29 Nov, 2017

Understanding Amortising Bonds

By |2021-09-24T10:43:37+10:00Nov 29, 2017|Bonds, Education|

In the Australian fixed income market, the vast majority of debt instruments pay interest periodically and repay principal upon maturity (or an optional call date), providing flexibility in managing cash flow and asset/liability matching risks.  In comparison to the “interest only” payment structure, is another type of bond structure known as “amortising”, which distributes principal and interest (P&I) distributions periodically, [...]

15 Nov, 2017

AT1 Hybrids in a Rising Interest Rate Environment

By |2021-09-24T10:43:37+10:00Nov 15, 2017|Education, Hybrids|

Despite mixed economic signals, Australian investors are generally preparing for the rising interest rate environment in coming years. While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept the cash rate on hold for 15 consecutive months, there is consensus that the next move will be up with only timing being the real unknown. Consequently, a question that has been raised [...]

21 Sep, 2017

Hybrids or Equity?

By |2021-09-24T10:43:37+10:00Sep 21, 2017|Hybrids|

Investors often ask the question, should I buy a company's equity or its hybrid?  Given the full payment discretion and deep subordination for both securities, this argument has its merit but as we pointed out in our article, The Risk in Using Shares for Income, capital volatility for hybrids is relatively tame in normal market conditions.  While this is how [...]

6 Sep, 2017

Listed Issuance: Where to From Here?

By |2021-09-24T10:43:37+10:00Sep 6, 2017|Hybrids, Market Commentary|

In the benign economic climate, the technical environment (the forces of demand and supply) continue to dictate valuations in the ASX-listed Debt & Hybrid Market.  While trading margins have enjoyed an 18-month tightening cycle on the back of resilient demand, the momentum has undoubtedly slowed in recent months, with minimal net margin gains since January. Figure 1. Average Additional Tier [...]

24 Aug, 2017

What is a Social Bond?

By |2021-09-24T10:43:37+10:00Aug 24, 2017|Bonds, Education|

In an earlier article, we explored Ethical Fixed Income in Australia. In relation to this, an ethical product which is grabbing the interest of global investors are Social Benefit Bonds (SBBs). A social benefit bond (SBB) is an innovative way to match investors and outcomes which aims to better the wider society that we all live in via a targeted [...]

24 Aug, 2017

Dissecting Hybrid Valuation

By |2021-09-24T10:43:38+10:00Aug 24, 2017|Education, Hybrids|

In Australia’s low-yield environment, higher-risk income securities (i.e. hybrids) tend to be more favoured for their attractive returns. However, the yield of a hybrid varies based on many factors. Perhaps most important are the assumptions of when the security will be redeemed or converted. Conventionally, hybrid securities are either called on their first call date (or each interest payment thereafter) [...]

7 Aug, 2017

Is ANZPC an outlier?

By |2021-09-24T10:43:38+10:00Aug 7, 2017|Hybrids|

A few weeks ago, ANZ caught investors by surprise by announcing a potential on-market buy-back offer for its $1.3 billion of its Convertible Preference Shares (CPS3, ASX code: ANZPC), issued in September 2011. As per the original terms and conditions, ANZ has a right to redeem (formally “exchange”) the CPS3 on 1 September 2017 but ANZ will not be exercising this [...]

27 Jul, 2017

The Case For a ASX-Listed Debt & Hybrid Market Index

By |2021-09-24T10:43:38+10:00Jul 27, 2017|Hybrids|

The Bloomberg AusBond Index Family is generally viewed as the leading benchmark for the Australian fixed income market and is used by asset managers, asset owners and investment consultants in Australia and across the world. It was originally developed by UBS and later acquired by Bloomberg as part of its expansion into the index industry. Media companies like Bloomberg are [...]

27 Jul, 2017

Listed Corporate Income Securities Dwindle

By |2021-09-24T10:43:38+10:00Jul 27, 2017|Hybrids, Market Commentary|

For retail investors, the opportunity set for listed income securities outside the Bank Additional Tier 1 (AT1) hybrid universe has been contracting for some time now. This has been most prominent for listed corporate securities in which issuance has dwindled since Standard & Poor’s adjusted its ‘equity credit’ criteria in 2013. Under this criteria, corporate hybrid securities were originally classified [...]

13 Jul, 2017

Franking Credits in Fixed Income Investing (90 day holding period rule)

By |2021-09-24T10:43:38+10:00Jul 13, 2017|Education, Hybrids|

For investors of Australian shares, dividends paid to them by Australian resident companies are taxed under a system known as 'imputation'. It is called an imputation system because the tax paid by a company may be imputed or attributed to the shareholders. The tax paid by the company is allocated to shareholders by way of franking credits attached to the dividends [...]