What are hybrid securities?

Hybrid securities have features of both equity and debt.

Different hybrids have different features, which can make it tricky for investors to compare the various hybrid securities. Investors need to read the terms and conditions of each hybrid security in order to properly understand its benefits and be able to assess its fair value.

As a result, investing directly in a hybrid security on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) may prove challenging for investors who lack the expertise or time to evaluate whether the hybrid suits their investment objectives.

A hybrid security fund such as HBRD Active Australian Hybrids Fund (managed fund) or BHYB Australian Major Bank Hybrids Index ETF is a convenient alternative to direct ownership of hybrid securities.

How do hybrid securities work?

Hybrid securities typically pay a fixed or floating rate of return until a certain date.

Hybrid securities are generally expected to provide a higher rate of return than regular debt securities such as bonds. However, because of their equity features, hybrid securities are considered to be riskier than bonds and because they rank higher in a company’s capital structure, they are typically considered less risky than equities.

Types of hybrid securities

There’s a wide variety of hybrid securities that can be bought on the ASX.

Some hybrid securities may pay franked income like ordinary shares, while other hybrid securities also have an option to convert to shares. Other hybrids will convert automatically into shares if certain events happen or on certain dates.

Hybrid securities examples

Hybrid securities can be classified into broad categories:

How actively managed hybrid security funds work

Given the complexities of investing directly in hybrid securities traded on the ASX, a fund that offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of hybrids offers an attractive alternative.

HBRD Active Australian Hybrids Fund (managed fund)  invests in an actively managed portfolio of hybrid securities, bonds and cash.

It can make sense for many investors to gain access to the unique risk and return features of hybrids through a professionally run, actively managed fund, as this provides not only diversification and risk management benefits, but better buying power and expertise to take advantage of market mispricing opportunities over time.

Retail investors are reliant on making trades through the exchange, however, professional fund managers can additionally source other hybrids opportunities – and often deeper liquidity – through direct trades with other financial institutions in over-the-counter (“OTC”) transactions.

How passive hybrid security funds work

The aim of passive investing is to track the performance of a market index.

The BHYB Australian Major Bank Hybrids Index ETF  aims to passively track the performance of a diversified index of hybrids (preference shares) issued by the Big 4 Australian banks1

Big 4 Australian bank hybrids are among the most liquid, highest-quality hybrids available on the ASX, with all hybrids in this index rated as investment grade at the time of writing.

What are the advantages of investing in a hybrid security fund?

Hybrids have tended to offer regular, attractive tax-efficient income, typically in excess of that available from cash and senior bonds.

Investing in a hybrid security fund, as opposed to individual hybrids, has several benefits, including:

Key differences between BHYB and HBRD

BHYB HBRD
  • Index tracking (BHYB aims to track the performance of the Solactive Australian Banking Preferred Shares Index, before fees and expenses)
  • Invests in a portfolio of preference shares (a type of hybrid) issued by the Big 4 Australian banks
  • Actively managed
  • Ability to hold the following securities issued by Australian financial institutions:
    • Cash
    • Bonds
    • Subordinated debt
    • Australian Hybrids
  • Ability to invest up/down capital structure depending on relative value
Advantages
  • Designed to provide a low-cost, diversified exposure to some of the most liquid, high quality hybrids available on the ASX
  • By providing exposure only to some of the most liquid, high quality parts of the hybrid market available on the ASX, it also offers less opportunity for an active manager to add alpha or need for their skills to manage OTC illiquidity risk – so lends itself to a passive approach
  • BHYB aims to track the performance of an index, so there are no ‘active manager’ fees. Management fee and costs are only 0.35% p.a.1
  • Leveraging active management capability provides the potential to add alpha and protect downside by:
    • Potential to profit from mispriced securities
    • Capturing illiquidity premium for OTC securities
    • Participating in issuance of attractively priced new hybrid issuances
    • Moving up and down the capital structure where the manager identifies risk or judges that hybrid securities are overvalued

1 Other costs, such as transaction costs, may apply. Refer to the PDS for more information.

What happens to hybrid investments if the sharemarket drops?

Hybrids are unique in that that they have both bond and equity features and, as such, provide a unique diversification opportunity to investors along the risk-return investment spectrum.

While hybrids do have the possibility of incurring a capital loss, they historically have shown to be less volatile and less risky than equities.

Hybrids also generally offer a greater prospect of regular income payments and repayment of capital at a future date. They can also offer franking credits like shares, which are not available via bond and cash investments.

Why are preference shares referred to as hybrid securities?

Preference shares are often referred to as hybrid securities because they combine characteristics of both ordinary shares and the debt represented by bonds.

Some companies issue preference shares as well as ordinary shares.

A preference share is an equity security with a specified dividend rate set out in the prospectus. Also, preference shares are usually non-voting, unlike ordinary shares.

Each preference share represents an ownership share in the issuing company and is not a debt that has to be repaid, unlike a bond.

Preference shares pay a specified dividend rate, which is typically higher than ordinary share dividends and can perform favourably compared to bond interest rates.

This is why an investor looking to generate income may consider using preference shares as an alternative to bonds

Investment risks in relation to the Betashares hybrids funds include interest rate risk (for HBRD), dividend rate risk (for BHYB), credit risk, liquidity risk, hybrids complexity risk and sector concentration risk. For more information on risks and other features of the fund, please see the Product Disclosure Statement, available at www.betashares.com.au.