NHAI, 6 other PSUs to raise Rs 40,000 cr via tax free bonds

The bonds will have a tenure of 10, 15 or 20 years and the interest rates will be decided with reference to the rates of Government Securities

Government today allowed seven state-owned entities, including NHAI, IRFC and NTPC, to raise Rs 40,000 crore in the current fiscal through tax-free bonds.

The National Highways Authority of India has been permitted to raise Rs 24,000 crore and Indian Railways Finance Corporation Rs 6,000 crore, said a notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

Housing and Urban Development Corporation has been allowed to raise Rs 5,000 crore and Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, Rs 2,000 crore. NTPC, Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation can issue tax-free bonds of Rs 1,000 crore each.

Retail investors, which include HUFs and NRIs investing on repatriation basis, can invest up to Rs 10 lakh in such bonds. Those investing higher amount would be classified as HNIs.

The bonds will have a tenure of 10, 15 or 20 years and the interest rates is to be decided with reference to the rates of Government Securities.

"The ceiling coupon rate for 'AAA' rated issuers shall be the reference G-sec rate less 55 basis points (100 basis point is one per cent) in case of RIIs and reference G-sec rate less 80 basis points in case of other investor segments," the circular said.

The coupon rate for below 'AAA' rated bonds could go up to 20 basis points above the rates offered for the bonds with highest rating.

Besides, retail individual investors (RIIs), Qualified institutional buyers, corporates, trusts, partnership firms, Limited Liability Partnerships, co-operative banks, regional rural banks and other legal entities and High Networth Individuals (HNIs) would be eligible to subscribe the bonds.

The circular said that companies will have to raise 70 per cent of the issue size through public offer, of which 40 per cent has to be reserved for retail investors.

The remaining portion of the issue size can be offered through private placement route.

Interest earned through tax-free bonds, which are usually issued by PSUs to raise long-term funds, do not attract tax.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced in the Budget 2015-16 that he would permit PSUs to raise funds through tax- free bonds for development of infrastructure.