Petronas, AVIC, Pakuwon Launch Bonds; Macro; Rating Changes; Talking Heads; Top Gainers & Losers

The S&P rose 0.9% while Nasdaq was up 1.2% as equities recovered from two straight days of losses. Small-cap stocks rallied over 2%, bringing 2021 gains for the US small-cap index, Russell 2000 to more than 13%. European equities also inched up with DAX, CAC and FTSE rising 0.4%, 0.7% and 0.5% respectively. US IG CDS spreads tightened by 0.6bp and HY tightened 1.9bp. EU main CDS spreads and crossover spreads narrowed by 0.1bp and 2.0bp respectively. Asian equity markets are 0.6% higher and Asia ex-Japan CDS spreads narrowed by 2.7bp.

New Bond Issues

• Petronas $ 10Y/40Y at T+135/T+155bp area
• AVIC $ 5Y at T+260bp area
• Pakuwon Jati $ 7NC4 at IPG 5.2% area; books over $600mn
• BOC Aviation $ 3Y at T+165bp area
• Dalian Wanda Commercial Management Group $ 364-day at 7.5% area
• Santos $ 10Y at T+250bp area

Bank of China Luxembourg branch raised $500mn via a 5Y green bond at a yield of 1.454%, 34bp inside initial guidance of T+100bp area. It also raised €500mn via a 3Y green bond at a yield of 0.018%, 24bp inside initial guidance of MS+70bp area. Both dollar and euro bonds have expected ratings of A1/A/A. The euro bonds received orders over €1.4bn, 2.8x issue size. Further, the Bank of China Singapore branch raised $500mn via a 3Y green bond at a yield of 0.85%, 37bp inside initial guidance of T+90bp area. The bonds have the same expected ratings of A1/A/A, and received orders over $1.9bn, 3.8x issue size. Net proceeds will be used to finance and/or refinance eligible green projects as defined in BOC’s sustainability series bonds management statement.

Sino-Ocean Group raised $400mn via a 5Y green bond at a yield of 3.434%, 40bp inside initial guidance of T+305bp area. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa3/BBB-, and received orders over $2.1bn, 5.25x issue size. Wholly-owned subsidiary Sino-Ocean Land Treasure IV is the issuer with a guarantee from the parent. Proceeds will be used to repay debt of the guarantor and its subsidiaries that are due in 1 year, in accordance with its green finance framework.

Changchun Urban Development raised $200mn via a 3Y bond at a yield of 4.3%, 20bp inside initial guidance of 4.5% area. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa1/BBB+. The bonds will be issued by wholly-owned subsidiary Chang Development International and guaranteed by the parent. Proceeds will be used for general corporate and refinancing purposes.

Equate Petrochemical BV raised $700mn via a 7Y bond at a yield of 2.641%, 30bp inside initial guidance of T+170bp area. The bonds are callable at par within 3 months from maturity, and have a make-whole call (MWC) on January 28, 2028. The bonds have expected ratings of Baa2/BBB, in line with issuer ratings. The bonds will be issued by Equate Petrochemical BV, which operates as a special purpose entity to issue debt, and guaranteed by its parent company Equate Petrochemical Company K.S.C.C. and The Kuwait Olefins Company K.S.C.C.

KNOC subsidiary Harvest Operations raised $500mn via a 3NC1 bond at a yield of 1.052%, 27bp inside initial guidance of T+100bp area. The bonds have expected ratings of Aa2/AA. Proceeds will be used for repaying guaranteed notes due in April this year and maturing credit facilities as well as for general corporate purposes.

Jingrui Holdings raised $157mn via a 2.5Y bond at a yield of 12.5%, in line with final guidance of 12.5%. The bonds have expected ratings of B-, and proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt.

Shangrao Innovation Development Industry Investment Group raised $68mn via a 3Y credit-enhanced bond at a yield of 2%, 30bp inside initial guidance of 2.3% area. The bonds are unrated and proceeds will be used for industrial park construction and general working capital.

New Bond Pipeline

• Incheon Int’l Airport $ 5Y green bond

• China Water Affairs Group $ green bond

Rating Changes

• China Hongqiao Upgraded To ‘BB-‘By S&P On Improved Financial Discipline; Outlook Stable
• RAC Bond Co. U.K. Corporate Securitization Ratings Raised By S&P Following Review
• Moody’s upgraded the long- and short-term ratings of Caterpillar and its supported finance operations to A2 and Prime-1; outlook is stable
• Moody’s upgrades Allied Universal CFR and secured to B2 from B3, unsecured to Caa1 from Caa2; outlook stable
• Fitch Affirms Ovintiv IDR at BB+; Revises Outlook to Positive
• Fitch Affirms Micron Technology at ‘BBB’; Revises Outlook to Positive from Stable
• Fitch Revises Outlook on Guangzhou R&F, Sub, to Stable; Affirms ‘B+’; Withdraws Local-Currency IDR
• Minsur S.A. Outlook Revised To Positive From Stable On Increased Production And Higher Prices; ‘BB+’ Ratings Affirmed
• Moody’s affirms Empresa Electrica Cochrane SpA’s Ba1 rating; changes outlook to negative
• Natura & Co Assigned ‘BB’ And ‘brAAA’ Issuer Credit Ratings By S&P; Natura Cosméticos Proposed Notes Rated ‘BB’; Outlook Stable
• Ratings On Piraeus Bank S.A. (London Branch) Euro Medium-Term Note Program Withdrawn At The Company’s Request By S&P
• Moody’s withdraws Unione di Banche Italiane S.p.A.’s ratings and assessments
• Moody’s withdraws Hikma’s ratings for business reason

On conservative policymakers urging European Central Bank to lay ground for tighter monetary policy

Jens Weidmann, head of Germany’s central bank

“The emergency monetary policy measures must not be permitted to persist indefinitely,”  Weidmann said. “They need to remain closely linked to the crisis and come to an end once the pandemic is over.” “We might have to contend with stronger inflationary forces again in the future.” “There can be no lack of determination, even if rising interest rates increase countries’ borrowing costs. This is important for the credibility of monetary policy.”

Klaas Knot, head of the Dutch central bank

“From the third quarter onwards we can begin to gradually phase out pandemic emergency purchases and end them as foreseen in March 2022.”

Frederik Ducrozet, strategist at Pictet Wealth Management
The ECB council “only agreed to this front-loading of bond-purchases on the condition that they would be reduced again in the third quarter and that PEPP is not expanded again”. “The market can handle an exit from PEPP,” he said.

Katharina Utermöhl, an economist at Allianz
“These are trial balloons being floated by the hawks to see how the market reacts,” said Utermöhl. “But it is odd for the ECB to fuel discussion about this at a time when we are lagging so far behind the US, and even there the Federal Reserve is still pushing back against any suggestion of tapering.”

Maria Demertzis, deputy director of think-tank Bruegel

“If inflation were to come back sustainably it would put the ECB in a very difficult position because we would still be in a very weak recovery and it would put the onus much more on fiscal policy with an increased risk of financial market fragmentation.”

On the possibility of Emirates Airline approaching government for cash or take on more debt – Tim Clark, Emirates Airline President

“As far as Emirates is concerned, we are good for another six, seven or eight months in terms of cash, we have sufficient cash coming in to be able to keep the day to day operations at a neutral basis,” he said. “But like everybody else, if in six months, global demand is where it is today, then we’re all going to face difficulties, not just Emirates.” “The balance sheet is pretty strong regardless of what’s already happened, so we’re ok there. There are other measures we could take so we are preparing ourselves for that case.”

“Well, frankly I’m not particularly concerned what comes out of Doha. I would rather we concentrated on what we need to do best for ourselves.” “What we would like to see as part of this pandemic, when it is over, is that the airline industry restores itself to health, restores itself to the competitive nature of the way it was, consumers have choice and value for money,” he added.

On JPMorgan caught up in Europe’s big soccer league blunder

Steve Greenfield, a professor of sports law at the University of Westminster

“It didn’t seem co-ordinated and almost didn’t seem thought through,” said Greenfield. “It was business-based and lost sight of the sporting connotations.”

Kieran Maguire, lecturer in football finance at Liverpool University

“JPMorgan’s client base is mainly corporate rather than personal, so I don’t see them suffering,” said Maguire. “They will be seen as facilitating rather than driving the project.”

On airlines facing another bleak year as outlook worsens – Willie Walsh, director-general of Iata

“This crisis is longer and deeper than anyone could have expected. Losses will be reduced from 2020, but the pain of the crisis increases,” said Walsh. “There is optimism in domestic markets where aviation’s hallmark resilience is demonstrated by rebounds in markets without internal travel restrictions. Government imposed travel restrictions, however, continue to dampen the strong underlying demand for international travel. Despite an estimated 2.4 billion people travelling by air in 2021, airlines will burn through a further $81 billion of cash,” Walsh said. “Most governments have not yet provided clear indications of the benchmarks that they will use to safely give people back their travel freedom,” said Walsh. “Effectively restarting aviation will energise the travel and tourism sectors and the wider economy. With the virus becoming endemic, learning to safely live, work and travel with it is critical. That means governments must turn their focus to risk management to protect livelihoods as well as lives,” he added.

 

Top Gainers & Losers – 22-Apr-21*