Indian Rlys arm lists first green bond on LSE, raises $500 mn

The Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), the financing arm of Indian Railways, listed its first green bond on the London Stock Exchange with the aim to finance infrastructure for dedicated freight corridors and passenger transport in India.

The 10-year dated green bond raised $500 million (Rs 3222.5 crore) with an annual yield of 3.835 per cent as it listed on the London Stock Exchange's new International Securities Market (ISM).

The IRFC was set up in 1986 as the dedicated financing arm of the Indian Railways for mobilising funds from domestic and overseas capital markets.

The bond, the proceeds of which are aimed at financing or refinancing infrastructure for dedicated freight railway lines and public passenger transport in India, was more than three times oversubscribed as it received strong international investor support.

"Our debut green bond is a significant milestone for IRFC, supporting the company's ambitious green infrastructure projects, which includes procurement of rolling stock for electrifying rail tracks across India," said IRFC managing director S K Pattanayak.

"Not only was the bond three times oversubscribed but today we have also achieved our aim, through London, to increase our investor base across the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa)," he said.

The IRFC listing marks the sixth green bond transaction on LSE by an Indian issuer and fourth on the new ISM.

The bond is certified by Climate Bonds Initiative, an international, investor-focused non-profit which helps build transparent assurance frameworks around green bond investment.

Sean Kidney, chief executive of the Climate Bonds Initiative, said, "Indian Railways is the third state-backed entity to seek global exposure by issuing a certified green bond and listing in London.

"This IRFC green bond and the previous issuance from the IREDA (Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency) and the PFC (Power Finance Corporation) are a sign of the enormous market opportunities for international investors in green energy, transport and infrastructure to meet India's intertwined climate, energy and development goals".

The LSE said the latest bond listing demonstrates Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 commitment to funding India's infrastructure and growth through the issuance of over £1 billion worth of Masala bonds.

"Today's green bond listing is a significant milestone for India and the IRFC, allowing the country to further tap a dynamic new international channel of finance for Indian infrastructure," said CEO of the London Stock Exchange plc Nikhil Rathi, who described Indian Railways as the "heartbeat of the Indian economy".

"It also re-enforces the progress being made in the Energy for Growth partnership established in April between the UK and India, strengthening London's position as India's closest and most valued funding partner.

"There is an undeniable shift in momentum in the green and sustainable financing across the globe. The London Stock Exchange Group is at the forefront of this green financing movement, developing innovative products and services in partnership with our customers," Rathi said.

The London Stock Exchange Group said it has been supporting investors and issuers in the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy for over a decade, developing innovative products and services in close collaboration with the market.

To date in 2017, there has been 64 per cent growth in the number of green bonds listed on the LSE compared to 2016 and a 65 per cent increase in money raised.

In the same period, 23 green bonds have been listed in London, raising $9.4 billion, compared to 14 green bonds which raised $5.7 billion in 2016.

In total, there are 61 green bonds listed in London that have raised over $20 billion in aggregate terms across seven currencies.