The Kingdom of Bahrain has mandated Bank ABC, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, HSBC and JP Morgan for a potential RegS/144a US dollar benchmark transaction, according to a lead.

The issue will follow a series of investor meetings across Asia, the Middle East, the US and the UK beginning on November 10.

Bahrain is rated BBB- by both S&P and Fitch, and will be acting through its Ministry of Finance.

Rumours of the transaction and mandate were reported by IFR earlier in November.