NDB project finance gets int’l recognition for exceptional corporate customer solutions

NDB as an organisation with its roots in development banking, together with its deep industry insights, expertise and long-standing customer relationships has been able to build a strong reputation and excellence in project and infrastructure financing.

The understanding of the workings of different industries and overseas markets as well as a holistic value proposition, which includes the provision of advisory services, has made NDB’S Project Finance (PF) Unit, a preferred financial partner for companies seeking long-term financing both locally and overseas. The PF Unit of NDB possesses the competence to assist its corporate clients in complex transactions and propel them towards the next phase of development in their businesses.

With over three decades of project financing experience and in-house engineering and legal expertise, NDB not only plays a role of financial partner in these projects, but acts as a project partner where advice on project management and legal aspects are also made available to the promoters.

The package of services offered by NDB not only ensures the successful implementation of the project but also ascertains satisfactory returns to both the promoters as well as the Bank thus creating a win-win solution for both parties.

The project portfolio of NDB’S PF Unit consists of projects in the sectors such as power and energy, mixed development, financial services, construction, food and beverages, government infrastructure, telecommunications, healthcare, etc.

NDB has played a prominent role in the power and energy sector both locally and overseas and has functioned as Lead Arranger, participating bank, facility agent, Escrow Agent for many crucial energy projects. NDB is also one of the first banks to consider financing facilities for wind power and waste-toenergy projects in Sri Lanka.

In addition, NDB has a significant presence in hydro, solar, thermal and biomass projects and the bank’s energy portfolio also consists of facilities granted to many offshore companies promoted by Sri Lankan companies.

NDB also acted as the lead arranger for the joint venture between local retail giant, Abans and Singaporebased Next Story Group for financing the highly anticipated Colombo City Centre Project, which is considered one of the iconic landmarks of the Colombo city. Further, the bank in fulfilling its national obligations have partnered with nationally significant entities, in financing their nationally significant causes.

NDB’S fortes of project financing have been truly exemplified with the PF Unit being felicitated with five awards by renowned international institutions under different categories. The Bank was named the Best Project Finance Bank of the Year by the Global Banking & Finance Review Magazine, UK and the Best Domestic Project Finance Bank of the Year, for the fourth consecutive year by the Asian Banking & Finance Magazine, Singapore.

Further, the bank’s PF unit was felicitated with triple awards under the Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2018, a category which was introduced for the first time by Asian Banking & Finance Magazine, Singapore. The awards conferred were the Best Debt Deal of the Year, Best Corporate Client Initiative of the Year and the Best Syndicated Loan of the Year, for exceptional corporate customer solutions facilitated by the bank’s PF Unit.

During its journey, from being one of the development banks in the country, NDB has made considerable strides in the Sri Lankan project financing sector. In doing so NDB has challenged, flexed and evolved itself in keeping abreast with the developing market and competitive stances, to contribute to Sri Lanka’s progressive economy via its iconic project finance deals. The bank carries the firm self-conviction that the customer centric solutions provided, redefines customer convenience and more strikingly, customer empowerment, to assist customers to grow and prosper in to new heights.