How blockchain could revolutionise bonds

1 September 2020

HSBC.com

HSBC has played a key role in a groundbreaking deal demonstrating how digital technology could help businesses issue bonds securely, efficiently and quicker than ever.

The bank has been working with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and investors Temasek Holdings since last year to explore the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the country’s bond market.

The partnership has just successfully simulated a fully digitalised bond issuance on SGX’s DLT-enabled platform. This is a first for Singapore and for HSBC.

The trial operated in parallel to a traditional SGD400 million (around USD290 million) issuance on the SGX – and a follow-on SGD100 million reopening of the same issue – by Olam International, a food and agri-business company.

Special software modelled a digital version of the issuance process, which achieved a reduction in total settlement time from five days down to just two and made the process more efficient.

Automated processes

Several HSBC teams helped develop the process for the issuance of ‘tokenised securities’ – or digital bonds – on SGX’s DLT-enabled platform, including the use of digital ‘smart contracts’ instead of paper-based contracts. The bank’s ’on-chain payments solution’ facilitated the settlement and transfer of proceeds to the issuer.

The automation of the asset servicing and settlements reduced reconciliation processes and showed how DLT platforms like blockchain can deliver faster, more efficient transactions for bond issuers and investors.

Richard Godfrey, Co-Head of Securities Services, HSBC, said: “We’re proud to have achieved this milestone in collaboration with SGX and Temasek Holdings to re-shape the financial market infrastructure in Singapore.

“This first public corporate bond issuance on a permissioned ledger operated by SGX is an important step towards digitalisation of the ecosystem and supporting digital assets – the asset representation of the future. HSBC will continue to extend these capabilities to serve our clients better and develop our digital asset product proposition.”

Fast, seamless, secure

Diane S Reyes, Global Head of Liquidity and Cash Management, HSBC, said: “This digital bond issuance shows how our on-chain payments solution can fulfil payment needs in next generation asset networks. This is building a bridge between new and old financial worlds.

“We are excited about the possibilities this opens up for businesses that want to realise the benefits of distributed ledger technology, while ensuring their transactions are fast seamless and secure.”

HSBC Singapore is continuing to engage with issuers and investors with a view to building a pipeline of future deals on the platform. In the longer term, the bank also expects DLT to be used more widely in other capital markets globally.