IFC raises Rs 180 cr via rupee-denominated Maharaja bonds

IFC, part of the World Bank group, today said it has raised an USD 27 million or Rs 180 crore by issuing rupee-denominated 'Maharaja' bonds under a USD 2.5 billion programme.
The money will be invested in the country's infrastructure sector and the bonds are listed on the National Stock Exchange, an IFC statement said here.
"By reissuingMaharaja bonds we are making a new contributionto the development of India's debt capital markets, while channelling domestic savings for infrastructure investment in the country," the firm's vice-president and treasurer Jingdong Hua said.
"IFC reissuing bonds will contribute to efficient secondary markets price discovery as issue size grows," NSE's managing director and chief executive Chitra Ramkrishna said.

IFC had first issued the rupee-denominated Maharaja bonds in September 2014, when it had raised USD 100 million from international and domestic institutional investors.
The statement issued today said at that time, two domestic investors had agreed to purchase up to Rs 204 crore in separately tradeable redeemable principal parts (STRPP) with tenors from 13 to 18 years.
The lead arrangers for the current reissue are HSBC, ICICI Securities PD, and SBI Capital Markets, it said.
India makes for the top country exposure for IFC with a committed exposure of over USD 5 billion, of which USD 1.4 billion was in fiscal 2015.