Temasek T2023 - S$ Bond

Temasek is issuing a 5 year S$ bond at a fixed interest rate of 2.7% p.a. S$200m is available for the public tranche and investors can start applying from S$1,000. The bonds pay interest twice a year and will mature in 2023. The offer will close on 23 Oct 2018 at 12pm. For more information, you can visit www.temasek.com.sg/bondoffer

Not sure why Temasek need to show the 4 big ethical groups (Chinese, Malay, India, Others) with "HDB" as backdrop in its offering circular given that it is not a political entity. This is probably to indicate that the retail bonds is for everyone in Singapore (especially those from heartlands?).... In any case, this is the first time the long "over-due" Temasek bonds is available to retail investors here. 

I applaud Temasek's efforts to do this for the retail investors, frankly they don't have to do this as it is much easier and faster just to have an institutional offering (if they really need cash, which they don't). In fact, even HDB is not issuing bonds to retail investors! My own view is that the government or MAS should encourage and make it easier for local T-related corporations to issue bonds to retail investors. 

I will not elaborate on who Temasek is and what they do as these information are easily available. In one short sentence - Temasek was formed by the government in 1974 to manage its investments and its portfolio value has grown significantly since inception to S$308b as of March 2018.

 Default Rates of Corporates

If you look at the table above, Temasek's bonds are rated AAA by both S&P and Moody's. This rating is better than many sovereign ratings! The risk of default, per the table above, is zero. Hence, investors who buy in this bond and basically sleep super soundly at night. 💤 (if insomnia is a problem)

If you are still not convinced about its credit worthiness, the key credit ratios looked pretty healthy from all angles.

Conclusion- they don't really need to issue the retail bonds. 

What type of investors would be suitable?

Given we have determined that default rate is nil, the AAA rated bond is suitable for retail investors with zero risk tolerance and is currently investing in government-linked securities or Singapore Savings Bonds.

Singapore Saving Bonds ("SSB")

The Oct 2018 SSB is paying an average of 2.22% if you hold it for 5 years. In this regard, the 2.7% offered by T2023 is slightly better. Hence if you are considering putting money into the SSB, you might want to try your luck at Temasek T2023 bond.

Investors with higher risk tolerance and is willing to accept a higher return for a lower rating should look at other options. If they are accredited investors, they should look at bonds issued by Temasek-linked companies such as Singapore Airlines or if they can't afford the $250,000 per pop, they can evaluate the Astrea IV Class A-1 bonds that has a face value interest rate of 4.25%. You can refer to the write up on Astrea IV here. 

For investors who die die must subscribe to T2023, what would be the other considerations?

What are the considerations for investors in T2023 Bonds?

• You can use your CPF to apply for the bonds - Investors who have no use of the CPF money can use them to apply for the bonds from the CPF OA and "arbitrage" the difference. I will consider doing this since i have a lot of cash sitting inside the CPF Ordinary Account doing nothing anyway

• You are unlikely to get full allocation - Similar to Astrea IV, you are unlikely to get full allocation as the issue will be over-subscribed. You should get something if you apply but you are unlikely to get full allotment. I would hazard a guess that if you apply for $5,000 or less, you may get what you asked for but anything in excess of $5,000 will likely be cut back

• Post market liquidity will be marginal - If you have no use for the cash for 5 years, then this will not be a concern, However, if you think that you may need the cash a few years down the road, then you will need to be aware that liquidity may be low as most bond investors are "buy-and-hold" type of investors. The trading volume is likely to be low post issuance

• A rising interest rate environment may result falling bond prices and US Fed is likely to increase rates in the coming months. Will that have a knock-on effect on interest rates here remained to be seen but the risk is there

Will Mr. IPO be subscribing and what is the chilli ratings?

The placement tranche was "hot" and oversubscribed. I will give it a 3 chillis for the risk-free status but 1 chilli for the 2.7% return as the return is too low for my risk profile

My cash can be put to better use but i may consider using CPF to apply since it is earning a better return than 2.5%

How to enhance my "return" if i intend to apply for the T-Bond?

My friends attended the public seminar on Friday and it was well attended. While there was no refreshment, the "door gift' was a $20 Suntec voucher. That alone is worth 74% of the bond interest of $27 if you intend to apply for $1,000 T-bond. 😂

I have already told you how to "enhance" your bond returns, so now it is polling time! You can poll here.