Linklaters has advised Oxford University on its first ever bond which will be issued on 8 December 2017 and will raise £750 million, with a maturity of 100 years. The bond will have the longest maturity of any from a British university and will be longer than any public issue of UK government bonds or gilts to date.

The funds from the bond will allow Oxford to invest in strategic capital projects that extend its outstanding capabilities in teaching and research as well committing to major new physical and virtual infrastructure development.

Elaine Keats, Partner, Linklaters: “As a result of the need for increasing levels of capital expenditure in higher education, universities are having to find alternative means of raising money. Thanks to historically low borrowing rates we have seen a number of debt issuances from higher education providers in recent years. We were delighted to be part of Oxford University’s debut bond issue.”

The bond will be the first ever issued by the central University.

The Linklaters team was led by Elaine Keats, Partner, supported by Neil Pallender, Managing Associate, Mark Longworth, Managing Associate and Johnny Davidson, Associate.