ABS

Auto ABS players are looking cautiously at the recent recovery in liquidity, spreads and used car values, particularly as various government support schemes roll off in Europe and the US, said panellists speaking during day two of Global ABS 2020.

InSite Wireless Group has priced a $164m securitization, with its senior bonds achieving the lowest yield for a cell tower securitization this year. Sources have bemoaned rapidly tightening spreads across all sectors, ranging from cell tower to prime auto ABS, posing a challenge for investors looking for yield in securitization.

GlobalCapital and Afme convened a virtual roundtable to tackle the biggest issues facing securitization as the pandemic crisis continues. While other capital markets and the wider economy are reeling from the economic fallout stemming from Covid-19, European securitization is undergoing a regulatory rejuvenation, as the European Commission turns towards structured products as a solution to the coming wave of NPLs. Meanwhile, the market for synthetic ABS is being given a second look to help free bank balance sheets across Europe and spur lending to the real economy. Over the summer, the market saw the report from the senior forum on the Capital Markets Union, which included a number of recommendations on regulatory adjustments to improve the functioning of securitization in Europe. More recently the European Commission put forward a capital markets economic recovery package including measures related to securitization. The Commission has proposed extending the STS framework to synthetic securitizations or on-balance-sheet securitizations. The Commission has also put forward proposals to remove regulatory obstacles to the securitization of NPLs including changes to the regulatory capital treatment.

Several lenders have raised funding for the UK’s coronavirus loan scheme for SMEs through the securitization market, with Barclays emerging as the leading bank for the asset class.

The private student loan ABS sector exceeded 2019 issuance volume last week, with the addition of SoFi’s fourth transaction, as more borrowers rush to refinance their student loans while rates remain at historic lows.

Specialist lender White Oak has sponsored the first securitization of Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) loans, a £150m private transaction with Barclays, enabling it to recycle capital into the final 15 days of the government-backed lending programme.

InSite Wireless Group and Vertical Bridge are returning to the ABS market with new cell tower securitizations, encouraged by low rates and growing demand for wireless services.

Nat Hoopes is leaving the Marketplace Lending Association (MLA) to join online lender Upstart as vice president and head of public policy and regulatory affairs. The newly created role will focus on increasing Upstart’s presence in Washington, helping policy makers understand the benefits of alternative lending.

Market players applauded the New York State Legislature for passing the “C-PACE Bill”, legislation to allow commercial property owners to tap property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for new construction projects. Expected to be signed into law in coming weeks, the bill unlocks an untapped market for issuers and is likely to drive origination volumes to new heights, said panellists at IMN’s Solar, PACE and ESG Investing conference.