Archive for March, 2019

MAPF Performance : March, 2019

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

Malachite Aggressive Preferred Fund’s Net Asset Value per Unit as of the close March 29, 2019, was $8.4778 after a dividend distribution of 0.098523.

Returns to March 29, 2019
Period MAPF BMO-CM “50” Preferred Share Index TXPR*
Total Return
CPD – according to Blackrock
One Month -1.61% -1.16% -0.46% N/A
Three Months -1.28% -0.24% +1.11% N/A
One Year -13.75% -9.23% -6.77% -7.38%
Two Years (annualized) -1.12% -1.28% -0.82% N/A
Three Years (annualized) +9.05% +6.52% +6.23% +5.77%
Four Years (annualized) +0.62% +0.85% +0.29% N/A
Five Years (annualized) +0.94% +0.31% +0.02% -0.40%
Six Years (annualized) +0.57% +0.08% -0.38% N/A
Seven Years (annualized) +1.89% +0.91% +0.61% N/A
Eight Years (annualized) +1.92% +1.53% +1.09% N/A
Nine Years (annualized) +4.07% +2.75% +2.18% N/A
Ten Years (annualized) +7.63% +4.90% +4.03% +3.49%
Eleven Years (annualized) +7.63% +3.04% +2.26%  
Twelve Years (annualized) +6.83% +2.15%    
Thirteen Years (annualized) +6.73 +2.31%    
Fourteen Years (annualized) +6.81% +2.52%    
Fifteen Years (annualized) +6.75% +2.49%    
Sixteen Years (annualized) +8.58% +3.00%    
Seventeen Years (annualized) +7.83% +3.07%    
Eighteen Years (annualized) +8.27% +2.97%    
MAPF returns assume reinvestment of distributions, and are shown after expenses but before fees.
The full name of the BMO-CM “50” index is the BMO Capital Markets “50” Preferred Share Index. It is calculated without accounting for fees.
“TXPR” is the S&P/TSX Preferred Share Index. It is calculated without accounting for fees, but does assume reinvestment of dividends.
CPD Returns are for the NAV and are after all fees and expenses. Reinvestment of dividends is assumed.
Figures for National Bank Preferred Equity Income Fund (formerly Omega Preferred Equity) (which are after all fees and expenses) for 1-, 3- and 12-months are -0.28%, +1.39% and -5.08%, respectively, according to Morningstar after all fees & expenses. Three year performance is +6.27%; five year is +0.97%; ten year is +4.80%
Manulife Preferred Income Class Adv has been terminated by Manulife. The performance of this fund was last reported here in March, 2018.
Figures for Horizons Active Preferred Share ETF (HPR) (which are after all fees and expenses) for 1-, 3- and 12-months are -1.64%, -0.05% & -10.14%, respectively. Three year performance is +5.76%, five-year is +0.55%
Figures for National Bank Preferred Equity Fund (formerly Altamira Preferred Equity Fund) are -1.74%, -0.19% and -10.60% for one-, three- and twelve months, respectively. Three year performance is +5.20%; five-year is -0.31%.

Acccording to the fund’s fact sheet as of June 30, 2016, the fund’s inception date was October 30, 2015. I do not know how they justify this nonsensical statement, but will assume that prior performance is being suppressed in some perfectly legal manner that somebody at National considers ethical.

The last time Altamira Preferred Equity Fund’s performance was reported here was April, 2014; performance under the National Bank banner was first reported here May, 2014.

The figures for the NAV of BMO S&P/TSX Laddered Preferred Share Index ETF (ZPR) is -8.94% for the past twelve months. Two year performance is -1.89%, three year is +6.69%, five year is -1.98%.
Figures for Natixis Canadian Preferred Share Class Series F (formerly NexGen Canadian Preferred Share Tax Managed Fund) are -0.33%, -0.79% and -8.65% for one-, three- and twelve-months, respectively. Three year performance is +4.10%; five-year is +1.33%
Figures for BMO Preferred Share Fund (advisor series) according to Morningstar are -1.87%, -0.94% and -11.18% for the past one-, three- and twelve-months, respectively. Three year performance is +2.35%; five-year is -2.07%.
Figures for PowerShares Canadian Preferred Share Index Class, Series F are -8.53% for the past twelve months. The three-year figure is +6.85%; five years is +0.39%
Figures for the First Asset Preferred Share Investment Trust (PSF.UN) are no longer available since the fund has merged with First Asset Preferred Share ETF (FPR).

Performance for the fund was last reported here in September, 2016; the first report of unavailability was in October, 2016.

Figures for Lysander-Slater Preferred Share Dividend Fund according to Morningstar are -0.80%, +0.78% and -9.67% for the past one, three and twelve months, respectively. Three year performance is +4.85%.
Figures for the Desjardins Canadian Preferred Share Fund A Class, as reported by Morningstar are -0.81%, +0.18% and -9.35% for the past one, three and twelve months, respectively.

MAPF returns assume reinvestment of dividends, and are shown after expenses but before fees. Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. You can lose money investing in Malachite Aggressive Preferred Fund or any other fund. For more information, see the fund’s main page. The fund is available either directly from Hymas Investment Management or through a brokerage account at Odlum Brown Limited.

The preferred share market has suffered a sharp reverse in the past five months, leaving a lot of room for outsized gains. The Seniority Spread (the interest-equivalent yield on reasonably liquid, investment-grade PerpetualDiscounts less the yield on long term corporate bonds) is extremely elevated (chart end-date 2019-3-8)

pl_190308_body_chart_1
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Note that the Seniority Spread was 335bp on March 27. As a good practical example of the spreads between markets, consider that on November 19, CIU issued $385-million of 30-year bonds yielding 3.95%, at a time when issuing Straight Perpetuals would have cost them about 5.75% – a very wide spread even before considering the tax effect.

… and the relationship between five-year Canada yields and yields on investment-grade FixedResets is also well within what I consider ‘decoupled panic’ territory (chart end-date 2019-3-8):

pl_190308_body_chart_5
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In addition, I feel that the yield on five-year Canadas is unsustainably low (it should be the inflation rate plus an increment of … 1%? 1.5%? 2.0%?),and a return to sustainable levels is likely over the medium term.

It seems clear that many market players are, wittingly or not, using FixedResets to speculate on future moves in the Canada 5-Year yield. This is excellent news for those who take market action based on fundamentals and the long term characteristics of the market because nobody can consistently time the markets. The speculators will, over the long run, lose money, handing it over to more sober investors.

FixedReset (Discount) performance on the month was -1.76% vs. PerpetualDiscounts of +3.56% in March; the two classes finally decoupled in mid-November after months of moving in lockstep.:

himi_indexperf_190329
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Floaters took another hit over the month, as they returned -6.10% for March and -30.87% for the past twelve months. But look at the long-term performance:

himi_floaterperf_190329
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Some Assiduous Readers will be interested to observe that the ‘Quantitative Easing’ decline was not as bad as the ‘Credit Crunch’ decline, which took the sector down to the point where the 15-year cumulative total return was negative. I wrote about that at the time and still can’t get over it. Fifteen years!

It seems clear that Floaters are used, wittingly or otherwise, as a vehicle for speculation on the policy rate and Canada Prime, while FixedResets are being used as a vehicle for speculation on the five-year Canada rate. In support of this idea, I present an Implied Volatility analysis of the TRP series of FixedResets, which is comprised of six issues without a Minimum Rate Guarantee and two issues which do have this feature:

impvol_trp_190329
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The two issues with floors, TRP.PR.J (+469, minimum 5.50%) and TRP.PR.K (+385, minimum 4.90%) are $1.63 and an incredible $3.02 rich, respectively, despite the fact that their floor will not become effective unless five-year Canadas dip below 0.81% and 1.05%, respectively. For all the recent gloom, we’re still a long way from those levels!

It may be the speed of the decline in GOC-5 that has triggered apprehension. For instance, on March 27 the GOC-5 yield was 1.43%, while on October 31, 2018, it was at 2.42%, a difference of 99bp. There is a 21-week difference between the two dates; if we examine all the 21-week intervals on a rolling basis from July 1999 to March, 2019, we can create the following histogram:

goc5_21weekchange_190329
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We can tell at a glance that the current decline is extreme, but we can do more than this. There are 34 of these rolling periods with declines in excess of 100bp. As might be expected (given that they are rolling periods) they occur in bunches:

Periods of Steep GOC-5 Declines
From To Count Note
2001-10-17 2001-11-7 4 Tech Wreck, Nortel
2008-3-5 2008-4-9 5 Credit Crunch
2008-12-3 2009-4-1 12 Lehman, Credit Crunch
2011-8-10 2011-10-5 9 European Sovereign Debt Crisis

So these dramatic events account for 30 of the 34 total; the current decline keeps impressive company!

As for the future, of course, it’s one thing to say that ‘spreads are unsustainable and so are government yields’ and it’s quite another to forecast just how and when a more economically sustainable environment will take effect. It could be years. There could be a reversal, particularly if Trump’s international trade policies cause a severe recession or even a depression. And, of course, I could be just plain wrong about the sustainability of the current environment.

Yields on preferred shares of all stripes are extremely high compared to those available from other investments of similar quality. A I told John Heinzl in an eMail interview in late November, the best advice I can offer investors remains Shut up and clip your coupons!

I think that a broad, sustainable rally in FixedResets will require higher five-year Canada yields (or a widespread expectation of them) … and although I’m sure this will happen eventually, it would be foolish to speculate on just when it will happen!

Calculation of MAPF Sustainable Income Per Unit
Month NAVPU Portfolio
Average
YTW
Leverage
Divisor
Securities
Average
YTW
Capital
Gains
Multiplier
Sustainable
Income
per
current
Unit
June, 2007 9.3114 5.16% 1.03 5.01% 1.3240 0.3524
September 9.1489 5.35% 0.98 5.46% 1.3240 0.3773
December, 2007 9.0070 5.53% 0.942 5.87% 1.3240 0.3993
March, 2008 8.8512 6.17% 1.047 5.89% 1.3240 0.3938
June 8.3419 6.034% 0.952 6.338% 1.3240 $0.3993
September 8.1886 7.108% 0.969 7.335% 1.3240 $0.4537
December, 2008 8.0464 9.24% 1.008 9.166% 1.3240 $0.5571
March 2009 $8.8317 8.60% 0.995 8.802% 1.3240 $0.5872
June 10.9846 7.05% 0.999 7.057% 1.3240 $0.5855
September 12.3462 6.03% 0.998 6.042% 1.3240 $0.5634
December 2009 10.5662 5.74% 0.981 5.851% 1.1141 $0.5549
March 2010 10.2497 6.03% 0.992 6.079% 1.1141 $0.5593
June 10.5770 5.96% 0.996 5.984% 1.1141 $0.5681
September 11.3901 5.43% 0.980 5.540% 1.1141 $0.5664
December 2010 10.7659 5.37% 0.993 5.408% 1.0298 $0.5654
March, 2011 11.0560 6.00% 0.994 5.964% 1.0298 $0.6403
June 11.1194 5.87% 1.018 5.976% 1.0298 $0.6453
September 10.2709 6.10%
Note
1.001 6.106% 1.0298 $0.6090
December, 2011 10.0793 5.63%
Note
1.031 5.805% 1.0000 $0.5851
March, 2012 10.3944 5.13%
Note
0.996 5.109% 1.0000 $0.5310
June 10.2151 5.32%
Note
1.012 5.384% 1.0000 $0.5500
September 10.6703 4.61%
Note
0.997 4.624% 1.0000 $0.4934
December, 2012 10.8307 4.24% 0.989 4.287% 1.0000 $0.4643
March, 2013 10.9033 3.87% 0.996 3.886% 1.0000 $0.4237
June 10.3261 4.81% 0.998 4.80% 1.0000 $0.4957
September 10.0296 5.62% 0.996 5.643% 1.0000 $0.5660
December, 2013 9.8717 6.02% 1.008 5.972% 1.0000 $0.5895
March, 2014 10.2233 5.55% 0.998 5.561% 1.0000 $0.5685
June 10.5877 5.09% 0.998 5.100% 1.0000 $0.5395
September 10.4601 5.28% 0.997 5.296% 1.0000 $0.5540
December, 2014 10.5701 4.83% 1.009 4.787% 1.0000 $0.5060
March, 2015 9.9573 4.99% 1.001 4.985% 1.0000 $0.4964
June, 2015 9.4181 5.55% 1.002 5.539% 1.0000 $0.5217
September 7.8140 6.98% 0.999 6.987% 1.0000 $0.5460
December, 2015 8.1379 6.85% 0.997 6.871% 1.0000 $0.5592
March, 2016 7.4416 7.79% 0.998 7.805% 1.0000 $0.5808
June 7.6704 7.67% 1.011 7.587% 1.0000 $0.5819
September 8.0590 7.35% 0.993 7.402% 1.0000 $0.5965
December, 2016 8.5844 7.24% 0.990 7.313% 1.0000 $0.6278
March, 2017 9.3984 6.26% 0.994 6.298% 1.0000 $0.5919
June 9.5313 6.41% 0.998 6.423% 1.0000 $0.6122
September 9.7129 6.56% 0.998 6.573% 1.0000 $0.6384
December, 2017 10.0566 6.06% 1.004 6.036% 1.0000 $0.6070
March, 2018 10.2701 6.22% 1.007 6.177% 1.0000 $0.6344
June 10.2518 6.22% 0.995 6.251% 1.0000 $0.6408
September 10.2965 6.62% 1.018 6.503% 1.0000 $0.6696
December, 2018 8.6875 7.16% 0.997 7.182% 1.0000 $0.6240
March, 2019 8.4778 7.09% 1.007 7.041% 1.0000 $0.5969
NAVPU is shown after quarterly distributions of dividend income and annual distribution of capital gains.
Portfolio YTW includes cash (or margin borrowing), with an assumed interest rate of 0.00%
The Leverage Divisor indicates the level of cash in the account: if the portfolio is 1% in cash, the Leverage Divisor will be 0.99
Securities YTW divides “Portfolio YTW” by the “Leverage Divisor” to show the average YTW on the securities held; this assumes that the cash is invested in (or raised from) all securities held, in proportion to their holdings.
The Capital Gains Multiplier adjusts for the effects of Capital Gains Dividends. On 2009-12-31, there was a capital gains distribution of $1.989262 which is assumed for this purpose to have been reinvested at the final price of $10.5662. Thus, a holder of one unit pre-distribution would have held 1.1883 units post-distribution; the CG Multiplier reflects this to make the time-series comparable. Note that Dividend Distributions are not assumed to be reinvested.
Sustainable Income is the resultant estimate of the fund’s dividend income per current unit, before fees and expenses. Note that a “current unit” includes reinvestment of prior capital gains; a unitholder would have had the calculated sustainable income with only, say, 0.9 units in the past which, with reinvestment of capital gains, would become 1.0 current units.
DeemedRetractibles are comprised of all Straight Perpetuals (both PerpetualDiscount and PerpetualPremium) issued by BMO, BNS, CM, ELF, GWO, HSB, IAG, MFC, NA, RY, SLF and TD, which are not exchangable into common at the option of the company or the regulator (definition refined in May, 2011). These issues are analyzed as if their prospectuses included a requirement to redeem at par on or prior to 2022-1-31 (banks) or the Deemed Maturity date for insurers and insurance holding companies (see below)), in addition to the call schedule explicitly defined. See the Deemed Retractible Review: September 2016 for the rationale behind this analysis.

The same reasoning is also applied to FixedResets from these issuers, other than explicitly defined NVCC from banks.

The Deemed Maturity date for insurers was set at 2022-1-31 at the commencement of the process in February, 2011. It was extended to 2025-1-31 in April, 2013 and to 2030-1-31 in December, 2018
Yields for September, 2011, to January, 2012, were calculated by imposing a cap of 10% on the yields of YLO issues held, in order to avoid their extremely high calculated yields distorting the calculation and to reflect the uncertainty in the marketplace that these yields will be realized. From February to September 2012, yields on these issues have been set to zero. All YLO issues held were sold in October 2012.

These calculations were performed assuming constant contemporary GOC-5 and 3-Month Bill rates, as follows:

Canada Yields Assumed in Calculations
Month-end GOC-5 3-Month Bill
September, 2015 0.78% 0.40%
December, 2015 0.71% 0.46%
March, 2016 0.70% 0.44%
June 0.57% 0.47%
September 0.58% 0.53%
December, 2016 1.16% 0.47%
March, 2017 1.08% 0.55%
June 1.35% 0.69%
September 1.79% 0.97%
December, 2017 1.83% 1.00%
March, 2018 2.06% 1.08%
June 1.95% 1.22%
September 2.33% 1.55%
December, 2018 1.88% 1.65%
March, 2019 1.46% 1.66%

Significant positions were held in NVCC non-compliant regulated FixedReset issues on March 29, 2019; all of these currently have their yields calculated with the presumption that they will be called by the issuers at par prior to 2022-1-31 (banks) or 2030-1-31 (insurers and insurance holding companies) or on a different date (SplitShares, when present in the portfolio) This presents another complication in the calculation of sustainable yield, which also assumes that redemption proceeds will be reinvested at the same rate. It will also be noted that my analysis of likely insurance industry regulation as updated is not given much weight by the market.

I will also note that the sustainable yield calculated above is not directly comparable with any yield calculation currently reported by any other preferred share fund as far as I am aware. The Sustainable Yield depends on:
i) Calculating Yield-to-Worst for each instrument and using this yield for reporting purposes;
ii) Using the contemporary value of Five-Year Canadas to estimate dividends after reset for FixedResets. The assumption regarding the five-year Canada rate has become more important as the proportion of low-spread FixedResets in the portfolio has increased.
iii) Making the assumption that deeply discounted NVCC non-compliant issues from both banks and insurers, both Straight and FixedResets will be redeemed at par on their DeemedMaturity date as discussed above.

MAPF Portfolio Composition : March, 2019

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

Turnover picked up in March to a little under 6% as the continued decline in FixedReset prices relative to Straights continued to make trading out of the latter into the former appear more advantageous.

There is extreme segmentation in the marketplace, with OSFI’s NVCC rule changes in February 2011 having had the effect of splitting the formerly relatively homogeneous Straight Perpetual class of preferreds into three parts:

  • Unaffected Straight Perpetuals
  • DeemedRetractibles explicitly subject to the rules (banks)
  • DeemedRetractibles considered by me, but not (yet!) by the market, to be likely to be explicitly subject to the rules in the future (insurers and insurance holding companies)

This segmentation, and the extreme valuation differences between the segments, has cut down markedly on the opportunities for trading.

To make this more clear, it used to be that there were 70-odd Straight Perpetuals and I was more or less indifferent as to which ones I owned (subject, of course, to issuer concentration concerns and other risk management factors). Thus, if any one of these 70 were to go down in price by – say – $0.25, I would quite often have something in inventory that I’d be willing to swap for it. The segmentation means that I am no longer indifferent; in addition to checking the valuation of a potential buy to other Straights, I also have to check its peer group. This cuts down on the potential for trading.

And, of course, the same segmentation has the same effect on trading opportunities between FixedReset issues.

I have argued for a long time that insurers will become covered by NVCC rules similar to the banks, but regulatory process on the issue is very slow.

As a result of prior delays, I initially extended the Deemed Maturity date for insurers and insurance holding companies by three years (to 2025-1-31), in the expectation that when OSFI finally does provide clarity, they will allow the same degree of lead-in time for these companies as they did for banks. This had a major effect on the durations of preferred shares subject to the change but, fortunately, not much on their calculated yields as most of these issues were either trading near par when the change was made or were trading at sufficient premium that a par call was expected on economic grounds. However, with the declines in the market over the past nine months, the expected capital gain on redemption of the insurance-issued DeemedRetractibles has become an important component of the calculated yield.

I recently extended the DeemedMaturity date for insurance issues by another five years, to 2030-1-31.

The new date has been chosen with the idea that a decision will be made by the IAIS (International Association of Insurance Supervisors) in 2019, and (if favourable) will be implemented with an 11-year grace period, similarly to the banks. We shall see just how accurate these suppositions might be!

I must emphasize that these extensions do not give rise to any desire on my part to alter the fundamentals of my analysis. It is simply a reaction to the excessive time the regulators are taking to discuss the issue.

Sectoral distribution of the MAPF portfolio on March 29 was as follows:

MAPF Sectoral Analysis 2019-3-29
HIMI Indices Sector Weighting YTW ModDur
Ratchet 0% N/A N/A
FixFloat 0% N/A N/A
Floater 0% N/A N/A
OpRet 0% N/A N/A
SplitShare 0% N/A N/A
Interest Rearing 0% N/A N/A
PerpetualPremium 0% N/A N/A
PerpetualDiscount 3.6% 5.39% 14.84
Fixed-Reset Discount 35.8% 5.80% 14.43
Deemed-Retractible 1.9% 6.44% 8.30
FloatingReset 0% N/A N/A
FixedReset Premium 0% N/A N/A
FixedReset Bank non-NVCC 0% N/A N/A
FixedReset Insurance non-NVCC 48.0% 8.10% 8.61
Scraps – Ratchet 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – FixedFloater 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – Floater 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – OpRet 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – SplitShare 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – PerpPrem 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – PerpDisc 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – FR Discount 10.7% 7.02% 12.76
Scraps – DeemedRet 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – FloatingReset 0.7% 8.29% 11.09
Scraps – FR Premium 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – Bank non-NVCC 0% N/A N/A
Scraps – Ins non-NVCC 0% N/A N/A
Cash -0.7% 0.00% 0.00
Total 100% 7.09% 11.44
Totals and changes will not add precisely due to rounding. Cash is included in totals with duration and yield both equal to zero.
The various “Scraps” indices include issues with a DBRS rating of Pfd-3(high) or lower and issues with an Average Trading Value (calculated with HIMIPref™ methodology, which is relatively complex) of less than $25,000. The issues considered “Scraps” are subdivided into indices which reflect those of the main indices.
DeemedRetractibles are comprised of all Straight Perpetuals (both PerpetualDiscount and PerpetualPremium) issued by BMO, BNS, CM, ELF, GWO, HSB, IAG, MFC, NA, RY, SLF and TD, which are not exchangable into common at the option of the company or the regulator. These issues are analyzed as if their prospectuses included a requirement to redeem at par on or prior to 2022-1-31 (banks) or 2030-1-31 (insurers and insurance holding companies), in addition to the call schedule explicitly defined. See the Deemed Retractible Review: September 2016 for the rationale behind this analysis.

Note that the estimate for the time this will become effective for insurers and insurance holding companies was extended by three years in April 2013, due to the delays in OSFI’s providing clarity on the issue and by a further five years in December, 2018.

Calculations of resettable instruments are performed assuming a constant GOC-5 rate of 1.46% and a constant 3-Month Bill rate of 1.66%

The “total” reflects the un-leveraged total portfolio (i.e., cash is included in the portfolio calculations and is deemed to have a duration and yield of 0.00.). MAPF will often have relatively large cash balances, both credit and debit, to facilitate trading. Figures presented in the table have been rounded to the indicated precision.

Credit distribution is:

MAPF Credit Analysis 2019-3-29
DBRS Rating Weighting
Pfd-1 0
Pfd-1(low) 0
Pfd-2(high) 29.0%
Pfd-2 32.1%
Pfd-2(low) 28.2%
Pfd-3(high) 3.2%
Pfd-3 4.3%
Pfd-3(low) 3.2%
Pfd-4(high) 0%
Pfd-4 0%
Pfd-4(low) 0%
Pfd-5(high) 0.7%
Pfd-5 0.0%
Cash -0.7%
Totals will not add precisely due to rounding.
The fund holds a position in AZP.PR.C, which is rated P-5(high) by S&P and is unrated by DBRS; it is included in the Pfd-5(high) total.
A position held in INE.PR.A is not rated by DBRS, but has been included as “Pfd-3” in the above table on the basis of its S&P rating of P-3.

Liquidity Distribution is:

MAPF Liquidity Analysis 2019-3-29
Average Daily Trading Weighting
<$50,000 3.3%
$50,000 – $100,000 69.1%
$100,000 – $200,000 26.0%
$200,000 – $300,000 2.0%
>$300,000 0.4%
Cash -0.7%
Totals will not add precisely due to rounding.

MAPF is, of course, Malachite Aggressive Preferred Fund, a “unit trust” managed by Hymas Investment Management Inc. Further information and links to performance, audited financials and subscription information are available the fund’s web page. The fund may be purchased either directly from Hymas Investment Management or through a brokerage account at Odlum Brown Limited. A “unit trust” is like a regular mutual fund, but is sold by offering memorandum rather than prospectus. This is cheaper, but means subscription is restricted to “accredited investors” (as defined by the Ontario Securities Commission). Fund past performances are not a guarantee of future performance. You can lose money investing in MAPF or any other fund.

A similar portfolio composition analysis has been performed on the Claymore Preferred Share ETF (symbol CPD) (and other funds) as of July 31, 2017, and published in the August, 2017, PrefLetter. It is fair to say:

  • MAPF credit quality is much better
  • MAPF liquidity is lower
  • MAPF Yield is higher
  • Weightings
    • MAPF is much less exposed to Straight Perpetuals
    • Neither portfolio is exposed to Operating Retractibles (there aren’t too many of those any more!)
    • MAPF is equally exposed to SplitShares (that is to say, currently no exposure)
    • MAPF is less exposed to FixFloat / Floater / Ratchet
    • MAPF is significantly higher weighted in FixedResets, with a much greater emphasis on lower-spread and insurance issues

March 29, 2019

Friday, March 29th, 2019
unicorn_190329
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TXPR closed at 627.58, up 0.57% on the day. Volume was 2.48-million, on the high side but nothing special in the context of the past thirty days.

CPD closed at 12.55, up 0.72% on the day. Volume of 94,423 was low in the context of the past thirty days.

ZPR closed at 10.12, up 0.60% on the day. Volume of 474,940 was very high in the context of the past thirty days, second only to March 13, when a stunning 1,007,639 shares changed hands.

Five-year Canada yields were up, up 6bp to 1.52% today, but that’s not sufficient to be considered a glib explanation.

So it was a fine way to close the month, but not enough to save the TXPR total return index, which saw performance of -0.46% in March but (thank heavens for small mercies) +1.11% for the quarter.

HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices
These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices

Values are provisional and are finalized monthly
Index Mean
Current
Yield
(at bid)
Median
YTW
Median
Average
Trading
Value
Median
Mod Dur
(YTW)
Issues Day’s Perf. Index Value
Ratchet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 2.7848 % 2,062.8
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 2.7848 % 3,785.1
Floater 5.68 % 5.83 % 41,833 14.14 3 2.7848 % 2,181.4
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.0645 % 3,282.6
SplitShare 4.88 % 4.50 % 77,421 3.87 8 -0.0645 % 3,920.1
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.0645 % 3,058.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.67 % -9.74 % 62,689 0.09 7 0.1629 % 2,939.6
Perpetual-Discount 5.37 % 5.40 % 85,986 14.65 26 -0.0605 % 3,111.7
FixedReset Disc 5.24 % 5.22 % 193,716 15.10 64 0.8245 % 2,177.4
Deemed-Retractible 5.20 % 5.73 % 96,349 8.18 27 0.1733 % 3,082.4
FloatingReset 4.23 % 3.93 % 42,339 2.71 5 0.9318 % 2,390.5
FixedReset Prem 5.06 % 3.60 % 314,659 2.22 19 0.4293 % 2,579.1
FixedReset Bank Non 1.97 % 4.00 % 147,480 2.74 3 0.2506 % 2,636.7
FixedReset Ins Non 4.98 % 6.35 % 116,194 8.37 22 0.8645 % 2,262.2
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
BAM.PF.F FixedReset Disc -2.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.81
Evaluated at bid price : 18.81
Bid-YTW : 5.78 %
BAM.PF.E FixedReset Disc -1.60 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 17.21
Evaluated at bid price : 17.21
Bid-YTW : 5.90 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset Disc -1.60 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.45
Evaluated at bid price : 18.45
Bid-YTW : 5.11 %
RY.PR.W Perpetual-Discount -1.24 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 24.54
Evaluated at bid price : 24.79
Bid-YTW : 4.99 %
MFC.PR.B Deemed-Retractible -1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.93
Bid-YTW : 6.28 %
PWF.PR.T FixedReset Disc 1.03 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 19.55
Evaluated at bid price : 19.55
Bid-YTW : 4.98 %
MFC.PR.K FixedReset Ins Non 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.45
Bid-YTW : 7.05 %
IFC.PR.F Deemed-Retractible 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.25
Bid-YTW : 5.71 %
BMO.PR.E FixedReset Disc 1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 22.32
Evaluated at bid price : 23.05
Bid-YTW : 4.69 %
HSE.PR.E FixedReset Disc 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 19.55
Evaluated at bid price : 19.55
Bid-YTW : 6.44 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset Disc 1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 11.90
Evaluated at bid price : 11.90
Bid-YTW : 5.71 %
BAM.PF.A FixedReset Disc 1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 21.15
Evaluated at bid price : 21.15
Bid-YTW : 5.40 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset Disc 1.25 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 14.54
Evaluated at bid price : 14.54
Bid-YTW : 5.84 %
SLF.PR.I FixedReset Ins Non 1.26 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.86
Bid-YTW : 6.22 %
W.PR.K FixedReset Prem 1.29 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-01-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.50
Bid-YTW : 3.96 %
TD.PF.K FixedReset Disc 1.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 21.53
Evaluated at bid price : 21.83
Bid-YTW : 4.90 %
GWO.PR.N FixedReset Ins Non 1.32 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.56
Bid-YTW : 8.69 %
PWF.PR.S Perpetual-Discount 1.36 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 22.04
Evaluated at bid price : 22.40
Bid-YTW : 5.43 %
BAM.PR.K Floater 1.37 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 11.80
Evaluated at bid price : 11.80
Bid-YTW : 5.88 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset Ins Non 1.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.53
Bid-YTW : 7.51 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset Ins Non 1.55 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.35
Bid-YTW : 8.17 %
SLF.PR.J FloatingReset 1.55 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.37
Bid-YTW : 9.44 %
PWF.PR.Q FloatingReset 1.56 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 14.30
Evaluated at bid price : 14.30
Bid-YTW : 5.79 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset Disc 1.57 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.75
Evaluated at bid price : 18.75
Bid-YTW : 5.22 %
TRP.PR.D FixedReset Disc 1.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 17.02
Evaluated at bid price : 17.02
Bid-YTW : 5.65 %
CU.PR.C FixedReset Disc 1.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 17.88
Evaluated at bid price : 17.88
Bid-YTW : 5.34 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset Ins Non 1.69 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.00
Bid-YTW : 7.48 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset Ins Non 1.76 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.07
Bid-YTW : 7.10 %
NA.PR.G FixedReset Disc 1.77 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 21.92
Evaluated at bid price : 22.39
Bid-YTW : 4.97 %
CM.PR.P FixedReset Disc 1.78 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 17.71
Evaluated at bid price : 17.71
Bid-YTW : 5.23 %
TRP.PR.C FixedReset Disc 1.91 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 12.77
Evaluated at bid price : 12.77
Bid-YTW : 5.73 %
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset 2.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 14.35
Evaluated at bid price : 14.35
Bid-YTW : 6.26 %
BAM.PF.G FixedReset Disc 2.08 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 19.10
Evaluated at bid price : 19.10
Bid-YTW : 5.68 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset Disc 2.26 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 14.01
Evaluated at bid price : 14.01
Bid-YTW : 5.67 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset Disc 2.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 16.82
Evaluated at bid price : 16.82
Bid-YTW : 5.68 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset Disc 2.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 15.92
Evaluated at bid price : 15.92
Bid-YTW : 5.78 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset Ins Non 2.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.24
Bid-YTW : 7.50 %
TD.PF.E FixedReset Disc 2.68 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 21.10
Evaluated at bid price : 21.10
Bid-YTW : 5.14 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 2.80 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 12.85
Evaluated at bid price : 12.85
Bid-YTW : 5.45 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset Disc 2.92 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 14.08
Evaluated at bid price : 14.08
Bid-YTW : 5.37 %
SLF.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 3.35 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.48
Bid-YTW : 8.96 %
NA.PR.W FixedReset Disc 3.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.00
Bid-YTW : 5.24 %
TRP.PR.G FixedReset Disc 3.62 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.90
Evaluated at bid price : 18.90
Bid-YTW : 5.83 %
MFC.PR.F FixedReset Ins Non 3.68 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.36
Bid-YTW : 8.93 %
BAM.PR.B Floater 4.21 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 11.89
Evaluated at bid price : 11.89
Bid-YTW : 5.83 %
BAM.PR.T FixedReset Disc 9.87 % Just a reversal of yesterday‘s idiocy.

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 16.25
Evaluated at bid price : 16.25
Bid-YTW : 5.75 %

Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
BNS.PR.H FixedReset Prem 95,700 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-01-26
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.06
Bid-YTW : 3.59 %
EMA.PR.H FixedReset Disc 78,000 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 22.58
Evaluated at bid price : 23.50
Bid-YTW : 5.23 %
MFC.PR.R FixedReset Ins Non 65,100 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-03-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.11
Bid-YTW : 4.76 %
VNR.PR.A FixedReset Disc 62,300 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 23.35
Evaluated at bid price : 25.13
Bid-YTW : 4.27 %
BAM.PF.I FixedReset Prem 50,227 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-03-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.30
Bid-YTW : 4.38 %
RY.PR.Z FixedReset Disc 41,450 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.40
Evaluated at bid price : 18.40
Bid-YTW : 5.05 %
There were 37 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
BAM.PF.F FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.81 – 19.54
Spot Rate : 0.7300
Average : 0.4730

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.81
Evaluated at bid price : 18.81
Bid-YTW : 5.78 %

CM.PR.Q FixedReset Disc Quote: 19.91 – 20.54
Spot Rate : 0.6300
Average : 0.4331

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 19.91
Evaluated at bid price : 19.91
Bid-YTW : 5.27 %

TD.PF.C FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.45 – 18.99
Spot Rate : 0.5400
Average : 0.3716

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 18.45
Evaluated at bid price : 18.45
Bid-YTW : 5.11 %

TRP.PR.K FixedReset Disc Quote: 25.18 – 25.62
Spot Rate : 0.4400
Average : 0.2757

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-05-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.18
Bid-YTW : 4.82 %

BAM.PR.Z FixedReset Disc Quote: 20.03 – 20.51
Spot Rate : 0.4800
Average : 0.3181

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 20.03
Evaluated at bid price : 20.03
Bid-YTW : 5.63 %

BAM.PF.E FixedReset Disc Quote: 17.21 – 17.80
Spot Rate : 0.5900
Average : 0.4304

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-29
Maturity Price : 17.21
Evaluated at bid price : 17.21
Bid-YTW : 5.90 %

MAPF 2018 Financial Statements

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

The Financial Statements and related documents for Malachite Aggressive Preferred Fund are now available on the fund’s main page:

Update, 2019-04-02: A typographical error in the Financial Statements has been corrected.

DC.PR.E To Be Converted By Issuer

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

Dundee Corporation has announced:

it has provided notice in accordance with the provisions of the articles of amendment of the Corporation dated February 8, 2016 (the “Articles of Amendment”) that effective May 15, 2019 (the “Conversion Date”) it intends to convert all of the outstanding first preference shares, series 5 (the “Series 5 Shares”) of the Corporation into fully paid, non-assessable and freely tradable class A subordinate voting shares (the “Subordinate Voting Shares”) of the Corporation.

“We believe our decision to convert the Series 5 Shares into class A subordinate voting shares is prudent and aligned with the best interests of the Corporation and its stakeholders,” said Jonathan Goodman, Executive Chairman of the Corporation. “This conversion allows us to maintain financial flexibility and balance sheet strength to support our longer-term strategic objectives.”

The number of Subordinate Voting Shares into which the Series 5 Shares of each registered holder will be converted will be equal to the product of:

(a) the number obtained when:

i. $25.48, being the applicable redemption price of $25.25 per Series 5 Share on the Conversion Date, plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends per Series 5 Share up to but excluding the date fixed for conversion (less any tax required to be deducted and withheld by the Corporation),

is divided by

ii. the greater of: (A) $2.00, and (B) 95% of the weighted average trading price of the Subordinate Voting Shares on the TSX for the 20 consecutive trading days ending on the fourth day prior to the Conversion Date, or, if such fourth day is not a trading day, the immediately preceding trading day (the greater of such amounts being, the “Weighted Price”),

with the result of the calculation being rounded upward to the nearest 1/100 of a Subordinate Voting Share; and

(b) the number of Series 5 Shares of the registered holder being converted.

The Company expects to issue approximately 42 million Subordinate Voting Shares in connection with the conversion of the 3,294,938 outstanding Series 5 shares.

Where a fraction of a Subordinate Voting Share would otherwise be issuable on conversion of Series 5 Shares, the Corporation will adjust such fractional interest by payment by cheque in an amount equal to the then market price of such fractional interest computed on the basis of the Weighted Price, as determined in respect of the Conversion Date.

From and after the Conversion Date, the registered holders of Series 5 Shares so converted will cease to be entitled to dividends on such Series 5 Shares or to exercise any of the rights of holders of Series 5 Shares in respect of such shares except the right to receive therefor the whole number of Subordinate Voting Shares to which they are entitled and payment with respect to a fraction of a Subordinate Voting Share as contemplated in the Articles of Amendment, and the registered holder thereof will become a registered holder of Subordinate Voting Shares of record, effective on the Conversion Date.

ISSUER BID

The Company also announced that in connection with the conversion of the Series 5 Shares, it is considering the implementation of a normal course issuer bid or a substantial issuer bid in respect of its Subordinate Voting Shares, which would commence, subject to board of director and regulatory approvals, following the Conversion Date.

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell Subordinate Voting Shares. Any solicitation to sell or offer to buy Subordinate Voting Shares will only be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

DC.PR.E came into existence by an exchange from DC.PR.C, after an initial proposal in November, 2015 that attracted some press coverage and an exhortation to consider exercising dissent rights. This led to reconsideration by Dundee despite a rather peculiar endorsement from a proxy advisor and led to a sweeter offer that attracted further commentary. Finally, the company announced a ringing endorsement from the shareholders … or perhaps it would be better to say “the shareholders’ advisors”, since the proxy solicitation fee was so high! DC.PR.E commenced trading 2016-2-12.

Accellerating losses in 2018 led to shareholder pressure for a means to avoid a redemption of the issue for cash prior to the scheduled 2019-6-30 retraction date.

I note the sentence in the press release that the company “expects to issue approximately 42 million Subordinate Voting Shares in connection with the conversion of the 3,294,938 outstanding Series 5 shares.” I note that the company has 57,985,136 shares of DC.A outstanding … fortunately, however, the founding family controls the company through multiple voting shares, so this destruction of shareholder value won’t have as much adverse effect on them as might otherwise be the case.

March 28, 2019

Thursday, March 28th, 2019

There was a late afternoon rally in the market yesterday which I mentioned but did not even guess at a cause. Assiduous Reader AB writes in and says:

TD issued a note tied to ZPR. They had to hedge some of their risk into the close.

He even provided a link to the product description. There’s an ongoing link to the prospectus, which states:

As of the date of this Pricing Supplement, the Bank estimates that the value of the Notes is $97.10 per $100 in principal amount.

There are a lot of moving parts in the valuation of this note and I’m not even going to try to come up with my own valuation. But the issue sold out, $20-million worth, so there’s clearly some speculative interest in buying at these levels.

HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices
These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices

Values are provisional and are finalized monthly
Index Mean
Current
Yield
(at bid)
Median
YTW
Median
Average
Trading
Value
Median
Mod Dur
(YTW)
Issues Day’s Perf. Index Value
Ratchet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -3.1071 % 2,006.9
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -3.1071 % 3,682.5
Floater 5.83 % 5.96 % 41,243 13.96 3 -3.1071 % 2,122.3
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1789 % 3,284.7
SplitShare 4.87 % 4.45 % 75,064 3.87 8 0.1789 % 3,922.7
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1789 % 3,060.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.67 % -3.59 % 61,997 0.08 7 -0.0393 % 2,934.9
Perpetual-Discount 5.36 % 5.42 % 86,145 14.64 26 -0.0043 % 3,113.6
FixedReset Disc 5.28 % 5.27 % 194,193 14.99 64 0.1287 % 2,159.6
Deemed-Retractible 5.21 % 5.74 % 100,210 8.19 27 -0.1479 % 3,077.1
FloatingReset 4.27 % 4.11 % 41,066 2.71 5 -0.2951 % 2,368.4
FixedReset Prem 5.08 % 3.83 % 314,807 2.22 19 -0.1264 % 2,568.1
FixedReset Bank Non 1.98 % 4.04 % 146,938 2.74 3 0.1255 % 2,630.1
FixedReset Ins Non 5.03 % 6.37 % 117,981 8.37 22 0.4075 % 2,242.8
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
BAM.PR.T FixedReset Disc -7.97 % A nonsensical quote provided at high cost by Nonsense Central, as the issue traded 1400 shares today in a range of 16.00-03 before being quoted at 14.79-16.25. The closing price was 16.03.

I have not checked whether the lamentable state of the quote is due to inadequate Toronto Stock Exchange reporting or inadequate Toronto Stock Exchange supervision of market-makers.

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 14.79
Evaluated at bid price : 14.79
Bid-YTW : 6.32 %

BAM.PR.B Floater -5.15 % A nonsensical quote provided at high cost by Nonsense Central, as the issue traded 3212 shares today in a range of 11.99-08 before being quoted at 11.41-00. The closing price was 12.00.

I have not checked whether the lamentable state of the quote is due to inadequate Toronto Stock Exchange reporting or inadequate Toronto Stock Exchange supervision of market-makers.

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 11.41
Evaluated at bid price : 11.41
Bid-YTW : 6.08 %

TD.PF.E FixedReset Disc -2.42 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 20.55
Evaluated at bid price : 20.55
Bid-YTW : 5.28 %
PWF.PR.A Floater -2.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 12.50
Evaluated at bid price : 12.50
Bid-YTW : 5.60 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset Ins Non -2.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.10
Bid-YTW : 8.36 %
BAM.PR.K Floater -2.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 11.64
Evaluated at bid price : 11.64
Bid-YTW : 5.96 %
CCS.PR.C Deemed-Retractible -1.95 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.65
Bid-YTW : 6.24 %
GWO.PR.S Deemed-Retractible -1.82 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 5.63 %
PWF.PR.S Perpetual-Discount -1.52 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 21.82
Evaluated at bid price : 22.10
Bid-YTW : 5.51 %
PWF.PR.K Perpetual-Discount -1.41 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 22.73
Evaluated at bid price : 23.02
Bid-YTW : 5.45 %
NA.PR.G FixedReset Disc -1.35 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 21.65
Evaluated at bid price : 22.00
Bid-YTW : 5.07 %
BMO.PR.S FixedReset Disc -1.32 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 18.75
Evaluated at bid price : 18.75
Bid-YTW : 5.12 %
HSE.PR.C FixedReset Disc -1.25 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 18.15
Evaluated at bid price : 18.15
Bid-YTW : 6.36 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset Disc -1.23 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 13.68
Evaluated at bid price : 13.68
Bid-YTW : 5.53 %
BAM.PR.X FixedReset Disc -1.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 13.70
Evaluated at bid price : 13.70
Bid-YTW : 5.80 %
PWF.PR.L Perpetual-Discount -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 23.25
Evaluated at bid price : 23.55
Bid-YTW : 5.49 %
RY.PR.O Perpetual-Discount 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 23.89
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
BAM.PF.F FixedReset Disc 1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 19.30
Evaluated at bid price : 19.30
Bid-YTW : 5.64 %
MFC.PR.M FixedReset Ins Non 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.62
Bid-YTW : 7.32 %
MFC.PR.I FixedReset Ins Non 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.60
Bid-YTW : 6.11 %
SLF.PR.I FixedReset Ins Non 1.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.60
Bid-YTW : 6.37 %
BMO.PR.E FixedReset Disc 1.33 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 22.18
Evaluated at bid price : 22.80
Bid-YTW : 4.75 %
MFC.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 1.40 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.00
Bid-YTW : 6.32 %
IAF.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non 1.47 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.70
Bid-YTW : 6.37 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset Ins Non 1.65 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.28
Bid-YTW : 7.68 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset Ins Non 1.67 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.70
Bid-YTW : 7.68 %
VNR.PR.A FixedReset Disc 17.60 % In response to the proposed acquisition at 25.00.

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 23.32
Evaluated at bid price : 25.06
Bid-YTW : 4.29 %

Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
VNR.PR.A FixedReset Disc 362,380 In response to the proposed acquisition at 25.00.

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 23.32
Evaluated at bid price : 25.06
Bid-YTW : 4.29 %

SLF.PR.D Deemed-Retractible 207,600 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.10
Bid-YTW : 6.51 %
GWO.PR.S Deemed-Retractible 89,300 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 5.63 %
GWO.PR.P Deemed-Retractible 87,400 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-03-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.98
Bid-YTW : 5.44 %
RY.PR.O Perpetual-Discount 85,600 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 23.89
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
RY.PR.S FixedReset Disc 82,910 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 21.64
Evaluated at bid price : 22.00
Bid-YTW : 4.68 %
There were 39 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
MFC.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non Quote: 21.00 – 25.00
Spot Rate : 4.0000
Average : 2.8193

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.00
Bid-YTW : 6.32 %

BAM.PR.T FixedReset Disc Quote: 14.79 – 16.25
Spot Rate : 1.4600
Average : 0.8857

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 14.79
Evaluated at bid price : 14.79
Bid-YTW : 6.32 %

TD.PF.B FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.55 – 19.65
Spot Rate : 1.1000
Average : 0.6569

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 18.55
Evaluated at bid price : 18.55
Bid-YTW : 5.11 %

IFC.PR.A FixedReset Ins Non Quote: 16.10 – 16.88
Spot Rate : 0.7800
Average : 0.4449

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.10
Bid-YTW : 8.36 %

TRP.PR.G FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.24 – 19.35
Spot Rate : 1.1100
Average : 0.8310

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 18.24
Evaluated at bid price : 18.24
Bid-YTW : 6.04 %

BAM.PR.B Floater Quote: 11.41 – 12.00
Spot Rate : 0.5900
Average : 0.3588

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-28
Maturity Price : 11.41
Evaluated at bid price : 11.41
Bid-YTW : 6.08 %

VNR.PR.A To Be Acquired At $25.00 Under Plan of Arrangement

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Valener Inc. has announced that it:

and Noverco Inc. (“Noverco”), the controlling partner of Energir, L.P., announced today that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) pursuant to which Noverco will acquire indirectly all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Valener (the “Common Shares”) for $26.00 per Common Share in cash and all of the issued and outstanding Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series A of Valener (the “Preferred Shares”) for $25.00 per Preferred Share in cash plus accrued and unpaid dividends (the “Arrangement”).

Transaction Highlights

  • Cash consideration of $26.00 per Common Share represents a premium of approximately 30% to the closing price per Common Share on December 12, 2018 (the day prior to Noverco’s initial approach to Valener regarding a potential transaction) and approximately 10% to the all-time high closing price per Common Share of $23.67 observed on March 22, 2019.
  • Cash consideration of $25.00 per Preferred Share represents a premium of approximately 18% to the closing price per Preferred Share on December 12, 2018.
  • The acquisition of all of the outstanding Common Shares and Preferred Shares implies a total enterprise value for Valener of approximately $1.2 billion, including the assumption of existing indebtedness.
  • 100% cash consideration provides immediate liquidity and certainty of value for holders of Common Shares and holders of Preferred Shares.
  • BMO Capital Markets and TD Securities provided opinions that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein, the cash consideration to be received is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of Common Shares and the holders of Preferred Shares; further, cash consideration to be received by holders of Common Shares falls within the fair market value range of $24.00 to $28.50 per Common Share established by TD Securities as independent valuator.


Under the Arrangement, it is proposed that the Preferred Shares will also be acquired by Noverco. Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, holders of Preferred Shares will be asked to vote on the Arrangement as a separate class. However, completion of the Arrangement is not conditional on receipt of such approval. If the requisite approval from holders of Preferred Shares is not obtained, such Preferred Shares will be excluded from the Arrangement and remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. For the Preferred Shares to be included in the Arrangement, the resolution approving the Arrangement must be approved by holders of not less than 66 2/3% of Preferred Shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting.

That’s a nice little windfall for holders of VNR.PR.A, which closed at 21.31-73 today, after trading 310 shares!

The issue commenced trading 2012-6-6 as a FixedReset, 4.35%+281, after being announced 2012-5-15. It reset to 4.62% effective 2017-10-15. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion to FloatingResets. The issue is tracked by HIMIPref™ and has been assigned to the FixedReset subindex.

March 27, 2019

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Some illuminating charts from a Statistics Canada study:

debttoincomestatscan
Click for Big
changedebttoincomestatscan
Click for Big
wealthstatscan
Click for Big

Meanwhile, PrefBlog’s Department Studying Artificial Intelligence Because There’s Not Bloody Much Of The Real Kind has learned something of interest to insurers:

The predictions of early death that were made by AI algorithms were “significantly more accurate” than predictions delivered by a model that did not use machine learning, lead study author Dr. Stephen Weng, an assistant professor of epidemiology and data science at the University of Nottingham (UN) in the U.K., said in a statement.

It was an interesting day for the Canadian preferred share market, which steadily fell until 2:15pm, down 45bp, when the cavalry arrived and the index finished with a gain of 8bp on the day.

txpr_190327
Click for Big

PerpetualDiscounts now yield 5.40%, equivalent to 7.02% interest at the standard equivalency factor of 1.3x. Long corporates now yield 3.66%, so the pre-tax interest-equivalent spread (in this context, the “Seniority Spread”) is now about 335bp, a sharp narrowing from the 350bp reported March 20.

HIMIPref™ Preferred Indices
These values reflect the December 2008 revision of the HIMIPref™ Indices

Values are provisional and are finalized monthly
Index Mean
Current
Yield
(at bid)
Median
YTW
Median
Average
Trading
Value
Median
Mod Dur
(YTW)
Issues Day’s Perf. Index Value
Ratchet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -1.6354 % 2,071.2
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -1.6354 % 3,800.6
Floater 5.65 % 5.76 % 42,018 14.26 3 -1.6354 % 2,190.3
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.0397 % 3,278.9
SplitShare 4.87 % 4.57 % 78,137 3.88 8 -0.0397 % 3,915.7
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.0397 % 3,055.2
Perpetual-Premium 5.66 % -11.00 % 62,970 0.09 7 0.1572 % 2,936.0
Perpetual-Discount 5.36 % 5.40 % 79,909 14.66 26 0.4300 % 3,113.7
FixedReset Disc 5.29 % 5.27 % 197,244 14.97 64 -0.3692 % 2,156.8
Deemed-Retractible 5.21 % 5.75 % 99,020 8.20 27 0.3806 % 3,081.7
FloatingReset 4.25 % 4.04 % 40,508 2.72 5 -0.5003 % 2,375.4
FixedReset Prem 5.07 % 3.73 % 319,716 2.22 19 0.2101 % 2,571.3
FixedReset Bank Non 1.98 % 4.12 % 147,250 2.74 3 0.0977 % 2,626.8
FixedReset Ins Non 5.05 % 6.53 % 113,487 8.35 22 -0.3190 % 2,233.7
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
SLF.PR.G FixedReset Ins Non -3.71 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.01
Bid-YTW : 9.34 %
MFC.PR.F FixedReset Ins Non -3.66 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 13.97
Bid-YTW : 9.25 %
TRP.PR.G FixedReset Disc -3.48 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.30
Evaluated at bid price : 18.30
Bid-YTW : 6.02 %
SLF.PR.J FloatingReset -2.86 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.28
Bid-YTW : 9.51 %
GWO.PR.N FixedReset Ins Non -2.79 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 14.29
Bid-YTW : 8.90 %
HSE.PR.C FixedReset Disc -2.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.38
Evaluated at bid price : 18.38
Bid-YTW : 6.28 %
RY.PR.M FixedReset Disc -2.43 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 19.68
Evaluated at bid price : 19.68
Bid-YTW : 5.19 %
BAM.PF.F FixedReset Disc -2.30 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 19.10
Evaluated at bid price : 19.10
Bid-YTW : 5.69 %
BAM.PR.K Floater -2.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 11.88
Evaluated at bid price : 11.88
Bid-YTW : 5.84 %
RY.PR.J FixedReset Disc -2.11 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 19.99
Evaluated at bid price : 19.99
Bid-YTW : 5.27 %
PWF.PR.A Floater -2.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 12.78
Evaluated at bid price : 12.78
Bid-YTW : 5.48 %
CM.PR.O FixedReset Disc -1.94 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.28
Evaluated at bid price : 18.28
Bid-YTW : 5.17 %
TD.PF.C FixedReset Disc -1.89 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.64
Evaluated at bid price : 18.64
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
BAM.PF.D Perpetual-Discount -1.59 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 21.65
Evaluated at bid price : 21.65
Bid-YTW : 5.69 %
CM.PR.P FixedReset Disc -1.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 17.38
Evaluated at bid price : 17.38
Bid-YTW : 5.33 %
SLF.PR.H FixedReset Ins Non -1.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.00
Bid-YTW : 7.87 %
BMO.PR.E FixedReset Disc -1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 21.99
Evaluated at bid price : 22.50
Bid-YTW : 4.82 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset Ins Non -1.08 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.41
Bid-YTW : 7.88 %
TD.PF.B FixedReset Disc -1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.45
Evaluated at bid price : 18.45
Bid-YTW : 5.14 %
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset -1.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 14.07
Evaluated at bid price : 14.07
Bid-YTW : 6.39 %
GWO.PR.G Deemed-Retractible 1.01 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.04
Bid-YTW : 5.71 %
PWF.PR.Z Perpetual-Discount 1.01 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 23.53
Evaluated at bid price : 23.89
Bid-YTW : 5.46 %
SLF.PR.D Deemed-Retractible 1.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.05
Bid-YTW : 6.53 %
SLF.PR.A Deemed-Retractible 1.13 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.35
Bid-YTW : 6.13 %
BMO.PR.Y FixedReset Disc 1.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 20.70
Evaluated at bid price : 20.70
Bid-YTW : 5.06 %
PWF.PR.S Perpetual-Discount 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 22.06
Evaluated at bid price : 22.44
Bid-YTW : 5.42 %
TD.PF.E FixedReset Disc 1.35 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 21.06
Evaluated at bid price : 21.06
Bid-YTW : 5.15 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset Disc 1.41 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 14.36
Evaluated at bid price : 14.36
Bid-YTW : 5.91 %
PWF.PR.L Perpetual-Discount 1.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 23.53
Evaluated at bid price : 23.80
Bid-YTW : 5.43 %
SLF.PR.C Deemed-Retractible 1.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.12
Bid-YTW : 6.49 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset Ins Non 1.60 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.46
Bid-YTW : 8.09 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset Disc 1.64 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 11.80
Evaluated at bid price : 11.80
Bid-YTW : 5.75 %
GWO.PR.H Deemed-Retractible 1.77 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.00
Bid-YTW : 5.88 %
CU.PR.D Perpetual-Discount 2.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 22.88
Evaluated at bid price : 23.14
Bid-YTW : 5.34 %
PWF.PR.K Perpetual-Discount 3.78 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 23.09
Evaluated at bid price : 23.35
Bid-YTW : 5.37 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
SLF.PR.A Deemed-Retractible 584,603 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.35
Bid-YTW : 6.13 %
GWO.PR.I Deemed-Retractible 306,985 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.25
Bid-YTW : 6.47 %
PWF.PR.S Perpetual-Discount 219,640 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 22.06
Evaluated at bid price : 22.44
Bid-YTW : 5.42 %
GWO.PR.L Deemed-Retractible 211,635 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2019-04-26
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.30
Bid-YTW : -9.59 %
GWO.PR.M Deemed-Retractible 116,800 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2019-04-30
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.39
Bid-YTW : -11.36 %
PWF.PR.F Perpetual-Discount 102,371 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 24.08
Evaluated at bid price : 24.34
Bid-YTW : 5.47 %
SLF.PR.B Deemed-Retractible 101,850 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.42
Bid-YTW : 6.14 %
There were 39 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
IFC.PR.E Deemed-Retractible Quote: 23.80 – 24.91
Spot Rate : 1.1100
Average : 0.7785

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2030-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.80
Bid-YTW : 5.83 %

EMA.PR.F FixedReset Disc Quote: 19.15 – 19.79
Spot Rate : 0.6400
Average : 0.4085

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 19.15
Evaluated at bid price : 19.15
Bid-YTW : 5.42 %

TRP.PR.G FixedReset Disc Quote: 18.30 – 19.05
Spot Rate : 0.7500
Average : 0.5251

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 18.30
Evaluated at bid price : 18.30
Bid-YTW : 6.02 %

TD.PF.K FixedReset Disc Quote: 21.61 – 22.08
Spot Rate : 0.4700
Average : 0.3053

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 21.32
Evaluated at bid price : 21.61
Bid-YTW : 4.95 %

BAM.PR.R FixedReset Disc Quote: 15.54 – 16.20
Spot Rate : 0.6600
Average : 0.4975

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 15.54
Evaluated at bid price : 15.54
Bid-YTW : 5.92 %

CU.PR.F Perpetual-Discount Quote: 20.90 – 21.40
Spot Rate : 0.5000
Average : 0.3455

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2049-03-27
Maturity Price : 20.90
Evaluated at bid price : 20.90
Bid-YTW : 5.44 %

LBS.PR.A To Get Bigger

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Brompton Group has announced:

Life & Banc Split Corp. (the “Company”) is pleased to announce it is undertaking an overnight treasury offering of class A and preferred shares (the “Class A Shares” and “Preferred Shares”, respectively).

The sales period for this overnight offering will end at 9:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, March 28, 2019. The offering is expected to close on or about April 4, 2019 and is subject to certain closing conditions including approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”).

The Class A Shares will be offered at a price of $8.10 per Class A Share for a distribution rate of 14.8% on the issue price, and the Preferred Shares will be offered at a price of $10.00 per Preferred Share for a yield to maturity of 5.46%.(1) The closing price on the TSX for each of the Class A and Preferred Shares on March 26, 2019 was $8.23 and $10.17, respectively. The Class A and Preferred Share offering prices were determined so as to be non-dilutive to the most recently calculated net asset value per unit of the Company (calculated as at March 25, 2019), as adjusted for dividends and certain expenses to be accrued prior to or upon settlement of the offering.

The Company invests in a portfolio (the “Portfolio”) consisting of common shares of the six largest Canadian banks and the four major publicly traded Canadian life insurance companies:

The Bank of Nova Scotia Royal Bank of Canada
National Bank of Canada Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank Great-West Lifeco Inc.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Manulife Financial Corporation
Bank of Montreal Sun Life Financial Inc.

The investment objectives for the Class A Shares are to provide holders with regular monthly cash distributions targeted to be $0.10 per Class A Share and to provide the opportunity for growth in the net asset value per Class A Share.

The investment objectives for the Preferred Shares are to provide holders with fixed cumulative preferential quarterly cash distributions, currently in the amount of $0.13625 per Preferred Share ($0.545 per annum), and to return the original issue price plus accrued dividends (if any) to holders of Preferred Shares on October 30, 2023.

The syndicate of agents for the offering is being led by RBC Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank Financial Inc. and Scotiabank.

The sum of the Capital Units NAVPS and the Preferred Share NAVPS is 17.79, while the new Whole Units are offered at 18.10, so the premium is about 1.7% – smaller than most offerings we’ve seen in the past while, but still worth doing (especially if you earn management fees on the total)!

Update, 2019-3-28: The offering went well:

Life & Banc Split Corp. (the “Company”) is pleased to announce a successful overnight treasury offering of class A and preferred shares (the “Class A Shares” and “Preferred Shares”, respectively). Gross proceeds of the offering are expected to be approximately $25.5 million. The offering is expected to close on or about April 4, 2019 and is subject to certain closing conditions including approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”). The Company has granted the Agents (as defined below) an over-allotment option, exercisable for 30 days following the closing date of the offering, to purchase up to an additional 15% of the number of Class A Shares and Preferred Shares issued at the closing of the offering.

AZP Now Outlook-Positive, Says S&P

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019

Standard & Poor’s has announced:

  • •Atlantic Power Corp.’s (APC) leverage improved in 2018 and we believe the Boston-based publicly traded power generation company’s deleveraging trend is likely to continue, supported by the predictability of cash flows from power purchase agreements (PPAs) in the portfolio.
  • •We expect APC to complete the acquisition of two biomass projects in South Carolina with long-term PPAs during the second half of 2019, which will help mitigate some recontracting risk.
  • •S&P Global Ratings is affirming our ‘B+’ issuer credit rating, our ‘BB-‘ issue-level rating on APC’s senior term loan B, senior revolving credit facility, and medium-term notes, and our ‘CCC+’ issue-level rating on the preferred shares.
  • •Our ‘2’ recovery rating on all debt tranches is unchanged, indicating our expectation for substantial recovery (70%-90%; rounded estimate: 80%) in the event of a default.
  • •The positive outlook reflects a possibility that we could upgrade APC by one notch because we believe the company can achieve our adjusted debt to EBITDA of below 5x in the next 12 months.


If APC meets our adjusted debt-to-EBITDA projection of below 5x, it would likely be supported by deleveraging through excess cash flow sweep on the term loan B in line with management’s guidance and by demonstrating its ability to continue extending expiring PPAs. The rating could also improve if the company continues to pursue growth opportunities while maintaining S&P Global Ratings’ adjusted leverage.

We could revise the outlook back to stable if our adjusted debt to EBITDA indicates an increasing trend above 5x on a sustained basis. This may be due to the inability to recontract expiring or obtain new PPAs, aggressive growth strategy through incremental debt issuances, or higher-than-expected operating costs to maintain power assets in the portfolio, creating volatility in cash flows available for debt service.

Affected issues are AZP.PR.A, AZP.PR.B and AZP.PR.C.