UK welcomes issuance of HDFC's Masala bond at London Stock Exchange

The landmark bond issuance from Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC), one of India’s leading banking and financial services companies was 4.3 times oversubscribed and paves the way for the opening of the Masala bond market globally to support Indian company and infrastructure financing. 

 

The 37 month dated Rupee denominated bond, commonly known as a Masala bond, raised INR 30 billion, equivalent to USD 450 million, with an annual yield of 8.33% and secured global investor support. 

 

The bond will help HDFC to diversify its borrowing profile and access global investors. The listing follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of USD 1 billion equivalent of Masala bond issuance in the UK, made during his visit to London in 2015.

 

Welcoming this new milestone between UK and India, Director General of UK Trade and Investment in India Kumar Iyer said: "This bond is the latest in a series of Rupee denominated issuances pioneered in London and in which London is leading the way. The UK is committed to supporting India's growth ambitions including by helping to bring capital from across the world to invest in India and ‘Make in India’. London’s financial markets are in pole position as a destination for India to raise offshore finance. As Prime Minister Modi said: we’ve got “James Bond, Brooke Bond and now Masala Bonds!”

 

London Stock Exchange has a strong track record of supporting Masala bond issuance by supranational institutions on its markets. 30 offshore Indian Rupee bonds have listed in total on London Stock Exchange, raising equivalent to approximately USD 3.5 billion. 

 

London Stock Exchange last year saw the listing of the world’s first ever green Masala bond on its markets and there have been two further listings in 2016, raising a total of INR 7 billion, reinforcing London Stock Exchange’s position as the leading global listing venue for Rupee denominated bonds.