IFM Investors
Eye of the storm
When Australia went into lockdown, transport and shipping infrastructure saw an unprecedented business shock. Airport and toll-road passenger numbers collapsed while even freight flows dropped as the global economy ground to a halt. In October, KangaNews and Westpac Institutional Bank gathered key players in the Australian sector to discuss business impact, balance-sheet resilience and the swift rebound of debt capital markets including the domestic option.
Securitisation builds an audience for its diversity story
The Australian Securitisation Forum’s 2023 annual conference attracted a record number of delegates – well over a thousand attended – and offered its most wide-ranging agenda ever. The securitisation industry has navigated higher rates and increasing global uncertainty well to date, with record volume printing in 2023 and a notable uptick in collateral diversity. The road ahead may be tricky but the market is facing it with confidence.
Corporate Australia should be rewarded for cautious approach and economic resilience
After a year of limited capital market issuance – domestically and offshore – there might be grounds for pessimism in the Australian corporate debt market. But a group of analysts, issuers and investors who gathered at a discussion hosted by Fitch Ratings and KangaNews in November 2022 say Australian credits are relatively well positioned as and when confidence returns to the market, despite the obvious challenges of the past year.
Transition the key in sustainable finance
Transition to a more sustainable economy is increasingly driving investment and business decisions. While climate has been a key focus, market participants are now moving to add natural capital to their calculations and pressing ahead with more socially focused projects, according to speakers at the KangaNews Sustainable Debt Summit, which took place in Sydney in late May.
Buy-side demands on ESG data and disclosure in securitisation grow
Australia’s securitisation market may be on the cusp of an environmental, social and governance acceleration. Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Moody’s Analytics and KangaNews Sustainable Finance gathered a group of leading securitisation investors to discuss buy-side requirements in this space – finding a need for more, and more granular, data.
Offshore securitisation back on the menu for nonbanks
Market talk is growing about a potential return to offshore issuance by Australian securitisation sponsors – including some nonmortgage asset-backed securities – if, as expected, issuance needs remain high while domestic market tailwinds abate. Australian investors note recent and expected developments in the credit market could soften demand and issuers are already starting to venture offshore once more.
