RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has launched its first commercial paper program, introducing a new tool to diversify its funding sources and enhance short-term liquidity management.

A commercial paper is a debt instrument used to raise short-term funding, offering faster access to funds than traditional loans. It is widely used in global financial markets, offering PIF greater flexibility in meeting its needs while aligning with its dynamic investment priorities.

The CP program will enable PIF to issue short-term debt through offshore special-purpose vehicles, enhancing its liquidity management and complementing its long-term capital-raising initiatives.

According to a press release, the initiative, which includes US and Euro CP sub-programs, has received top-tier credit ratings of Prime-1 from Moody’s and F1+ from Fitch, underscoring its strong financial standing.

PIF has consistently demonstrated its ability to pioneer new financial instruments. In 2022, it became the first sovereign wealth fund globally to issue a green bond, including a landmark century green bond, followed by a successful $3.5 billion sukuk issuance, according to the fund.

PIF’s Head of Global Capital Finance and Investment Strategy and Economic Insights, Fahad Al-Saif, emphasized the program’s role in strengthening the fund’s resilient and adaptive financial framework. 

“The establishment of our CP program reflects the continued strength and depth of PIF’s capital raising strategy; one that is dynamic, resilient, and fit for purpose, aligning funding solutions with our long-term investment priorities,” he said.

In a press release, Moody’s Ratings said that the programs will operate under newly established special purpose vehicles, CPDE Investment Co. and CPNL Investment Limited.

“PIF has an excellent liquidity profile,” Moody’s said in its rating rationale, citing the fund’s cash reserves of SR106 billion ($28 billion) and undrawn credit facilities as key strengths.

According to the agency, the USCP program will support maturities of up to 397 days, while the ECP program will cover maturities of up to 364 days, with proceeds earmarked for general corporate purposes.

PIF is Saudi Arabia’s primary investment arm, tasked with advancing economic transformation under Vision 2030. Through strategic partnerships and investments, the fund aims to build future-ready industries, create employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development.

As the driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, PIF has established 103 companies since 2017, fostering economic diversification and sustainability. 

JEDDAH: The International Monetary Fund has warned that US airstrikes on Iran could amplify global economic uncertainty, with potential spillovers far beyond energy markets, its head told Bloomberg on Monday.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the fund is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, particularly the impact of the conflict on oil and gas prices and supply routes.

Georgieva’s remarks come after the US military conducted targeted strikes on nuclear facility sites in Iran, effectively involving itself in Israel’s campaign to dismantle the country’s nuclear program, despite Tehran’s threats of retaliation that could spark a wider regional conflict.

US President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s key nuclear sites were “completely and fully obliterated” and warned the country against retaliatory attacks, asserting that the US could strike additional targets “with precision, speed and skill.”

Georgieva told Bloomberg that the IMF are looking at this “as another source of uncertainty in what has been a highly uncertain environment” adding that the institution is watching for two things: “One, how would that impact risk premia for oil and gas. There has been some movement upward— how far would it go? And two: would there be any disruption in energy supplies?”

She went on: “For now, no. But let’s see how events would develop— whether either delivery routes or spillovers to other countries may occur. I pray, no.”

The development saw Brent crude briefly rising by as much as 5.7 percent to $81.40 per barrel during early Asian trading on June 23 before retreating, according to Bloomberg.

When asked whether the transmission mechanism, specifically the channels where she sees the greatest impact of the Middle East shock, is currently reflected in energy prices, the managing director confirmed that it is.

“There could be secondary and tertiary impacts. Let’s say there is more turbulence that goes into hitting growth prospects of large economies, and then you have a trigger impact in a downward revision in prospects for global growth,” she told Bloomberg. 

“As you know, we have already revised downward growth projections for this year, and we will be coming up with our next projections in July.”

Georgieva continued: “What we see in the first two quarters of the year broadly confirms the picture we painted in April, and it is somewhat slower global growth, but no recession.”

The IMF’s April report sounded a warning over the weakening global economy, sharply downgrading growth forecasts from January projections. 

The fund identified surging trade tensions, record-high tariff levels, and rising policy unpredictability as key threats to both short- and long-term economic stability.