Prajna Capital - An Investment Guide

WITH dismal share valuations causing bondholders to redeem, and not convert their foreign currency convertible bonds ( FCCBs ), which until early this year were regarded as one of the most preferred options for raising corporate debt, suddenly seem to have become millstones around the necks of issuers. It is the redemption pressure on cash-starved issuers, coupled with the need to preserve liquidity by mitigating further forex outflow, which seems to have prompted the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) to issue the circular permitting buyback of FCCBs. As per the circular, issuers can now buyback FCCBs under the automatic route up to any limit out of existing foreign resources or by raising fresh external commercial borrowings (ECBs,) if effected at a minimum discount of 15% on the book value. Further, FCCBs up to $50 million can be bought back with prior RBI approval out of rupee resources representing “internal accruals”, if effected at a minimum discount of 25% on the book value. I...