Dewangan says journey towards India’s energy transition demands a visionary approach
REC Limited has issued its inaugural Japanese Yen (JPY) 61.1 billion 5-year, 5.25-year and 10-year ‘Green Bonds’ to finance Eligible Green Projects.
The bonds are under its US$10 billion Global Medium Term Notes Programme and in accordance with the Company’s Green Finance Framework, RBI’s External Commercial Borrowings Guidelines and the approvals granted by it from time to time.
Salient features of the transaction:
REC Limited’s eleventh venture into the international bond market and inaugural Yen Bond issuance, which is also the first Yen Green Bonds issuance by any Indian PSU;
5-year, 5.25-year and 10-year bonds issued at yield of 1.76%, 1.79% and 2.20%, respectively;
Largest ever Euro-Yen issuance in South and South East Asia;
Largest Yen-denominated issuance from India;
Largest non-sovereign Yen-denominated issuance ever from South and South East Asia.
The transaction witnessed interest from both Japanese and international accounts, with number of orders from each at 50%, international allocation being one of the highest for any other Indian Yen deal, said the Power Ministry.
Commenting on the occasion, REC Ltd Chairman & Managing Director Vivek Kumar Dewangan, said on 16 Jan, “The journey towards India’s energy transition demands a visionary approach to financing that aligns with our commitment to sustainable development towards a cleaner and greener energy landscape.
“REC stands resolute in its pledge to promote green and clean energy through this green issuance. As a frequent issuer in the international debt capital markets, we are always on the lookout to tap new markets and further diversify our funding sources.
“We are delighted to successfully price our inaugural Euro-Yen Green bonds, which reaffirms REC’s position as an established issuer with deep access to global funding, while maintaining the overall cost of funding lower than the industry standards.”
The notes will be rated Baa3/BBB–/BBB+ (Moody’s/Fitch/JCR) and will be listed exclusively on Global Securities Market of India International Exchange (India INX) and NSE IFSC in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. DBS Bank, Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC Nikko are the joint lead managers for the issue.
REC is financing the entire Power-Infrastructure sector comprising Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Renewable Energy and new technologies like Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage, Pump Storage projects, Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia projects.
More recently, REC has also diversified into the Non-Power Infrastructure sector comprising Roads & Expressways, Metro Rail, Airports, IT Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure (Educational Institution, Hospitals), Ports and Electro-Mechanical (E&M) works in respect of various other sectors like Steel and Refinery. Fiinews.com
