2015-IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today issued a green Masala bond, raising 3.15 billion rupees-approximately USD 49.2 million-for private sector investments that address climate change in India. The bond, listed on the London Stock Exchange, is the first green bond issued in the offshore rupee markets.
IFC will invest the proceeds of the bond in a green bond issued by Yes Bank, one of India's largest commercial banks. Yes Bank will invest the proceeds of its bond in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, mainly in the solar and wind sectors.
"Addressing climate change is a priority for IFC in India, and the green Masala bond demonstrates the powerful role of capital markets in mobilizing international savings to help close the climate finance gap," said Jingdong Hua, IFC Vice President and Treasurer. "Adding the rupee as a new green bond currency also supports our goals to strengthen this important asset class."
The bond yields 6.45 percent p.a. The bond is issued under IFC's USD three billion offshore rupee Masala bond program. Under the program, IFC has issued bonds worth over 103 billion rupees (USD 1.66 billion) in a range of tenors, building a triple-A yield curve and attracting new investors to the offshore rupee markets. IFC has also issued onshore Maharaja bonds under a USD 2.5 billion program for issuances in India's domestic capital markets.
IFC is one of the world's largest financiers of climate-smart projects for developing countries, investing about USD $11 billion in long-term financing over the last decade for renewable power, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, green buildings and private sector adaptation to climate change.
IFC also is one of the earliest issuers of green bonds, launching a green bond program in 2010 to help catalyze the market and unlock investment for private sector projects that support renewable energy and energy efficiency. As of June 2015, IFC had issued USD 3.8 billion in green bonds, including two benchmark $1 billion issuances that were, at the time, the largest such issuances in the markets; and a 500 million renminbi-denominated green bond that was the first such issuance listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in about 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. In FY14, we provided more than USD 22 billion in financing to improve lives in developing countries and tackle the most urgent challenges of development.