Economics
Santander Gives Bond Investors a Nasty Surprise
- Notes fall after bank decides against using redemption option
- Lender cites economics and obligation to ‘all investors’
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Banco Santander SA reminded investors that juicy bonds can come with nasty surprises.
The Spanish lender rattled the bank Additional Tier 1 market by saying it will skip an option to call 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) of perpetual contingent-convertible notes next month, sending the bonds tumbling. The announcement came late Tuesday, right at the deadline for a decision, after the bank kept investors in the dark for weeks regarding the call option and in the aftermath of another deal, a sale of dollar AT1 notes on Wednesday.