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LONDON, April 25 (IFR) - Aviva is expected to price Thursday its perp NC 5.5
targeted at Asian investors. The joint-bookrunners - Barclays, Citigroup,
Goldman Sachs, HSBC and JP Morgan - are testing demand at mid to high 8% for
this new hybrid Tier 1, benchmark-sized issue. HSBC is sole structuring agent.
The instrument is expected to be rated Baa1/BBB+, predictably lower than the
issuer's standalone ratings of A1/A Moodys/S&P (neg/neg) to reflect the deep
subordination.
The trade is similar to the perpetual non-call 5.5-year issue sold by Prudential
in January last year. The notes were quoted on Tradeweb at 7.4/7.1% yield this
morning. According to an analyst, Aviva will certainly have to pay a premium
over Pru, since this is probably the strongest UK name in the sector. In his
view, the size of the deal will be a key factor to assess how "fair" the price
talk is.
The Aviva bonds can convert into preference shares at any time. If converted,
the terms would essentially be the same, except that the preference shares are
non-cumulative. There is also a mandatory conversion at year 99, to help ensure
that the deal remains tax-deductible.
Lloyds TSB Bank has opened the books for its self-led sterling-denominated
5-year benchmark transaction at Gilts 1.75% 2017 plus 55bp area. The deal will
be executed under the UK Government's National Loan Guarantee Scheme and is
rated Aaa/AAA/AAA in line with the UK as guarantor.
Aggiornamento:
SINGAPORE -(Dow Jones)- Aviva PLC (AV.LN) has tightened final guidance and is now seeking to price a US$650 million tier 1 perpetual bond to yield 8.25%, a person familiar with the proposed offering told Dow Jones Newswires Thursday.
The proposed yield is significantly tighter than initial price thoughts of mid-to-high 8%, revised to guidance of 8.25%-8.50% Thursday.
By the Asian morning, investor orders were already worth well over US$4 billion, a person familiar with the matter said.
Callable after 5.5 years, the bond is provisionally rated Baa1 by Moody's Investors Service and triple-B-plus by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
Barclays, Citi, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and JP Morgan are joint bookrunners on the proposed Reg S offering, targeted at Asian retail investors.