Jyske Bank sold a debut €500m fixed rate senior unsecured benchmark bond yesterday (Thursday), and an official at Jyske explained that it had moved away from its previously preferred FRN format because of a changing regulatory environment. SBAB on Monday sold its first fixed rate senior issue in two years.
SCBC launched the first euro benchmark covered bond of the year from Sweden on Tuesday, attracting EUR1.4bn of orders for a EUR1bn (SEK9.28bn) five year, and bankers said the high quality issue appealed to risk-off investors after volatility had returned to financial markets.
Swedish Covered Bond Corporation (SCBC) adjusted its pricing expectations in the face of a widening market when printing a Eu750m five year covered bond on Monday, according to an official at the issuer, who said the outcome was a strong result in difficult conditions.
SEB took advantage of a window of stability early this week to issue a Eu1bn (Skr9.36bn) seven year covered bond on Tuesday, but both it and SCBC, which launched a Eu500m seven year into a deteriorating market on Thursday, had to revise their pricing expectations.
Moody’s noted that the soft bullet mechanism used by SCBC for the first time on a Eu1bn covered bond launched on Tuesday of last week (30 September) reduces fire-sale risk associated with covered bonds in the event of default, which is the major driver of cover pool losses.
SCBC sold its first euro benchmark in three and a half years on Tuesday, a Eu1bn (Skr9.1bn) seven year that is understood to be the first soft bullet covered bond out of Sweden, and an official at the issuer said it will now be returning to the euro-denominated market on a yearly basis.
We spoke to SBAB head of investor relations Louise Bergström after the launch of its recent senior unsecured benchmark, and discussed the issuer’s overall funding plans with respect to ALM, covered bonds and regulation.
Sweden’s SBAB launched a Eu750m seven year senior unsecured transaction last Thursday (29 August) and an official at the issuer said it contributes to the bank’s goal of extending its maturity profile and was timed to take advantage of strong market momentum.
Per Tunestam, treasurer, SBAB spoke to Nordic FIs & Covered after the launch of it’s senior unsecured benchmark this week, discussing modifications to its funding strategy and new regulations.
Strong increases in deposit volumes were highlights of full year 2012 results reported by Sweden’s SBAB Bank and Länsförsäkringar Bank last week, with SBAB trebling deposits year-on-year and moving towards its goal of achieving a more balanced funding mix.