Brokers on board as ANZ Banking Group readies $1b hybrid

Australian Financial Review Aug 11 2017 12:15 AM

Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald, Joyce Moullakis

STREET TALK  It's down to the fine strokes as ANZ Banking Group prepares a return to the hybrid market next week. 

Street Talk understands ANZ has six brokers lined up to handle the $1 billion-odd capital note offer, which is due to launch mid next week after the bank presents its third quarter earnings update.

ANZ's internal team is expected to lead the offer, and draw on JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Morgans, UBS, Westpac Institutional Bank and their retail affiliates to help sell the securities.

Interestingly, that would be almost the same line up that ANZ called on this time last year when the bank raised $1.3 billion for its ANZ Capital Notes 4 at 4.7 per cent above the bank bill swap rate. The only difference is that Commonwealth Bank of Australia is believed to have dropped off the ticket.

ANZ flagged the raising late last month, when it said it was preparing a buy-back offer for its CPS3 convertible preference shares which would be made in conjunction with a new hybrid capital notes offer.

The new deal is expected to be worth about $1 billion, although issuers usually reserve the right to upscale the books should there be sufficient demand from investors.

It comes as investors prepare for the bank's quarterly earnings update and pillar 3 report on Tuesday.

Macquarie analysts told fund managers to expect further normalisation in impairment charges and increased cost outs. Much focus though will be on the bank's capital position, with it last reporting a 10.1 per cent tier one capital ratio as at March 31.