MUMBAI, July 12 (Reuters) – Indian banks are set to raise around 400 billion rupees ($4.79 billion) through infrastructure bonds in July and August, potentially setting a record for the second consecutive year, according to five merchant bankers on Friday.
If successful, funds raised via these bonds in the first five months of the current fiscal year started in April will surpass the 544 billion rupees raised in fiscal year 2023/24.
Infrastructure bond issues had picked up last year, and the trend will continue as the gap between credit demand and deposit growth continues, said Shameek Ray, head of debt capital markets at ICICI Securities Primary Dealership.
Government spending on infrastructure and a pick-up in investment in sectors like steel, roads and renewable energy is generating demand for funds, said Arnab Choudhury, head of debt capital markets at SBI Capital Markets.
Infrastructure bonds are issued to finance long-term development projects.
None of the banks responded to Reuters’ request for confirmation.
Investor appetite for long-duration infrastructure bonds could spur more issuances in the coming months, Choudhury said.
“These bonds are seeing strong demand from insurance companies and provident funds, as it allows them diversification and meets their need for increasing portfolio duration,” Ray said.
The strong demand has also helped reduce the spread sought by investors over government securities, he added.
($1 = 83.5250 Indian rupees)
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Reporting by Dharamraj Dhutia and Bhakti Tambe; Editing by Varun H K
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
