Google owner Alphabet issues record $10 billion bond at lowest-ever price

Alphabet Inc borrowed $10 billion in the investment-grade corporate debt market on Monday, the Google parent’s largest ever bond issue, which it secured at its lowest-ever cost of financing.
Of the $10 billion on offer, the $1 billion five-year tranche was issued at a coupon of 0.45 per cent, the lowest coupon seen at that maturity since Apple Inc issued a $1.5 billion five-year note at 0.45 per cent in 2013.
Investor appetite was fierce for the tech giant’s six-part bond, as low interest rates and corporate bond buying from the Federal Reserve continues to support issuance. The deal garnered more than $31 billion in demand, according to Refinitiv IFR. Previously, Alphabet’s lowest coupon was 1.25 per cent on a $1 billion May 2014 note.
“We’re at a stage where these extremely high-quality issuers – of which Alphabet is one – are going to price very very tight. That’s because there are a lot of buyers who need short-term, don’t-need-to-think-about-it money. You’re getting two times the yield on the five-year Treasury,” said Tom Graff, head of fixed income at Brown Advisory.