After the rapid increase in margins on Australian listed hybrids over the last 18 months, many are now asking “are we there yet”? Have we reached a level where there is sufficient return for risk to justify investing? Those who have followed my comments on this area will know that I’ve consistently recommended selling long maturity debt securities and preference shares in the last two years. The July 2014 article The Perils of Hybrids was written at the time of peak pricing levels (ie lowest margins). The average margin over bank bills is now nearly double what it was then. For those tempted to dip into listed hybrids, here are some key points.
Credit is about avoiding losers
One of the mistakes that equity investors often make when thinking about credit investing is forgetting that credit is all about avoiding losers. It’s nice for a borrower to have solid growth prospects, but it’s not essential. What it must have is a very low probability of deteriorating. Picking seven out of ten winners makes an equity manager successful, but is a huge failure for a credit manager.
For those who have seen the movie Moneyball, recall the scene where Brad Pitt is teaching the talent scouts how the new selection process works. He throws out a bunch of names the scouts don’t like. The scouts keep asking why he wants these unfashionable players and the answer keeps coming back “because he gets on base”. Credit is the same – investors should like credits because they will get their money back under all reasonable scenarios. Simply substitute the baseball statistics of on base percentage and slugging percentage for the key credit statistics of probability of default and loss given default.
Don’t ignore the fine details
Whilst many deals can be grouped together as the same security type, there can be subtle but significant differences. For instance, the hybrid, ANZPC, has a maximum exchange percentage (into the ordinary equity of ANZ) of 50% if a regulatory trigger occurs whereas other similar securities have this set at 20%. This means that if APRA orders that ANZ preference shares be converted to ordinary equity, ANZPC holders will get fewer ordinary shares than other ANZ preference shareholders. Conversely, ANZPC has the lowest Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) of the ANZ preference shares. This means that if ANZ’s share price halved from current levels, all other ANZ preference shares would be blocked from mandatory conversion and would miss their first call dates. ANZPC investors would have a realisation event, when others are stuck without one for an indeterminate period.
Bank capital levels have finally improved
Until last year, many investors mistakenly thought Australian banks were much better capitalised since the financial crisis. Whilst the tier one equity ratios had increased, this was primarily as the equity required to support residential mortgages had decreased. When comparing the amount of tangible equity with the asset base, there was little improvement. This finally changed in 2015, eight years after the credit crisis began.
For Australian major banks, APRA changed two key components on equity levels last year. Firstly, APRA flagged that banks will need to hold higher amounts of capital against their residential property loans. Westpac will be most impacted by this change and recently noted that its tier one capital ratio would drop from 10.2% to 9.1% as a result of this change. Secondly, APRA agreed with the Financial System Inquiry that banks should be in the top 25% globally by capital ratios. This saw a wave of equity raisings last year, with the likelihood that another round may be needed this year. Put together, by 2017, preference shareholders will have a significantly larger slice of equity below them, decreasing both the probability of default and the loss given default.
But the risk of home loans is higher
The 60 Minutes story about Australian residential property in February 2016 was exaggerated but still a helpful reminder that residential property in Australia is very expensive. Both major political parties are talking about restricting negative gearing and there’s even mentions of broad-based land tax and removing some of the discount on capital gains tax. None of this is good news for residential property investors or the banks that have made highly-leveraged, often interest only loans, using foolishly low assumptions of living expenses and interest rates.
The fact that banks were using the Henderson Poverty Index as a cost of living indicator for middle and high income households was completely nuts. Marginal borrowers have received loans higher than they can comfortably support. Stress tests typically assume that lenders mortgage insurance will cover most or all of the losses if unemployment increases and house prices fall. However, if we do have a property bubble then the insurance providers are unlikely to be able to pay all claims.
Listed note holders are usually passengers
Preference shares and long dated debt securities give rights to the Board of the issuing company on whether their payments will be made on time or at all, and when their principal will be repaid. The history of listed notes is that Boards prioritise ordinary shareholders over preference shareholders. Paperlinx and Elders preference shareholders haven’t been paid for years, and there’s eight other securities that have gone past their call dates. Standard debt securities have the threat of insolvency as the stick to see that their interest and principal is paid on time, whereas most listed notes leave their holders as passengers subject to the discretion of the Board.
Noteholders of Crown have learnt this lesson in the last six months, as James Packer has worked away on a potential ‘take-private’ transaction. There has been limited disclosure from the Board about whether a deal could happen and what action they might take in regards to the long dated securities if a deal was done. The notes have accordingly traded down, as noteholders have to consider the possibility that they might become a very cheap form of mezzanine debt in a company that could be more highly leveraged that it is now.
Lower margin doesn’t mean lower risk
Long term holders of the old style income securities, notably BENHB, MBLHB, NABHA and SBKHB, know the dangers of buying into a security with a low margin. Even if the securities no longer qualify for tier one or tier two capital calculations, they are a cheap form of perpetual debt for the banks. The best outcome could be that that the issuer offers to buy back the securities at premium to the current price but less than the face value or allows for conversion into a new security with better terms. While PCAPA was recently repaid even though their margin was low, there is a small possibility that WCTPA isn’t called or that holders need to switch into a new security to get their principal back.
Holders of CBAPD find themselves with an interesting decision. Should they sell out at a loss and buy into the new CBAPE security or stick with what they have? Assuming a clean switch could be completed at a similar margin to call, CBAPE is a superior security. It has a shorter period to the first mandatory conversion date and is likely to have a lower VWAP price. The higher margin received (as opposed to margin to call) means that CBAPE holders will be in a better position if the CBA share price falls and mandatory conversion conditions can’t be satisfied.
Summing up
With current average margins of bank bill rate plus 5.0%, close to double the cycle lows of 2014, value is certainly better than it was. Some listed notes I’ve ignored in the past are now at or close to levels where they could be considered as acceptable additions to a portfolio. However, relative value hasn’t improved as much as it might first appear, and I prefer pure debt securities and others with a clear exit mechanism.
Jonathan Rochford is Portfolio Manager at Narrow Road Capital and this article expresses the views of the author at a point in time. It is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional and tailored financial advice. Narrow Road Capital advises on and invests in a wide range of securities.
Editor’s comment on specific hybrids to consider
There are dozens of hybrids listed on the ASX, each with different terms and conditions. For independent ratings on specific hybrids, see updated reports under Ratings & Reports > ASX Debt & Hybrid Research Scheme section on www.australiaratings.com. This website requires registration but no payment.