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Italy to launch new 6-year BTP Italia bond on April 14

Published March 21, 2014 Updated March 21, 2014 11:58am

ROME: The Italian treasury said on Friday it will offer a new six-year inflation-linked BTP Italia bond aimed at both retail and professional investors from April 14-17.

For the first time since its introduction in March 2012, the new BTP Italia bond will have a longer maturity than the traditional four-year lifespan and will be sold in two separate placements.

The bond will be first offered to retail investors from April 14-16, and then to institutional buyers on April 17.

The dates could change if the treasury decides to close the sale in advance.

Maria Cannata, the head of Italy's Debt Management Office, said Rome targeted total debt issuance of just under 450 billion euros ($620 billion) this year, adding this could be raised should the government increase its payments of state debt arrears owed to businesses.