ICICI Bank, Axis Bank tap dollar debt again in less than two months: Report

Synopsis

ICICI Bank and Axis Bank have returned to the U.S. dollar debt market, each looking to raise $300 million through upcoming bond issues, set to close for subscription next week. Notably, last month saw ICICI Bank raise a substantial $1 billion while Axis Bank secured $800 million. This bond issuance utilizes the Reserve Bank of India's hedging facility to facilitate smoother transactions.

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Two Indian private ​sector lenders have tapped ​U.S. dollar denominated debt market for ​the second time in less than two months, to raise $300 million each, two merchant bankers said on Friday.

Here are a ‌few details ⁠of ⁠the issues:

* ICICI Bank will issue five-year bonds at a coupon of 5.3520%, payable semi-annually

* Axis Bank will raise these funds through reissue of its 5.3480% June 2031 bonds, which will take the outstanding issuance to $600 million

* Both the debt placements ⁠will close ‌for subscription next week and will ​be ​placed privately

* Last month, ICICI Bank ⁠raised $1 billion through five-year bonds at a coupon ​of 5.46%, in what was the ​largest such issue by an Indian lender in nearly 14 years

* In June, Axis Bank had raised $800 million through a dual-tranche debt issuance, which included the primary sale of the five-year papers ‌and $500 million of perpetual notes at a 6.875% annual coupon, payable semi-annually

* The notes will be listed ⁠on the India International Exchange IFSC and NSE IFSC

* The bonds are being issued under the Reserve Bank ​of India's lower-cost hedging facility that allows eligible external commercial borrowings by banks and state-owned companies to be hedged at a fixed rate of 1.5% per annum, compounded semi-annually, and lowers overall cost of borrowing.

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