Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 16
HDFC Bank Seeks $500 Million in 5-Year Dollar Bonds Under RBI Swap Scheme
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 16

HDFC Bank Seeks $500 Million in 5-Year Dollar Bonds Under RBI Swap Scheme

2 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 16

Summary

  • $500 million is the minimum HDFC Bank aims to raise this week through a five-year dollar bond, with the size potentially increasing if investor demand is strong.
  • Initial price guidance is 120 basis points over the five-year U.S. Treasury yield, though one source said the final spread could tighten to below 100 basis points during book-building.
  • The issue uses the Reserve Bank of India's new hedging window, which offers eligible overseas borrowings a fixed 1.5% annual swap rate and lowers foreign-currency funding costs.
  • Proceeds will fund HDFC Bank's foreign branches and subsidiaries, support expansion of overseas operations and cover general corporate purposes.
  • Merchant bankers expect the RBI-backed route to draw $15 billion to $20 billion of inflows over the next six months, with SBI and Bank of Baroda also exploring similar fundraisings.

Insights

While India's largest banks get cheap dollars, are smaller businesses being left behind in the current economic crisis?
As India bets billions on its 2013 playbook, what happens if this high-stakes currency gamble fails to pay off?