The US investment-grade corporate primary is wasting no time in getting busy in June with at least 13 offerings slated for sale today to kick off the month.
The high-yield corporate primary saw three announcements this morning, with one offering expected to price today.
For the week ahead, a busy slate of US economic data will keep markets and investors on their toes. The key May US jobs report is out on Friday, but before that markets will assess ISM manufacturing and service reports, the keenly observed JOLTS report, factory orders, the May ADP report, and consumer credit among other releases.
The ECM arena is busy this week, including three IPOs.
This morning US Treasury yields retreated, with the benchmark 10-year note yield hovering around 4.47%. US stocks opened up in positive territory.
Last week in the IG primary 29 tranches were priced totaling US$19.8bn and the month of May ended Friday with 185 IG tranches priced totaling US$137.15bn, according to IFR data.
For June, Bank of America Research said it sees IG supply in the US$85bn to US$95bn range, down from from May levels. "Supply pulled forward into 1Q should subtract from issuance needs in June and 2H-2024," BofA said.
For the week ahead, BofA expects US$25bn-$30bn of IG supply.
In the HY primary last week two tranches were sold totaling US$900m and the month of May ended with 49 tranches priced totaling US$32.05bn, according to IFR data.
The average IG bond spread on Friday remained unchanged at 88bp for the fourth consecutive market session and the HY bond spread edged out 1bp to 320bp, according to ICE BofA data.
The IG CDX five-year spread index was tighter this morning at 49.523 and the HY CDX five-year price index was higher at 106.813, according to LSEG data.
HIGH GRADE
At least 13 US investment-grade bond offerings are expected to price Monday, with expectations for US$20bn to US$30bn of new issuance this week.
Utilities Baltimore Gas and Electric, Southwestern Public Service and Alliant Energy are issuing senior unsecured bonds today.
Hotel operator Hyatt is issuing five and 10-year senior unsecured notes. Railway Burlington Northern Santa Fe is marketing an offering of 30-year bonds. Railcar Lessor GATX and Royalty Pharma are also in the bond market with deals today.
On the FIG side, financial services provider BGC Group, insurer Brighthouse Financial, MetLife and lender National Australia Bank are selling fresh paper. And Regions Financial and New York Life are also in the market.
LEVERAGE/HIGH YIELD
The primary market for US high-yield bonds is enjoying some renewed activity today after a slow week, with three deal announcements so far on Monday.
Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure looks set to be the first out of the pipeline after the company set initial price thoughts of 7.25%-7.50% on a US$600m eight-year non-call three bond that is expected to price today.
Acrisure has also announced a hefty US$1.875bn two-tranche offering as part of a US$3.75bn refinancing package.
The insurance company is approaching investors with a US$1.375bn 6.5-year senior secured non-call two issue and a US$500m five-year non-call two bond. Pricing is expected on Thursday.
Olympus Water, meanwhile, is out with an US$800m seven-year non-call three bond ahead of pricing later this week.
STRUCTURED FINANCE
The asset-backed primary is fast out of the gate today.
Stonebriar this morning released price guidance for a US$746.43m equipment issue for expected pricing this afternoon. The US$286.23m Triple A rate three-year A-3 note has guidance of Treasuries plus 105bp-110bp.
In the auto sector, BMW announced a US$1.5bn prime auto securitization, while Westlake is the market with a US$1.21bn subprime auto offering.
In the ESG space, Frontier Communications is returning with its second green bond. The US$750m securitization is backed by fiber assets and revenues from its north Texas service territory, the company said today.
Last week only one ABS issuer came to market. Roark Capital last Thursday priced the largest whole business securitization. The US$3.35bn raised from the bond will pay down a US$5.4bn loan for its acquisition of sandwich franchiser Subway.
LATAM
No deals are expected to price in the international Latin American bond market on Monday.
Mercury Chile Hodco, which holds a majority stake in Chilean power generator AES Andes, is out with an offer to buy back its US$318m of outstanding 6.5% notes due 2027. The offer launched May 30 and expires June 5. Citigroup is dealer manager.
LatAm sovereign five-year CDS on Friday narrowed 2bp for Brazil, and moved little elsewhere in the region, according to Lucror Anaytics.
EQUITIES
Johnson & Johnson-backed Rapport Therapeutics early on Monday launched an up to US$144m Nasdaq IPO for pricing later this week.
Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, TD Cowen and Stifel are marketing the sale of 8m shares in the neuroscience-focused biotech at US$16-$18 for pricing this Thursday, June 6.
Rapport, which was carved out of J&J’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit two years ago, is seeking as much as a 25% step-up from the US$14.36 price at which it raised US$86m from a Series B private financing round last August.
Goldman Sachs has agreed to purchase up to US$10m of shares and Sofinnova Venture Partners up to US$8m in a separate private placement at the IPO price.
Life360, the Australian-listed but San Francisco-based maker of the popular family tracking app, is seeking a US listing through a roughly US$175m Nasdaq IPO.
Goldman Sachs, Evercore, UBS and Stifel are marketing 5.8m shares, each of which is equivalent to three of Life360’s ASX-listed units.
The units closed at A$15.18 overnight, valuing each share at about US$30.36 after currency conversion.
The offering is expected to price this Wednesday, June 5.
Rapport and Life360 join an already active IPO calendar with deals from Israeli smart glass maker Gauzy (US$79m) and aluminum recycler Novelis (US$945m) expected to price on Wednesday. Healthcare software firm Waystar (US$1bn) follows on Thursday with the biggest deal of the week.
Elsewhere, Arizona power company Pinnacle West Capital is looking to capitalize on recent stock gains, lower its borrowing costs and diversify its financing through the sale of a US$450m convertible bond.
Bank of America and JP Morgan are marketing a three-year CB from the BBB+/Baa2-rated electric utility at a 4.25%-4.75% coupon and 20%-25% conversion premium through Monday for pricing after the close.
Pinnacle West already raised US$650m of straight equity at $66.50 from an overnight offering and forward sale in late February.
The shares have since risen 18.5% to Friday’s closing price of US$78.86.