SINPF Board Purhase remaining SIG $60M COVID-19 Development bonds
The Solomon Islands National Provident Fund Board (SINPFB) has purchased the remaining $60M of the government’s $120 million covid-19 development bond on Friday 19 June 2020. The other $60M were earlier purchased by Solomon Islands Electricity Authority and Solomon Islands Ports Authority.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands Dr Luke Forau, the Permanent Secretary of Finance Mckinnie Dentana, NPF Board directors Shephard Lapo and Robert Au, NPF General Manager Mike Wate and NPF senior officials, officials from the Central Bank and officials from the Debt Management Unit of the Ministry of Finance & Treasury.
Signing on behalf of the government is the Minister of Finance and Treasury, Hon Harry Kuma and on behalf of the SINPFB, Chairman Acting Dr. Aaron Oritaimae.
In accepting the payment, the Minister of Finance thanked the Board in responding positively to support the government’s economic stimulus package designed to minimise the impact of the pandemic on our economy. Also the Minister acknowledged the current implementation of the Board’s covid19 exemption orders for early withdrawal by members. “In a small but positive way these amounts disbursed to members under the orders can also be seen as economic stimulus to our economy”.
Chairman Acting Dr Oritaimae thanked the government in giving the opportunity for the SINPFB to purchase the bond amidst the uncertainty of our economy and falling markets when credible investment opportunities are hard to come by.
In addition to the returns for our member wealth creation, the Fund is also pleased to provide the support to the Government to implement its development plans as agreed under the terms of the Bond Agreement
To date the government is a strong and credible borrower with the Fund meeting on time the payment of its interest and principal loan obligations for its earlier issued 2017 $150M development bonds.
With this new purchase the Fund’s exposure to the government is now at $210M, representing about 7% of the Funds total gross investment portfolio. The SINPFB target exposure to the government is 15%.
The bond purchase is funded by the recall of a much lower earning asset, for the 10 year bond that has a coupon interest rate of 5% earning the Fund $3M in interest income per annum.
In his closing remarks the Chairman Acting wishes to reassures members of the Fund that despite the expected covid-19 negative impacts on the fund’s financial performance for the 2020 financial year, “your Board is looking beyond this crisis to take advantage of opportunities in anticipating the rebounding of our economy and the global economy”
