Taiwan holders of Russian bonds say haven’t received payments – sources
2022.06.27 06:50
FILE PHOTO: A Russian state flag flies over the Central Bank headquarters in Moscow, Russia March 29, 2021. A sign reads: “Bank of Russia”. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Some Taiwanese holders of Russian Eurobonds have not received interest due on May 27 after a grace period expired on Sunday evening, two sources said, potentially setting Moscow on track for its first major external sovereign default in over a century.
Russia was due to make $100 million in coupon payments on two Eurobonds on May 27 – $29 million on a euro-denominated 2036 bond and $71 million on a dollar-denominated 2026 bond.
Sweeping sanctions imposed by Western capitals on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 as well as counter measures by Moscow have all but severed the country from the global financial ecosystem. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”.
Despite the plethora of curbs, Russia had managed to make payments on seven bonds since its invasion of Ukraine before the latest interest payments.
Russian debt makes up less than half a percent of Taiwanese bond holdings.
