Credit Saison India has raised $500 million through a multi-currency external commercial borrowing (ECB) syndication, marking the largest overseas borrowing exercise in the company’s history and taking its cumulative ECB fundraising past $1.1 billion in just over a year.
The syndication saw participation from a mix of multilateral, domestic and international lenders, including the inaugural involvement of Asian Development Bank, alongside returning lenders such as , Mizuho Bank, Axis Bank, CTBC Bank and DBS Bank.
The funds will be deployed to expand the company’s MSME and secured lending businesses, with a focus on improving financial inclusion and extending credit access to underserved borrowers, including women entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Credit Saison India said ADB’s participation would support its efforts to strengthen social and environmental governance standards while scaling its lending operations. A majority of the borrowing tranche was routed through GIFT City, an indicator of the growing role of India’s international financial services hub in facilitating cross-border funding.
Presha Paragash, whole-time director and chief executive officer of Credit Saison India, said the participation of ADB and returning lenders reflected confidence in the company’s governance standards and inclusive lending practices.
Kosuke Mori, chief executive officer of Saison International, said India remained a cornerstone of the group’s global business strategy and that the latest syndication demonstrated the strength of its India operations.
The borrowing follows equity investments of around $89 million made over the past year by the parent group into Credit Saison India to support its expansion plans in the country.