The nation’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday raised USD 600 million from selling bonds to international investors at a coupon of 1.80 per cent.
The issue, oversubscribed by 2.1 times, is part of the bank’s USD 10 billion medium term note programme, the ratings of which were withdrawn by the rating agency Moody’s on Wednesday.
The 5.5-year issue denominated in US dollars was priced at 140 basis points (bps) over the US treasury, the bank said in a release adding this is the lowest pricing for any Reg S/144a issue from the country with such a maturity.
Earlier this week, the Exim Bank had sold USD 1 billion at a coupon of 2.25 per cent, the lowest for any such issue.
With this issue, two domestic financial institutions -- Exim Bank and SBI -- have opened the new year on a high raising USD 1.6 billion in a week.
The bonds issued through the SBI’s London branch, will be listed on Singapore Exchange and India INX, the international bourse from BSE, the release said.
Regulation S bonds are sold by foreign issuers in the US and other overseas markets but cannot be subscribed by resident American investors.