Gazprom plans 8-yr Eurobonds denominated in U.S. dollars, IFR says

MOSCOW: Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom plans to issue 8-year Eurobonds denominated in U.S. dollars, IFR, the financial markets analytical service run by Refinitiv, said on Tuesday.

The debt issue, to be of a benchmark size - or no less than $500 million - comes at a time when Gazprom's flagship gas pipeline project, Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany, is under fresh sanctions risk pressure from the United States.

IFR said that Gazprombank and J.P. Morgan are arranging the issue as joint global coordinators and bookrunners, while IMI-Intesa Sanpaolo, SMBC Nikko and VTB Capital act as joint lead managers and bookrunners.

Gazprom has acknowledged in the related Eurobond prospectus seen by Reuters on Tuesday that there are risks that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project may be suspended or scrapped amid political pressure.

Should the $11-billion project be suspended or cancelled, Gazprom may face financial claims from contractors, it said in the prospectus. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Katya Golubkova, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)