Vertis Infrastructure Trust Secures ₹900 Crore Through Sustainability-Linked Bond

Mumbai, 22nd July 2025: Vertis Infrastructure Trust has raised INR 900 crore through a sustainability-linked nbond (SLB)—marking the largest SLB issuance by an Indian InvIT to date. The issuance saw International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the anchor investor, reinforcing global confidence in India’s evolving ESG-financing ecosystem.

This SLB, with 10-year fixed rate, priced at 7.40 per cent, not only sets a new benchmark for India’s infrastructure financing market but also aligns with India’s climate goals and sustainable development pathways.

Key Highlights:

• India’s Largest SLB Issuance by an InvIT: INR 900 crore issuance affirms Vertis’ leadership in ESG-aligned debt-raising.
• IFC as Anchor Investor: Paves the way for enhanced foreign and domestic participation in India’s sustainable infrastructure and thematic bonds space.
• Strong Domestic Backing: India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)’s participation reflects growing institutional alignment with sustainable finance mandates.
• Purpose-Driven Deployment: Proceeds will support TOT-16, a marquee 252-km NH-44 highway corridor in Telangana, enhancing regional connectivity.

The SLB is structured with predefined sustainability performance targets that link interest rates to the achievement of ESG outcomes—mirroring international best practices and embedding financial incentives for meeting environmental targets, reinforcing Vertis’ long-term sustainability focus. 

Gaurav Chandna, Executive Director and Joint CEO, Vertis Infrastructure Trust, said, “This landmark SLB issuance is more than just a funding milestone—it reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainable infrastructure development. With IFC as the anchor investor and IIFCL’s support, we are proud to bring ESG-linked capital into India’s core infrastructure sector.”

Abhishek Chhajer, CFO, Vertis Infrastructure Trust, said, “This is a breakthrough moment for India’s debt capital markets—especially for infrastructure platforms like ours. We’ve successfully pioneered a long-tenor, fixed-rate sustainability-linked structure that can be a replicable model for the industry. It reflects our disciplined financial strategy, credibility with global investors and long-term commitment to ESG-linked performance. The SLB also diversifies our investor base while reinforcing alignment with India’s climate goals.”

Imad N Fakhoury, Regional Director for South Asia, IFC, said, “South Asia’s infrastructure demands are immense, and delivering resilient, inclusive solutions is urgent. By supporting performance-linked instruments, we are helping establish roads as a credible asset class for institutional investors.”

He added, “Our pioneering anchor investment in Vertis is the start of a long-term partnership and builds on the World Bank Group’s work to boost sustainable infrastructure and deepening capital market development in India to crowd-in institutional capital toward high-impact projects. Investing in roads is investing in India’s sustainable growth story.”

Vikram Kumar, Director and Regional Head of Industry, Infrastructure and Natural resources, Asia-Pacific, IFC, said, “India’s infrastructure monetisation push is driving long-term capital and more efficient asset utilisation. This transaction demonstrates how sustainability-linked bonds can align financing with measurable outcomes—enhancing transparency, rewarding performance, and building investor confidence. It also supports efforts to bring more women into road management and operations—broadening opportunities in the sector.”