Sustainable
Solution for Europe and Greece
The “official” punishment of the
Bondholders is not in the interest of Europe and is not in beneficial to
Greece. Markets punish more efficiently and faster.
The restructuring of the Greek debt
should aim at:
- Exit Yield. The yield that Greek bonds would be trading after the restructuring
- The exit rating. The rating of Greek debt after the restructuring.
- Sustainability of the Greek finances after the restructuring
·
In its current form the PSI+ does not
fulfil these three essential aims. Either because the bondholders demand high
coupons or because there are many hold outs risking the voluntary participation
rate.
·
Greece would need to borrow again to
pay the coupons of the new bonds as it is still runs a primary deficit of 2%.
Paying on average a 5% coupon would require another 3% of GDP.
·
Adding the request that the new bonds
to be under English law and the exclusion of the ECB from this process
complicates and endangers its success.
Current PSI+
·
Voluntary exchange of bonds with new
ones that have half the nominal amount
·
According to press reports the new
bonds would have an average coupon of 5%
·
New bonds would probably be under
English law
·
The new bonds would be collateralised
so as to provide capital guarantee at maturity (through a Zero Coupon issued by
the EFSF)
·
Part can be repaid in cash. Up to 15%
·
Greece would need from day one to
service the new bonds
·
ECB and the official sector would not
take part in the PSI exchange.
Greek Debt
·
There are close to 260 billion of
Greek bonds (including 2057). See Annex at the end of the presentation).
8billion were excluded from the original PSI.
·
Around 45billion are on the balance
sheet of the ECB
·
Greek financial institutions own around 60billion
·
The rest are in European FI and
foreign bondholders
·
It is estimated that around
10-15billion are in the hands of retail investors
·
Currently most of
the Greek bonds are trading between 20-40% with most maturities after 2014
being closer to 20%
·
This gives rise to
the possibility of a voluntary buyback option within the PSI framework.
Alternative PSI option
The low market
price of the GGB’s (20-40%) makes the “voluntary buyback” a real alternative
option within the PSI framework.
·
Greece offers a cash option of around
30-35% (indicative and negotiable) to buyback and destroy the bonds. It also
offers a buyback price towards the official sector (ECB). In particular:
·
ECB sells its holdings at 70%
(official sector). Cost of 31billion
·
Greece pays 35% for the rest.
Assuming 15% holdouts the cost is 61 billion
·
Hold outs would cost another
31billion (Free riders, retail investors, Vulture funds).
·
In total 123billion
would be spend to retire and destroy 260billion.The debt of Greece would be
reduced by 127billion (estimate)
Advantages for Greece
·
Greece cleans up the majority of its
bond stock. Greek debt to GDP drops to less than 120% from day one. Not in
2020.
·
As these loans have a 10Y grace
period the:
·
Greece’s exit rating should be high
as the outstanding debt is reduced.
·
Sustainability of Greek finances is
improved as there are no immediate coupons to pay.
·
The risk of activating some of the
moratorium clauses present in the Hell.Railway bonds and of causing a Credit event is
minimized.
·
Greece would start paying these loans
in 10Y at 3.5% making further NPV gains compared to the 5% demanded by
investors.
·
Avoids the introduction of English
law in new bonds (only official loans). Also minimizes the risk of lengthy and
costly litigations.
·
A firm backstop is introduced for 10
years. It would give the necessary time for the much needed economic reforms to
work.
·
Most importantly it
would reverse the extremely bad investment environment and halt the depression
both in the economy and in society.
Advantages for Bondholders
·
Most European banks have marked their
holdings close to 50% after the EU council decisions. They have already taken
the hit.
·
Currently bondholders are asked to
take a further NPV loss of possibly 10% with the new Greek Bonds making the
total loss close to 60%.
·
They also risk being restructured
again if Greece’s finance deteriorate further.
·
They extend their credit and interest
rate exposure to Greece for 30Y
o On the other hand with the cash buyback option:
o Bondholders limit their losses. No risk of being
restructured again.
o Bondholders avoid having to risk manage the “new”
Greek credit risk.
o Bondholders no longer need to manage the market
risk for 30Y.
o No need for Regulatory charges or other provisions
due to the 30Y new Greek bonds.
Advantages for Europe
·
The proposal operates within the
framework agreed by the EU council. i.e. Voluntary restructuring and
avoiding default. No need for a new decision.
·
It further punishes the reckless
investors much harsher as the real haircut is 65% (or more if agreed).
·
ECB does not go
bankrupt because of the GGB holdings. The
buyback price can be structured so as to limit the losses.
·
The voluntary character of the
solutions allows the possibility of differential pricing.
·
Europe does no need to worry about
the financing needs of Greece for 10Y
·
Europe implements a market
solution for the debt rather than one dictated.
·
Europe avoids the costly consequences
of a Greek default. Whether an orderly or a disorderly default occurs,
Europe would pay a much higher price to keep the EU united.
·
Europe still has leveraged on Greece
through the Stability Pact and the funding of the Greek banks.
·
Europe can also demand strict
conditionality for the funding of the buyback to proceed.
Funding of the Proposal
·
It is clear that Greece does not have
the funds for such a buyback. It is also clear however, that it does not have
the funds to pay coupons in the new Bonds should the PSI proceed in its current
form. Trying to raise it immediately from taxes would exasperate the deep
economic recession.
·
The maximum funds needed of around
126billion could be raised in principle by the EFSF and/or IMF or using
bilateral country loans over the course of a year.
·
Once the bondholders commit to the
scheme, the bonds are transferred into a trust or other vehicle and bondholders
are repaid as money is raised. Bondholders are also compensated for the waiting
time.
·
Greece would most probably be placed
on Selective default until an agreement is reached. This is the same status
that Greece would be placed if the PSI goes ahead.
Dealing with the Hold Outs.
·
Obviously, for the proposal to work a
high participation is needed. And this is also true for the original PSI.
·
It would be imprudent to assume 100%
participation and the current proposal assumes a 15% hold outs.
·
This is achieved by altering the
incentives for the hold outs.
·
One of the major problem of the
current PSI proposal is the existence of a large Holdout, the ECB. This allows
Free Riders to join on the back of the ECB and the official sector.
·
By taking the ECB
out with a cash offer, bondholders would think twice of being alone after the
conclusion of the buyback. Only the hard
core investors would risk holding out.
·
The cash price of 30-35% is very
close to where many FI’s have marked their holdings making it very appealing
and also close to where a the recovery could be should Greece default. This
makes the offer very appealing.
Appendix. Greek Bond
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