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BUENOS AIRES, April 15 (Reuters) - Argentina confirmed theseven banks managing its upcoming bond issue in the government'sofficial gazette on Friday as it prepares to return tointernational credit markets for the first time in 15 years.
Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc,JPMorgan Chase & Co and Banco Santander SA wereawarded the top role of global coordinators for the bond sale,while BBVA, Citigroup Inc, and UBS Group AG will join as bookrunners. The news confirms a report byIFR last month.
Argentina plans within days to launch the sale of its firstinternational bond issue in 15 years, raising up to $15 billionto ease government financing and settle litigation that followeda $100 billion default in 2002.
A U.S. court ruling on Wednesday cleared the way forArgentina to pay outstanding debts and raise new funds to paythose settlements.
In a separate announcement, the official gazette saidArgentina had hired McGraw Hill Financial Inc's Standard & Poor's Ratings Services for the bond issue because itwas the only one of the major three credit ratings agencies thatwould sign a contract under Argentine law. (Reporting by Maximiliano Rizzi; Writing by Brad Haynes andLisa Von Ahn)
