Embassy set to launch India's first REIT, raise `4,750 cr

Embassy Office Parks, a joint venture of Blackstone and realty firm Embassy is gearing up to launch India's first real estate investment trust (REIT) on Monday. It also proposes to raise Rs 4,000 crore through non-convertible bonds to partly meet its construction finance requirements.

The firm is raising Rs 4,750 crore through REIT issue, comprising of 12,95,56,000 units. The REIT issue will open on March 18 with a price band of Rs 299-300 per unit. The issue closes on March 20. The joint venture firm has already entered into unit subscription agreements with strategic investors like American Funds Insurance Series, New World Fund INC and Smallcap World Fund Inc to allot them 2,92,08,800 units for Rs 876.3 crore.

"Post the REIT issue, we plan to raise Rs 4,000 crore through debt financing which would be used for repayment of debt as well as for construction financing and working capital requirements at asset SPVs," Embassy Office Parks Management Services deputy CEO and COO Vikaash Khdloya said. However, he did not disclose the timeframe for issuing the bonds.

Embassy Office Parks had in September last year filed the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator Sebi to launch REIT having a portfolio size of 33 million sqft comprising of seven business parks and four city-centric buildings spread across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Noida.

Out of the 33 million sq ft, about 24 million sq ft area is operational at 95 per cent occupancy and yielding rental income of over Rs 2,000 crore annually. Another 3 million sqft area is under construction and 6 million sqft area in pipeline. "We will also be looking at expanding the REIT portfolio.

We are considering the assets of Embassy which are under development for acquisition. But there is no obligation to buy from the sponsor. We may also go out in the market and buy projects. Such acquisitions can happen either by increasing debt or swap for units in trust," Embassy Office Parks CEO Michael Holland said.

He further said that nearly 500 million sqft of Grade A office space is available in the country. "Also, due to consolidation, we think there is opportunity for strategic acquisitions in the coming future," he added.