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US equities fell yesterday with the S&P down 1.5% while the tech heavy Nasdaq slipped over 3%. Apple, Amazon and Netflix fell over 3.4%. The only sector in the green was financials, up 0.6%. The fall in equities came after the 10Y Treasury yield shot to 1.75% and then pulled back to 1.70%. US Philly Fed Manufacturing Index printed at a massive 51.8 vs. a forecast of 23, its highest level in almost 48 years while US jobless claims for the prior week was up 45k to 770k vs. the 700k forecast. European equities ended higher with the DAX up 1.2% while the FTSE and CAC were up 0.3% and 0.1%. US IG CDS spreads were 1.6bp wider and HY was 12bp wider. EU main CDS spreads were 0.5bp tighter and crossover spreads tightened 1.6bp. Asian equity markets have opened lower ~1% and Asia ex-Japan CDS spreads are tighter 1bp.
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Banco Santander raised €1bn ($1.2bn) via a 6Y non-call 5Y (6NC5) bond at a yield of 0.54%, or Mid-swaps + 85bp, 20bp inside initial guidance of MS+105bp. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa1/A-/A- and received orders over €1.4bn ($1.7bn). Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. The coupon is fixed at 0.5% until the optional redemption date (March 24, 2026) and if not redeemed, refixes quarterly to 3m Euribor + 85bp.
Clean Renewable Power/Hero Future Energies (HFE) raised $363mn via a 6Y green amortizing bond at a yield of 4.25%, 50bp inside initial guidance of 4.75% area. The bonds have expected ratings of Ba2/BB-. The weighted average life (WAL) is 5.25 years. Proceeds will be used to subscribe to rupee denominated bonds issued by the subsidiaries, which will in turn use the funds to repay external debt and intercompany loans, as well as for general corporate purposes. HFE is an independent power producer in India, established by Indian auto major Hero MotoCorp.
Krung Thai Bank raised $600mn via a Perpetual non-call 5Y (PerpNC5) AT1 bond at a yield of 4.4%, 45bp inside initial guidance of 4.85% area. The bonds have expected ratings of Ba3, and received orders over $2.3bn, 3.8x issue size. Fund managers bought 87%, private banks 7%, insurers and pension funds 4% and banks 2%. Asia took 74%, EMEA 16% and offshore US investors/others 10%. Proceeds will be used for funding and general corporate purposes. There is no coupon step-up but the coupon resets every five years from 2026 to the then prevailing Treasury yield plus the initial spread. The bonds will be permanently written-down if the bank’s CET1 ratio is less than 5.15%, or partially written down if there is a non-viability event as per the Bank of Thailand. The bonds also have a dividend stopper.
Zhejiang Geely raised $400mn via a 3Y bond at a yield of 1.411%, or T+108bp, a strong 52bp inside initial guidance of T+160bp area. The bonds have expected ratings of A1, and received orders over $4.1bn, 10x issue size. Asset/fund managers bought 47%, banks and financial institutions 47%, insurance cos 3%, private banks/others 3%. APAC took 92% and MENA 8%. LEVC Finance is the issuer, while Bank of China Singapore branch (A1/A/A) is the standby letter of credit (SBLC, Term of the Day, explained below) provider. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is the keepwell provider. Proceeds will be used to refinance offshore bonds due May 2021.
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust raised $2.25bn via a two-part issuance. It raised:
The bonds have expected ratings of A1/A. Proceeds of the 3Y will be used for general corporate purposes, while the 5Y green bond’s proceeds will be used for financing or refinancing eligible green projects as defined in the Japanese trust bank’s green bond framework.
Toyota Motors raised $2.75bn via a three-part sustainability bond issuance. It raised:
The bonds have expected ratings of A1/A+. Besides other projects, proceeds will also be used for the reduction of CO2 emissions at plants and offices through investments, expenditures, and funding related to renewable energy.
Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC) is a note issued by the buyer’s bank to the seller’s bank, where the former guarantees to pay a sum of money to the latter if the buyer defaults on the agreement. Commonly, in the shipping of goods, SBLCs are used to reduce risks associated with the transaction on unforeseen events leading to a default.
Bonds backed by the above structure are called SBLC-Backed Bonds. Unlike guarantees, which are direct obligations of a bank to cover the timely payment of related bonds, SBLCs require trustees of the bonds to provide demand notices to the banks in the event that issuers fail to make bond payments. Thus as Moody’s says, more analysis is required on whether the language of SBLCs and transaction mechanisms support timely payments.
Zhejiang Geely priced a $400mn 3Y SBLC-backed bond on Thursday.