By John Geddie
LONDON, Oct 9 (IFR) - Slovenia, rated Baa2/A/A-, has hired BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan to arrange investor meetings in the United States ahead of a potential dollar bond issue, according to banking sources.
Finance Minister Janez Sustersic told Reuters last month that the cash-strapped sovereign planned to issue a USD1.5bn 10-year US dollar bond in the second half of October or in November.
The bond follows a failed attempt at accessing the euro-denominated bond market earlier this year.
Lead banks and the Slovenian treasury declined to comment.
(Reporting By John Geddie and Sudip Roy; Editing by Natalie Harrison)
((John.Geddie@thomsonreuters.com)(+44)(0)(20 7542 3486)(Reuters Messaging: john.geddie.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: SLOVENIA/BOND