Fixed income

BBVA tapped the market today with a euro-denominated contingent convertible (known as a CoCo or AT1) bond, attracting demand of €3.5 billion. The issue price was set at 6.875 percent, well below the 7.375 percent starting price.

BBVA tapped the market this Wednesday with a €1.75 billion senior preferred debt issue, structured in two tranches. Demand was double the final placement, with orders reaching €3.5 billion. The first tranche, with a three-year maturity (June 2027), closed at a rate of three-month Euribor +45 basis points (versus an initial price of three-month Euribor +70 to 75 basis points). The second tranche, with a six-year maturity (June 2030), closed at the mid-swap rate + 75 basis points, versus an initial price of mid-swap + 100 basis points.

The contingent convertible capital instruments (CoCos) also known as Additional Tier 1 bonds are  hybrid bonds that combines debt and equity elements. Its defining characteristic is that it may be converted into shares if the CET1 capital ratio drops below a specific level.

BBVA placed €1.04 billion through two social bonds in 2020, the funds of which were mainly used to help micro- and small companies through ICO-guaranteed loans, in the case of Spain. In total, 15,175 companies with a total of 207,628 employees have benefited. This is shown in the 'BBVA 2020 green and social bond report'. The report highlights that, since the 2018 publication of the framework for issuing bonds linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the emission of more than 2.3 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere has been avoided, through the projects financed with BBVA's green bonds in 12 countries; a figure that is equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 913,000 cars.

BBVA has a core purpose of bringing the age of opportunity to everyone. The first step toward fulfilling this purpose has to do with the bank’s contribution to attaining the first of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the end of poverty. The 17 SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The UN has called on companies to unite their efforts and initiatives in this area, with a focus on public-private partnerships.

After placing €750 million of subordinated debt last Thursday, BBVA has returned to wholesale markets with a €1 billion issue of senior non-preferred debt. Demand exceeded the initial offer by three and half times, making it possible to reduce the initial price (mid swap price +130 basis points) by 23 points.

BBVA Group unit Garanti Bank in conjunction with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has issued a six-year social bond worth $75 million dollars to help finance women entrepreneurs in Turkey.

After the recent ratings upgrades announced by S&P, and DBRS, rating agency Moody’s has changed the outlook on its long-term rating for BBVA (Baa1) to positive from stable. In its press release, Moody’s said it favorably views the bank’s capacity to issue bail-in-able debt in order to meet MREL requirements.

Days after the announcement that S&P had upgraded BBVA's rating, DBRS has upgraded BBVA’s long-term rating to A (high) from A, one notch above the rating for Spain. In its report, the agency stressed BBVA's diversified international business model, which should continue to support a path of solid results.

On Tuesday, BBVA entered the markets with a €1.5 billion issue of Senior Non-Preferred Debt (SNP) with a five-year term and a Floating Rate Note format. Thanks to strong investor demand, the issue closed with a coupon of three-month Euribor plus 52 basis points. The operation was the lowest-priced issue of senior non-preferred debt by a Spanish issuer.

Positive market conditions and investor appetite have helped BBVA to get an excellent reception for its sixth issue of CoCos. The Group has issued a $1 billion bond, with the lowest coupon in dollars for an issuer from southern Europe (6.125%), and the longest maturity (perpetual, with a ‘call’ option starting in the tenth year). Registration of a prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has prompted a bigger participation from American, European and Asian investors.

The BBVA Group takes another step forward in its digital transformation and in improving customer experience, with a new website for shareholders and investors. The site includes new content and the latest trends in browsing, and is accessible from any mobile device.

S&P changed its outlook for BBVA’s long-term rating (BBB+) from stable to positive. The agency once again highlighted the Group’s strong financial profile, resilient profitability levels and solid capital position.

Today, BBVA CEO Carlos Torres Vila, speaking to international investors, emphasized that BBVA is well positioned to capitalize on the opportunities afforded by the current environment, thanks to its clear and well defined strategic path, a transformation plan focused on the customer and based on the use of data and technology and the strengths of its business model.

Europe has taken a giant leap forward to keep taxpayers from footing bailout bills in the future. Last week, the European Commission unveiled a regulatory package which, among other measures, envisaged the revision of the resolution framework for institutions. The proposal represents a new leap towards the goal of ensuring that banks allocate the right amount of resources to absorb eventual losses, even bail-out themselves, without resorting to public funding. It will also help European banks boost the amount of high-quality capital in their balance sheets.

In a context marked by financial market volatility, the advantages of diversifying the sources of funding are evident for businesses, regardless of their size. In long-term financing, the two more broadly used funding instruments are loans (syndicated or bilateral) and bonds, placed among institutional investors. Both instruments can be more or less tailored to fit a series of parameter, including the company’s needs, mainly maturity and price, its credit profile, repayment capacity, the market’s momentum, etc…

BBVA launched today successfully its fourth issue of contingent convertible bonds, also known as CoCos (Additional Tier 1) for €1bn. With this issue, BBVA completes the 1.5% that can be computed as Additional Tier 1 Capital according to applicable regulations (CRD IV).

Once again, a bond issue by BBVA in the debt market has been very well received by investors. This morning, the bank completed the issue of a 1.25 billion mortgage bond. High demand, which soared past the €2.7 billion mark, has allowed the company to go to the market at very competitive prices.

Market downfalls at the beginning of the year have put investors on guard. The sharp decline in oil prices and questions over the Chinese economy leave their mark on the global economic outlook. BBVA Asset Management expects to see moderate growth in the global economy in 2016 but suggests caution when building portfolios due to increased risk. Diversification and hedging are necessary.

Market analysts have offered a very positive view about BBVA 2015 results released yesterday.Overall, analysts believe it is a good set of results which confirm BBVA’s  resilience. BBVA’s performance was significantly better than expected, in particular Mexico figures.

BBVA is the early-bird Spanish bank in the debt markets in 2016. Once again, it is the first Spanish bank to make an offering on the market in euros of 1 billion euros in 5-year senior bonds. The issue has been very favorably received. International demand exceeded 2.4 billion euros, which has enabled the bank to offer at more competitive prices than initially forecast.

Before making an investment or buying a savings product (e.g. investment fund or pension plan), we first need to determine our risk profile.

How will the largest economies evolve over the next ten years? What yields may be expected from the main financial assets in that period of time? These are the two questions that the BBVA Asset Management’s strategy team has taken into consideration to elaborate a financial plan that allows to properly gauge the strategic asset portfolios it manages for its customers through different vehicles (investment funds, pension funds, SICAVs…).