

"It is particularly gratifying to have been involved in the arrangement of this bond issue, the proceeds of which will have a direct impact in improving the lives of many in the most acute need. It is reflective of the fact that socially responsible causes are, and will continue to be, supported by the Japanese investor community and demonstrates the esteem in which the IFFIm is held," said Paul Morganti, Managing Director, Head of Global Debt Capital Markets, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc.

"This is an investment opportunity with an ethical bonus. The money raised by IFFIm is used to support GAVI's immunisation programmes which protect millions of the world's poorest children against preventable diseases," said Dr Julian Lob-Levyt, CEO of the GAVI Alliance.

"The Japanese retail investors continue to seek value for their investments as evident by their strong support of IFFIm. The impact of their investments on immunisation of children in the world's poorest countries is immeasurable," said George Richardson, Head of Capital Markets at the World Bank.

About IFFIm

The International Finance Facility for Immunisation Company (IFFIm) is a multilateral development institution created to accelerate the availability of predictable, long-term funds for health and immunisation programmes through the GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) in 70 of the poorest countries around the world. IFFIm was created as a development financing tool to help the international community achieve the Millennium Development Goals. IFFIm's financial base consists of legally binding grants payments from its sovereign sponsors (France, Italy, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the UK), on the basis of which IFFIm issues bonds in the international capital markets. IFFIm is currently rated AAA/Aaa/AAA by Fitch Ratings Limited ("Fitch"), Moody's Investors Service Inc. ("Moody's") and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services ("S&P"). IFFIm was established as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and is registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee with number 5857343 and as a charity with number 1115413

About the GAVI Alliance

www.gavi.org
The GAVI Alliance is a public-private partnership that aims to immunise children in the poorest countries. It brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialised and developing countries, research and technical agencies, NGOs, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private philanthropists. GAVI provides vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis combined with haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B as so-called pentavalent (five antigens in one vaccine) as well as vaccines against measles, yellow fever, pneumococcal diseases (pneumonia and meningitis) and rotavirus (diarrhoea).

About the World Bank

www.worldbank.org
The World Bank is a global development cooperative owned by 185 member countries. Its purpose is to help its members achieve equitable and sustainable economic growth in their national economies and to find effective solutions to pressing regional and global problems in economic development and environmental sustainability. The goal is to help overcome poverty and improve standards of living for people worldwide. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), rated Aaa/AAA (Moody's/S&P), is the oldest and largest entity in the World Bank Group and provides funding, risk management tools and credit enhancement to sovereigns. To fund this activity, IBRD has been issuing debt securities in the international capital markets for 60 years. The World Bank (IBRD) is also the Treasury Manager for the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). In that capacity, the World Bank, as IFFIm's agent, manages IFFIm's finances according to prudent policies and standards. The World Bank also coordinates with IFFIm's donors and manages their pledges and payments as well as IFFIm's disbursements for immunisation and health programmes through the GAVI Alliance.

About Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc

www.int.sc.mufg.jp
A wholly-owned unit of Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co., Ltd ("MUS"), Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc ("MUSI") is headquartered in London and provides investment banking and brokerage products and services. MUS (www.sc.mufg.jp) is the core securities company of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and offers a broad range of domestic and foreign securities and investment banking products and services, including brokerage, trading, underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, securitisation and corporate advisory services to individual and corporate customers in Japan and around the world. MUS' global network spans the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, U.S., Singapore, Hong Kong, China and India.


Media contacts:

World Bank: Yoshiyuki Arima, Tokyo, Tel. +81 3 3597 6650, yarima@worldbank.org
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities International plc:
Richard House, London, Tel. +44 20 7577 2808, richard.house@int.sc.mufg.jp,
Julie Horiuchi, London, Tel. +44 20 7577 2806, julie.horiuchi@int.sc.mufg.jp

Disclaimer

The securities referred to in this document have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or under the securities legislation of any state of the United States, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, other than pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. IFFIm does not presently intend to make a public offer of securities in the United States or to register any securities under the Securities Act. The securities referred to in this document will only be offered or sold outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act.

THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT AN OFFER FOR THE SALE OF SECURITIES. THIS DOCUMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE UNITED STATES

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