Danske Bank could soon emerge with the first Nordic CoCo transaction, after having yesterday (Wednesday) announced that it will next week meet with investors in connection with a potential euro Additional Tier 1.
Danske and DNB released fourth quarter results today (Thursday) that reflect “various stages of recovery” while reporting by Handelsbanken and SEB yesterday confirm the strength of the Swedish banking sector, said a KeplerCheuvreux analyst.
Moody’s revised the outlook on Danske Bank’s rating from stable to positive on Tuesday because it expects the bank’s profitability to continue to improve while a high level of capital and a prudent risk profile are still maintained.
Danske Bank sold Dkr5.55bn (Eu744m, $1.01bn) equivalent of Tier 2 capital across five local Nordic currency transactions in fixed and floating rate format on Tuesday, which an official at the issuer said was an “impressive” size that reflected positively on the depth of its local markets.
Danske Bank is exploring investor interest in Tier 2 debt in the three Nordic currencies and depending on feedback could launch a deal, which would be its second Tier 2 issuance this year, after a September deal in euros.
Danske Bank achieved a participation rate of over 90% on a tender offer it launched on 18 September for a $1bn (Eu748m, Dkr5.58bn) 7.125% 25 year non-call five Tier 2 instrument, it announced yesterday (Wednesday).
Danske Bank sold Eu1bn (Dkr7.46bn) of Tier 2 notes on Tuesday, after last Wednesday having launched a tender offer for a Tier 2 instrument that had lost favourable equity treatment from Standard & Poor’s.
Moody’s has upgraded Swedbank because it considers that the bank’s credit profile has strengthened, and Fitch revised the outlook on Danske Bank from negative to stable due to lower risk from its Ireland exposure.
Danske Bank’s head of group treasury has played down reports that the Danish group is going to limit covered bond issuance as a percentage of total funding, but said it will keep an eye on the level given the regulatory focus on the topic.
Danske Bank launched a Dkr7.15bn (Eu958m) rights issue on Tuesday as part of a strategy that includes an ambition to achieve upgrades of at least one notch to its credit ratings as soon as possible.