New CDS Product For Investors

Why should institutional investors and hedge funds have all the fun in the current credit crisis? Now you too can join in. Societe Generale is offering a new product that provides exposure to the credit default swaps (CDS) of speculative-grade companies. The new product is linked to the number of defaults in the iTraxx five-year Crossover Index, which is comprised of 50 European companies which Moody’s has forecast to remain below long-term average and market implied default rates.

As reported in an article at Structured Products, the product is designed to give investors an IRR up to 14.25%, provided of course that none of companies in the index suffers a credit event during 5 years of the product’s life. Events include bankruptcy, default, or restructuring. The notes can be purchased at 54-55% of face value and are redeemed 100% at maturity. They are also designed such that when each constituent experiences a credit event, 2% is subtracted from the total portfolio value. Estimates are that even if 17 of the 50 companies in the portfolio experience a credit event, the IRR would still be around 5.2%, above the 5 year European Interbank Offered Rate. Sounds good, but just remember that when major events do occur, certain assets will start to become more correlated very quickly.