Latest News

Refine news

Shinhan Bank (A-/A3/A-) is likely to become the first Korean commercial bank to sell a Kangaroo after completing its roadshow in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on April 19.

Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s) has lowered its ratings of 44 European banks following what it calls the “refinement” of its bank rating methodology.

Finland’s Municipality Finance (MuniFin) (AAA/Aaa) priced its first Kangaroo issue on April 11 with a A$200 million (US$166 million), four-year note, co-led by Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) and Nomura.

As Swiss Re launches a roadshow for its first T1 hybrid Kangaroo issue, a perpetual non-call 10 note, joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB) is confident that the hybrid Kangaroo market is set for growth.

The proposed acquisition of US agency SLM Corporation (Sallie Mae) (A/A2/A+) by a private equity consortium has resulted in the issuer being placed on credit watch by all three ratings agencies.

Sydney-based Kapstream Capital is preparing to launch its first fund, the Kapstream Absolute Return Income Fund, trading global fixed income with an absolute return strategy.

Issuers, intermediaries and investors speaking at the recent KangaNews/Westpac speed-meeting summit agree that while the Kangaroo market should continue to experience impressive growth, there is still room for development in terms of product range, transparency and market depth.

Kommunalbanken Norway (KBN) (AAA/Aaa/AAA) made its first foray into the Kangaroo market for over a year with the issue of a A$200 million (US$163 million), triple-A rated note priced on March 21.

Spanish agency Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO) brought its second Kangaroo deal for 2007 on February 16 – a A$300 million 6.125 per cent February 2014 deal led by RBC Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank. The reoffer spread was 12 basis points under three-month basis swap (BBSW) or 33 basis points over the 6.5 per cent May 2013 government bond.

On February 21 Dutch agency Nederlandse Waterschapsbank (NWB) (AAA/Aaa) priced a A$100 million increase to its 6.25 per cent August 2013 Kangaroo bonds, led by Westpac Institutional Bank (WIB). This is the first time NWB has issued a tap since its inaugural Kangaroo deal in March 2005. NWB followed on March 14 with a A$200 million March 2012 bond, led by TD Securities. The issuer now has A$1.1 billion outstanding in four maturities in the Kangaroo market.

On February 28 supranational EUROFIMA started its Kangaroo activity for 2007 with a A$100 million increase of its January 2014 bonds led by UBS Investment Bank. The reoffer to swap was minus 13.5 basis points, or 33.5 basis points over the 6.25 per cent May 15 2013 commonwealth government bond.

On March 7 Dexia Municipal Agency (DexiaMA) (AAA/Aaa/AAA) started its 2007 Kangaroo activity with a A$100 million increase of its February 2012 obligations foncières led by RBC Capital Markets.