SpareBank 1 SMN today (Thursday) emerged with a senior unsecured transaction that it had been targeting since at least October, when it went on the first of two roadshows, while Stadshypotek priced the first Nordic sterling covered bond on Monday.
A Eu1bn 10 year Terra BoligKreditt covered bond launched yesterday (Wednesday) was only the second jumbo from the Norwegian issuer and its first euro benchmark in the long maturity, which the issuer’s CEO said it had been hoping to tap for some time.
DNB Boligkreditt launched a Eu1.5bn five year deal on Tuesday, but the issuer expects reduced issuance in euros this year as it has lower funding needs and is working towards a return to the dollar market.
Norway’s SpareBank 1 SR Bank sold the first public Nordic euro senior unsecured issue of the year on Monday, a Eu500m seven year deal that is the issuer’s longest benchmark in euros, and SpareBank 1 SMN has announced a roadshow mandate.
Kristian Fiskerstrand, vice president, funding at Terra BoligKreditt, spoke with Nordic Financial Institutions & Covered about the issuer’s funding plans for 2013, a new name for the Terra alliance, and regulatory moves in Norway.
Moody’s has deemed credit positive for covered bonds a Norwegian Ministry of Finance proposal for Norwegian covered bond issuers to be granted limited banking licences, saying that it would increase the likelihood of timely payment for bondholders.
Moody’s put on review for downgrade commercial mortgage backed covered bonds issued by Norway’s SpareBank 1 Næringskreditt on Monday, but affirmed those of SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt and Møre Boligkreditt, while S&P changed the outlook from stable to negative on Finnish issuance from Bank of Åland.
Moody’s concluded a review of five Norwegian regional banks today (Thursday) by downgrading the long term issuer ratings of three savings banks and affirming two, while keeping on review for downgrade the rated members of the SpareBank 1 alliance and cutting SpareBank 1 Gruppen.
DNB raised Eu1bn of prefunding via an opportunistic 10 year euro benchmark covered bond yesterday (Wednesday) that it launched to capitalise on tight spreads and a positive market, according to an official at the issuer, who said that the bank’s deals will be smaller than in the past given declining wholesale funding needs.
Norway’s SpareBank 1 Boligkreditt sold its second Yankee benchmark of the year yesterday (Wednesday), a $1bn (Eu781m/Nkr5.72bn) seven year that was executed against a deteriorating market backdrop but supported by strong lead interest.