Indian banks' infra bond funding to turn expensive as investors demand higher returns

Bank of Maharashtra

18/02/2025 05:59

By Dharamraj Dhutia and Khushi Malhotra
       MUMBAI, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Fundraising through infrastructure bonds is
set to become more expensive for Indian lenders that have used them to raise
record funds as investors demand higher returns amid increased debt supply.
    Domestic lenders have raised a record 892 billion rupees ($10.26 billion) in
this financial year, with some, including State Bank of India, likely to tap
this route before the fiscal year ends in March. 
    "Over the last month, demand from long-term investors has been weak,
resulting in widening of spreads in the long-term corporate bond segment," said
Ketan Parikh, head of fixed income at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance. 
    Rising debt issuances, especially by banks and other long-term issuers, have
also led to spreads widening between corporate and government bond yields, he
added.
    State-run Bank of Maharashtra, Punjab National Bank and Bank of India have
raised a total of 72.52 billion rupees, about 55% of their 130 billion-rupee
target, including greenshoe options. 
        The lenders have also had to pay a higher premium over the corresponding
maturity government bond yield compared to their previous debt issuance.
    In July, Bank of India sold 10-year infra bonds at a spread of 56 basis
points above the 10-year benchmark bond yield, while Bank of Maharashtra raised
funds at a spread of 85 bps over the benchmark yield. Both lenders had to pay an
additional spread of 15 bps for the sale.
    None of the lenders responded to Reuters' emails seeking comment. 
    "Large institutional investors, having met their minimum regulatory
investment requirements, are now demanding higher yields amid expectations of a
substantial state debt supply through March," said Venkatakrishnan Srinivasan,
founder and managing partner at debt advisory firm Rockfort Fincap.
    Indian states are scheduled to borrow 2.25 trillion rupees in the last five
weeks of the financial year.
    While yields in the secondary market have gone up by 6-8 bps since the
central bank's rate cut decision earlier this month, investors are constantly
bidding at higher levels for new debt placements.
    Along with the lenders, other state-run companies such as REC, PFC, NABARD
and IIFCL, closed their issues recently without meeting their targets,
signalling overall investor fatigue.
    
    Indian lenders unable to raise planned quantum despite paying higher yields:
 Lenders               Planned quantum   Quantum   Yield spread over   Spread in
                       in bln rupees     raised    10-year government  previous
                                                   bond yield          issue
 Punjab National Bank                50     29.50                  63  NA
 Bank of India                       50     26.90                  71         56
 Bank of Maharashtra                 30     16.12                 100         85
 ($1 = 86.9190 Indian rupees)    

 (Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia and Khushi Malhotra; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
 ((Dharamraj.Dhutia@thomsonreuters.com;))