Mexico · Markets

Mexico’s second-largest bank has tapped global markets to shore up its capital. Banorte capital notes worth US$1.35 billion will strengthen the lender’s buffers under international banking rules.

Grupo Financiero Banorte issued the perpetual notes in two series of Additional Tier 1 instruments, designed to reinforce regulatory capital under Basel III standards, per Mexico Business News.

How the deal is structured

The sale came in two parts: a US$600 million tranche callable after 6.5 years, carrying a fixed 8.00% coupon, and a US$750 million tranche callable after 10 years at 8.45%. Both are perpetual, meaning they have no fixed maturity, a feature that lets them count as core loss-absorbing capital.

Crucially for existing investors, the instruments strengthen capital without issuing new equity, so they do not dilute shareholders. Rating agencies placed the notes below investment grade, with Moody’s at Ba3 and S&P at BB-, reflecting the loss-absorbing nature of the securities rather than the bank’s overall standing.

Why it matters

Basel III requires banks to hold thick capital cushions that can absorb losses in a crisis. By raising this hybrid debt, Banorte tops up those buffers while keeping its equity base intact, a routine but sizeable piece of balance-sheet management for one of Mexico’s most important banks.

For foreign investors, a large, well-subscribed issue is also a signal that Mexican bank credit remains in demand despite wider trade and currency turbulence.

What Grupo Financiero Banorte does. Grupo Financiero Banorte, S.A.B. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of banking and financial products and services in Mexico and internationally. It offers retail banking services, including checking and deposit accounts; credit and debit cards; mortgage, car, payroll, and personal loans; SME loans; payroll accounts; and car, home, life,…

Why banks sell this kind of debt

Banks are required to keep a cushion of capital that can absorb losses if loans go bad, under global rules known as Basel III. The notes Banorte just sold count toward that cushion. Their trick is that they behave a bit like shares in a crisis: if the bank ran into serious trouble, these notes could take losses first, which is exactly why regulators let them count as core capital. Selling them lets Banorte thicken its safety buffer without issuing new stock that would dilute existing shareholders.

The deal came in two parts totaling US$1.35 billion, with annual coupons of 8.00% and 8.45%. Those are high rates, and that is the point: investors are paid well because they are taking on more risk than they would with an ordinary bond. Strong demand for the sale, despite trade and currency jitters around Mexico, signaled that big investors still have confidence in one of the country’s largest banks.

What it means for customers

For everyday account holders, a bigger capital buffer is reassuring rather than something they will notice day to day. It means the bank is better prepared to keep lending and to weather a downturn, which is good news for a lender that sits at the center of Mexico’s financial system. Mexican banks came through recent global shocks in relatively solid shape, and moves like this one are part of how they stay that way, building reserves in good times so they are ready for the bad ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Banorte raise?

US$1.35 billion in perpetual Additional Tier 1 capital notes, split into a US$600 million tranche at 8.00% and a US$750 million tranche at 8.45%.

What are the notes for?

To strengthen regulatory capital under Basel III and absorb losses in periods of stress, without diluting existing shareholders.

How were they rated?

Moody’s rated the securities Ba3 and S&P Global assigned BB-, ratings that reflect their loss-absorbing structure.