Bahrain plans first bond since $10 billion lifeline

Bloomberg

Bahrain is planning to return to international bond markets this year for first time since the kingdom’s Gulf allies pledged a $10 billion package to help repair its finances and support its currency, according to people familiar with the matter.
Government officials are in talks with banks for a possible issuance in the second half of the year and have already met global investors in a non-deal roadshow, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. Bahrain delayed plans to sell bonds earlier this year af-ter taking measures to cut sp-ending and saying it intended to balance its budget by 2022, two people said. The Finance Ministry declined to comment.
Under a five-year program agreed on with its neighbours and led by Saudi Arabia, the country has pledged to raise its non-oil revenue and slash spending to trim its budget deficit and ballooning debt.