PNB plans to raise Rs6,000 crore via bonds

PNB plans to raise Rs6,000 crore via bonds

New Delhi: State-owned Punjab National Bank on Saturday said it plans to raise Rs6,000 crore in tranches from bonds to fund business expansion.

The board will be considering issuance of Basel III compliant debt instruments — Perpetual Additional Tier I capital bonds worth Rs3,000 crore and Tier-II bonds of up to Rs3,000 crore, PNB said in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges.

The fund raising is subject to availability of headroom in one or more tranches, it said. The board meeting will be held on 14 November, it added.

Under the Basel-III norms, AT-1 bonds come with loss absorbency features, meaning that in case of stress, banks can write off such investments or convert them into common equity if approved by the RBI. AT-1 bonds qualify as core or equity capital.