Project Finance and Infrastructure Advisory

The Project Finance desk is the most active and premier player in Pakistan that is involved in most power & infrastructure related transactions while being the preferred choice for International Financial Institutions. The desk offers an array of services ranging from Financial Advisory services, Arrangement services as well as Agency Services (for Inter-Creditor, Accounts Bank, Security Trustee etc.). The Project Finance desk has held a strategic role in the development, negotiation and finalization of the policy, concessionary and tariff frameworks, providing it with an in depth understanding and expertise in infrastructure dynamics unparalleled within the local market. The Project Finance desk has closed over 50 transactions valuing over USD 12bn with transactions of over USD 8 Bn in the last five years. The division has been a pioneer in landmark power sector transactions and has been a pivotal part of various first of its kind projects in Pakistan to date including the first renewable wind power project, first Thar coal mine and power projects and the first private transmission line project. HBL has successfully led project financing in power projects, with total generation capacity of greater than 10,000 MW. The Bank has also been at the forefront of CPEC, capitalizing on its entrenched relationships with various Chinese institutions and State Owned Enterprises, and has been involved in over seven transactions valuing over USD 6.5bn in the power transmission, generation & mining space.

Debt Capital Markets & Syndications

The DCM & Syndication Unit provides comprehensive financing solutions across all industry segments, through multiple products, including syndicated financing, bridge financing, high yield and investment grade bonds and sukuks in order to effect transactions ranging from capital expenditure, BMR, leveraged buy outs, acquisition financing, refinancing and restructurings while serving corporate, institutional and government clients. The desk is the market leader in the Debt Capital Markets and Syndicated Financing space in Pakistan with unmatched credentials, having closed over 140 transactions worth more than USD 26 Bn and combines its superior debt origination and structuring expertise with exceptional distribution capabilities to provide clients with strategic advice at each stage of debt issuance.

With a strong focus towards developing the debt capital markets of the country, the Bank is ahead of its peers in its capability to raise debt from the capital markets, guaranteeing successful placement of big ticket issues. In-depth relationships along with strong continued access to investors, such as Mutual Funds, Asset Management Companies, Insurance companies, Corporates and Pension and Provident Funds across the country, provide it with extensive distribution capabilities ensuring complete placement. The team’s portfolio of debt issuances covers a wide range of features, from simple bonds to a serial bond structure, while introducing new and innovative structures to the market, such as the first debt issue in Pakistan to be priced through the Inverse Dutch Auction Method. The DCM & Syndications team has a track record of successfully executing many landmark transactions, including the first hundred percent retail listed Sukuk Issue, which was oversubscribed by 1.5x within only 12 business hours, the largest listed Sukuk Issue by a private company worth PKR 25 Bn, and the largest privately placed Sukuk of PKR 100 Bn.

Equity & Advisory

HBL has a dedicated Corporate Finance Advisory, Equity Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisition desk offering a wide range of services to its clients. The ECM & Advisory desk focuses on long term engagement with its clients advising them on strategic plans, feasibility reports, capital raising options, deal structuring and managing Buy Side and Sell Side M&A process. The unit leverages its extensive local and international network, vast customer base and distribution capability to raise capital from Equity Capital Market (Initial and Secondary Public Offerings, Rights Issuances and Equity Underwritings) and Private Equity Placements. The unit has executed over 25 transactions worth over USD 2 Bn. This includes the largest Cross Border M&A, largest domestic M&A, largest private placement in Hospital Healthcare and Largest Non-Banking Capital Markets Issuance over the last five years. In collaboration with international investment banks, the ECM & Advisory continues to advise the Government of Pakistan on various privatization transactions and international bond issuances.