Another vote of confidence from international: Bank Leumi Completes Overseas CoCo Bond Issuance totaling USD 1 Billion - in the lowest spread in the history of an Israeli bank issuance
Rhea-AI Summary
Bank Leumi (BLMIF) completed an international CoCo bond issuance totaling USD 1 billion, attracting about USD 2.5 billion in demand. The 10.25-year subordinated notes, callable after 5 years, carry 5.7% interest and a 155 bps spread, the lowest ever for an Israeli bank CoCo issued overseas.
The deal aims to diversify funding and strengthen capital, with listing expected on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange institutional system. In January 2026, Leumi also raised a EUR 750 million mortgage-backed covered bond from foreign investors at significantly lower financing costs than regular corporate bonds.
Positive
- USD 1 billion CoCo issuance completed with demand around USD 2.5 billion
- Record-low 155 bps spread for an Israeli bank CoCo issued overseas
- 10.25-year subordinated notes expected to strengthen regulatory capital base
- Funding diversification via international institutional investors and TASE listing
- EUR 750 million covered bond raised in January 2026 at lower financing costs
- Covered bond ratings 2–4 notches above prior State of Israel bond issuance
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – BLMIF
In the Jun 3 session, BLMIF declined 8.98%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
A CoCo bond issuance, through the issuance of subordinated capital notes (Subordinated Debt), is a financial instrument that combines characteristics of both debt and equity, and is considered subordinated debt that strengthens the Bank's capital base. As part of the current transaction, a bond series was issued for a term of 10.25 years, with a call option after 5 years, at an interest rate of
The transaction, led by Omer Ziv, Deputy CEO and Head of the Bank's Capital Markets Division, was carried out against the backdrop of the Bank's continuing growth trend, with the aim of diversifying its funding sources and strengthening its capital. The issuance was led by some of the world's leading investment banks: Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, and others. The series is expected to be listed on the institutional trading system of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
In January 2026, Leumi was the first financial institution in
SOURCE Bank Leumi