Treasury issues eurobond

27.05.20
Treasury issues eurobond

Today the Republic of Iceland issued bonds in the amount of 500 million euros, the equivalent of ISK 76bn. The bonds bear fixed interest of 0.625% and have a 6-year maturity, offering investors a yield of 0.667%.

Investors showed keen interest, with demand totalling EUR 3.4 bn, or nearly seven times the size of the issue. The investor group comprises central banks and other institutional investors, mainly from Europe. Joint lead managers for the transaction were Citi, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley. 

“This issue confirms the Republic’s open access to global capital markets and demonstrates investors’ confidence in the resilience Iceland has built up in recent years. It enhances our capacity to address the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and reflects our strength and our ability to overcome the economic implications,” said Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Bjarni Benediktsson. 

During the book building process, the terms improved by some 30 basis points as demand exceeded expectation, resulting in a mere 5bp new issue premium. Almost 200 investors placed orders, almost twice as many as in the Treasury’s last bond issue in 2019.

“This issue is in line with the Treasury’s debt management strategy. It will facilitate other domestic borrowers’ access to foreign credit markets and confirms that the Republic of Iceland has ready access to a large and diverse group of investors. The markets have been lively in the recent term, as many governments are in the same position, attempting to secure long-term financing,” said Bjarni Benediktsson.

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Mar 20 2026
Primary Dealers for Government Securities
Signing of Primary Dealer Agreements

Today the Government Debt Management on behalf of the Treasury and primary dealers signed agreements regarding issuance and market making in Treasury securities. The objective of the agreements is to maintain the Treasury’s access to financing, to enhance price formation in the secondary market for Treasury securities and promote an active system of benchmark issues in Iceland.

As of 1 April 2026, five financial institutions have been appointed as “primary dealers in Treasury securities”. They are: Arion Banki hf., Fossar Investment Bank hf., Islandsbanki hf., Kvika banki hf. and Landsbankinn hf.

The following bullet points describe the main content of the primary dealer agreement:

  • Primary dealers have the exclusive right to submit bids at auctions where government securities are offered for purchase or sale.
  • Primary dealers have exclusive access to special facilities such as repurchase agreements offered by the Government Debt Management on behalf of the Treasury.
  • Primary dealers are obliged to submit bids at each auction for a minimum of 100 m.kr. nominal value.
  • Primary dealers are Market Makers in the secondary market for government bond benchmark series. They are obliged to submit bid and ask offers on the stock exchange for at least 50 to 100 m.kr. nominal value in each benchmark series (as laid out in the agreements).
  • Primary dealers are in their bid and ask quotes governed by maximum spreads as laid out in the agreements.
  • Primary dealers are obliged to renew their offers within ten minutes after execution of transaction. The primary dealer is entitled to depart from the maximum spread requirement if certain conditions are fulfilled.
  • The agreement is valid from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Further information can be obtained from Government Debt Management at the following email address: [email protected].

Mar 18 2026
Primary Dealers for Government Securities
Primary Dealer Agreements

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs tasks the Central Bank of Iceland’s Government Debt Management department with concluding primary dealer agreements on issuance of Treasury securities and market making in the secondary market.

Resident entities that have an operating licence in accordance with Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Financial Undertakings, no. 161/2002, that have the equipment needed to participate in Treasury securities auctions and can demonstrate a secure settlement of transactions through the Central Bank of Iceland, may request to be parties to the agreement.

Primary dealers have the exclusive right to submit bids at auctions where government securities are offered for purchase or sale. They also receive access to special facilities such as repurchase agreements for government bonds, in accordance with the relevant rules and the applicable terms and conditions.

Primary dealers act as market makers for benchmark government bonds and are obliged to submit bid and ask quotes for a certain minimum amount in each series of government bonds, in accordance with the bid-ask maximum spread specified in the agreement.

Further information can be found in the attached sample primary dealer agreement. Those parties wishing to become primary dealers in Treasury securities are requested to send digitally signed agreements to the Government Debt Management department at the Central Bank of Iceland before 16:00 hrs. Friday 20 March 2026.

Further information can be obtained from Government Debt Management at the following email address: [email protected].

Sample of Agreement (pdf)

Mar 18 2026
Nominal Treasury Bonds
Treasury Bond Auction Announcement - RIKB 38 0215
Series RIKB 38 0215
ISIN IS0000037265
Maturity Date 02/15/2038
Auction Date 03/20/2026
Settlement Date 03/25/2026
10% addition 03/24/2026

On the Auction Date, between 10:30 am and 11:00 am, the Government Debt Management will auction Treasury bonds in the Series, with the ISIN number and with the Maturity Date according to the table above. Payments for the Treasury bonds must be received by the Central Bank before 14:00 on the Settlement Date and the Bonds will be delivered in electronic form on the same day. Article 6 of the General Terms of Auction for Treasury bonds applies for the right to purchase an additional 10%.

Further reference is made to the description of the Treasury bond and the General Terms of Auction for Treasury bonds on the Government Debt Management website.

For additional information please contact Oddgeir Gunnarsson, Government Debt Management, at +354 569 9635.