US equities were in the red on Tuesday as the S&P was down 0.7% while the tech-heavy Nasdaq tumbled 1.9% as US Treasury Secy. Janet Yellen commented, “It may be that interest rates will have to rise somewhat to make sure our economy doesn’t overheat”. Yellen later came out clarifying that she did not mean it was time for the Fed to hike rates. US 10Y Treasury yields were marginally lower 1.59%. US IG CDS spreads were 0.5bp wider and HY widened 3bp. EU main CDS spreads were 1bp wider and crossover spreads widened 5.9bp. Asian equity markets are mixed while Asia ex-Japan CDS spreads were 0.4bp wider.
New Bond Issues
- Naver tap of US$ 1.5% sustainability bond due 2026 IPG T+110 area
Newcastle Coal Infrastructure raised $450mn via a 10Y bond at a yield of 4.792%, 40bp inside initial guidance of T+360bp area. The bonds have expected ratings of BBB/BBB-, and received orders over $2.5bn, 5.5x issue size.
Shinhan Financial Group raised $500mn via a sustainability Perpetual non-call 5Y (PerpNC5) AT1 bond (Term of the day, explained below) at a yield of 2.875%, a strong 52.5bp inside initial guidance of 3.4% area. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa3, and received orders over $2bn, 4x issue size. If not called, coupons will be reset on the first reset date of May 12, 2026 and every five years thereafter. The bonds’ non-viability loss absorption would see a full and permanent write-off if the issuer is considered an “insolvent financial institution” pursuant to the act on the structural improvement of the Financial Industry of Korea. The bonds have a dividend stopper. Proceeds will be used for eligible green and social projects under the group’s sustainable development goals financing framework. The company also intends to use the proceeds to support SMEs and underprivileged individuals affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah Nasional raised $1bn via a dual-trancher. It raised $400mn via a 5Y Sukuk at a yield of 1.658%, 40bp inside initial guidance of T+125bp. It also raised $600mn via a 10Y Sukuk at a yield of 2.78%, 30bp inside initial guidance of T+150bp area. The bonds are unrated and received orders over $2bn, 2x issue size. Proceeds will be used for general investments, the refinancing of borrowings and working capital requirements relating to the company’s principal business activities which are sharia compliant. The sukuk will be issued by Dua Capital and backed by Khazanah Nasional.
Sarana Multi Infrastruktur raised $300mn via a 5Y bond at a yield of 2.05%, 35bp inside initial guidance of 2.4% area. The bonds have expected ratings of BBB, and received orders over $2bn, 6.7x issue size. There is a change of control put at 101 if the Indonesian government ceases to directly or indirectly own 51% of the issuer, or ceases to control the issuer, along with a rating cut.
Chile raised $2bn via a dual-trancher. It raised $300mn via a tap of its 2.45% 2031s at a yield of 2.34%, 25bp inside initial guidance of T+100bp area. Proceeds from the tap will go for general budgetary purposes. It also raised $1.7bn via a 20Y social bond at a yield of 3.302%, 30bp inside initial guidance of T+145bp area. Proceeds will be invested into projects that may qualify as “eligible social expenditures” under Chile’s Sustainable Bond Framework.
New Bond Pipeline
- GLP hires for $ green sub PerpNC5
- Korea Expressway hires for $ sustainability bond
- eHi Car Services $ bond offering
- ENN Natural Gas $ bond
- Golden Energy and Resources $ bond
Rating Changes
- Fitch Downgrades TPL’s Ratings to ‘BB’; Outlook Stable
- Fitch Revises Outlook on Scentre to Stable; Affirms at ‘A’
- Fitch Places Aegea on Rating Watch Negative
- Genworth Financial Inc. And Subsidiary Ratings Placed On CreditWatch Positive By S&P On IPO Launch
- Alaska Rating Outlook Revised To Stable From Negative By S&P On Stable Oil-Related Revenue, Improved Reserves
- Bausch Health Cos. Inc. Outlook Revised To Negative By S&P Given Higher Opening Leverage Upon Spin-Off
- Fitch Assigns EQT First-Time ‘A-‘ IDR; Outlook Stable; Rates Proposed Notes ‘A-(EXP)’
- Moody’s revises Guam’s outlook to stable; affirms outstanding ratings
Term of the Day
AT1 Bonds
Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds are hybrid securities issued by financial institutions to meet their regulatory capital requirements. AT1s typically carry a provision wherein the instruments can be fully or partially written-down or converted to equity if the issuing bank’s capital ratio falls below a certain threshold. This is why AT1s are also known as contingent convertibles (CoCos). The key characteristics of AT1 bonds are:
- They have a perpetual maturity with a call option
- They are subordinated in nature, and the first line of debt to incur losses
- They can be written-down or converted into equity on the occurrence of a “trigger event”
- Coupons are usually higher as compared to other debt by the issuer, to compensate investors for the higher risk AT1s carry
For a complete guide to CoCos and AT1s, click here
Talking Heads
“Even though rates are not going up [today], we are seeing more and more pockets of inflation bubbling up…The equity market might be saying, ‘Hey, we’re worried about inflation”.
Brian Bost, co-head of equity derivatives in the Americas at Barclays
“The fact stocks had pulled back despite the strong results was a “‘tell’ on current market positioning. Moreover, whether you think inflation could be transitory or not, you at least have to consider higher risk premiums”.
Juliette Cohen, strategist at CPR Asset Management
“We have lowered our exposure to the US market and particularly to tech, where companies’ results have been strong but valuations are probably now too high”.
Didier Rabattu, head of equities at Lombard Odier
“Investors are getting out of lockdown stocks in the short term”.
Top Gainers & Losers – 5-May-21*
