Capri Global taps dollar market with debut debt issue after banks hit pause

Capri Global Capital has announced plans to issue debt in dollars for the first time, two months after appointing lead managers, according to two merchant bankers. The non-banking financial company aims to raise between $300 million and $500 million through 3-year-and-3-month bonds, with an initial price guidance of around 7.75 percent.

As banks have largely paused their dollar-raising activities, other firms, particularly those who have completed initial work, may follow suit. In June, Capri Global Capital had appointed bankers and conducted investor calls but ultimately decided against the issue due to less favorable pricing and competition from better-rated Indian lenders.

The proposed dollar-denominated senior secured bonds are expected to receive an expected rating of BB-(EXP) from Fitch Ratings. The issuance will be part of Capri Global's global medium-term note program, which has an upper limit of $1 billion. The company's managing director, Rajesh Sharma, had previously expressed the intention to increase the share of capital market borrowings on the company's books.

This move comes after Indian lenders raised a total of $12.15 billion through the sale of dollar bonds in June and August under the Reserve Bank of India's discounted swap window. ICICI Bank is the latest private-sector lender to tap this route, raising $500 million through a private placement at a coupon rate of 5.3080 percent.