Hindujas pledge more IndusInd Bank shares
The billionaire Hinduja family pledged more of their stake in IndusInd Bank Ltd to avoid triggering a covenant breach last quarter, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a renewed source of concern given they had to step in to repay such a loan following a market rout last year.
IndusInd founders led by brothers Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja had raised about $300 million in February by pledging about 36 per cent of their stake in the private bank, the people said, asking not to be identified as the reasons for the pledge aren't public. They topped up collateral to 45 per cent of their stake after IndusInd's shares fell about 20 per cent from the date of the pledge to an April low, the people added.
The Hindujas, who have repeatedly
been borrowing money against the bank's shares, had to repay debt last year after a broader market rout, and sought extensions to convert warrants into equity. The family also paid a premium to boost its stake in IndusInd Bank in February in a sign of confidence for the lender.
The most recent pledge made by IndusInd International and IndusInd Ltd, which represent the Hinduja family, is equal to almost half of their 15.19 per cent stake in the bank, according to an exchange filing.
That's about 53.4 million shares worth Rs 5,340 crore ($727 million) at Wednesday's price.
"The pledge could be marginally negative for the stock as it is a reasonably large chunk, but not alarming," said Jyoti Roy, deputy vice president at Angel Broking. "The bank's asset quality has improved in the last quarter."
IndusInd Bank has gained 12 per cent this year, lagging the Nifty 50. It was the worst-performer on the Bankex last year, losing more than 40 per cent value.
The family was using the loan from Barclays Plc and Deutsche Bank AG to fund its offshore business and refinance debt, the people said.
The family, with businesses across 38 countries ranging from trucks to banking to technology, has been selling some assets, including Hinduja Global's healthcare outsourcing business to Baring Private Equity for $1.2 billion.