Category: Issue Comments

Issue Comments

RY.PR.J To Be Redeemed

Royal Bank of Canada has announced:

its intention to redeem all of its issued and outstanding Non-Viability Contingent Capital (NVCC) Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series BD (Series BD shares) (TSX: RY.PR.J) on May 24, 2025, for cash at a redemption price of $25.00 per share to be paid on May 26, 2025.

There are 24,000,000 Series BD shares outstanding, representing $600 million of capital. The redemptions will be financed out of the general corporate funds of Royal Bank of Canada.

The final quarterly dividend of $0.20 for each of the Series BD shares will be paid separately from the redemption price for each of the Series BD Shares and in the usual manner on May 23, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2025. After such dividend payments, the holders of Series BD shares will cease to be entitled to dividends.

RY.PR.J is a FixedReset, 3.60%+274, NVCC-compliant, that commenced trading 2015-1-30 after being announced 2015-1-26. It reset to 3.20% effective 2020-5-24 and there was no conversion. The issue is tracked by HIMIPref™ and is assigned to the FixedReset (Discount) subindex.

Issue Comments

BRF.PR.A To Reset To 5.203%; Interconvertible With BRF.PR.B

Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. has announced:

that Brookfield Renewable Power Preferred Equity Inc. (“BRP Equity”) has determined the fixed dividend rate on its Class A Preference Shares, Series 1 (“Series 1 Shares”) (TSX:BRF.PR.A) for the five years commencing May 1, 2025 and ending April 30, 2030 and the floating dividend rate on its Class A Preference Shares, Series 2 (“Series 2 Shares”) (TSX: BRF.PR.B) for the quarterly dividend payable on July 31, 2025.

Series 1 Shares

If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series 1 Shares during that period will be paid at an annual rate of 5.203% ($0.3251875 per share per quarter).

Holders of Series 1 Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on April 15, 2025, to convert all or part of their Series 1 Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Series 2 Shares, effective April 30, 2025. Holders of Series 1 Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series 1 Shares into Series 2 Shares.

As provided in the share conditions of the Series 1 Shares, (i) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 1 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, all remaining Series 1 Shares will be automatically converted into Series 2 Shares on a one-for-one basis effective April 30, 2025; and (ii) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 2 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, no Series 1 Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series 2 Shares. There are currently 6,849,533 Series 1 Shares outstanding.

Series 2 Shares

The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series 2 Shares is paid at an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 2.62% over the annual yield on three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend in respect of the May 1, 2025 to July 31, 2025 dividend period for the Series 2 Shares, if declared, will be $0.3317675 per share, payable on July 31, 2025.

Holders of Series 2 Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on April 15, 2025, to convert all or part of their Series 2 Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Series 1 Shares, effective April 30, 2025. Holders of Series 2 Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series 2 Shares into Series 1 Shares.

As provided in the share conditions of the Series 2 Shares, (i) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 2 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, all remaining Series 2 Shares will be automatically converted into Series 1 Shares on a one-for-one basis effective April 30, 2025; and (ii) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 1 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, no Series 2 Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series 1 Shares. There are currently 3,110,531 Series 2 Shares outstanding.

There has been no press release regarding the conversion results that I can see, but the TMX Money site reports 8,372,310 BRF.PR.A shares outstanding and 64,977 of BRF.PR.B. Extensive computations have determined that 64,977 is less than the 1,000,000 minimum outstanding requirement, so I’m not quite sure what’s going on. I have sent an eMail:

In your press release dated 2025-04-01 (see https://bep.brookfield.com/press-releases/bep/brookfield-renewable-announces-dividend-rates-its-series-1-and-series-2 ), you stated: “As provided in the share conditions of the Series 2 Shares, (i) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 2 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, all remaining Series 2 Shares will be automatically converted into Series 1 Shares on a one-for-one basis effective April 30, 2025; and (ii) if BRP Equity determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 1 Shares outstanding after April 30, 2025, no Series 2 Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series 1 Shares. There are currently 3,110,531 Series 2 Shares outstanding.”

I see no further press release disclosing the results of the conversion right.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is reporting on tmxmoney.com that there are currently only 64,977 BRF.PR.B outstanding (see attached screenshot); should this be the case, there is an apparent inconsistency with the press release (unless there was a massive repurchase and cancellation in the interim).

Can you please clarify the results of the conversion and currently outstanding shares for me please?

Sincerely,

Screenshot:

BRF.PR.A was issued as a FixedReset, 5.25%+262, that commenced trading 2010-3-10 after being announced 2010-2-18. It reset to 3.355% in 2015 and I recommended against conversion. Nevertheless, there was a 45% conversion to the FloatingReset. The issue reset to 3.137% in 2020.

BRF.PR.B is a FloatingReset, Float+262, that resulted from a 45% conversion from BRF.PR.A in 2015.

Update, 2025-6-27: I have received the following response from BRF regarding the number of outstanding shares of BRF.PR.B:

Please see the results on our website in the Footnote 2 below. https://bep.brookfield.com/bep/stock-distributions/preferred-shares

2. On April 15, 2025, a total of 1,619 Class A Preference Shares Series 1 (“Series 1 Preferred Shares”) outstanding were elected for conversion, on a one-for-one basis, into floating rate Class A Preference Shares Series 2 (“Series 2 Preferred Shares”) and a total of 1,524,396 Series 2 Preferred Shares outstanding were elected for conversion, on a one-for-one basis, into Series 1 Preferred Shares. Consequently, effective April 30, 2025, Brookfield Renewable have 8,372,310 Series 1 Preferred Shares and 1,587,754 Series 2 Preferred Shares issued and outstanding.

So that’s a net 15% conversion to BRF.PR.A, the FixedReset. The TMX continues to report 64,977 BRF.PR.B shares outstanding.

Issue Comments

BN.PF.E To Reset To 5.185%

Brookfield Corporation has announced:

that it has determined the fixed dividend rate on its Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 38 (the “Series 38 Shares”) (TSX: BN.PF.E) for the five years commencing April 1, 2025 and ending March 31, 2030.

If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series 38 Shares during the five years commencing April 1, 2025 will be paid at an annual rate of 5.185% ($0.3240625 per share per quarter).

Holders of Series 38 Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on March 17, 2025, to convert all or part of their Series 38 Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 39 (the “Series 39 Shares”), effective March 31, 2025. The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series 39 Shares will be paid at an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 2.55% over the annual yield on three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend rate in respect of the April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025 dividend period for the Series 39 Shares will be 1.34331% (5.388% on an annualized basis) and the dividend, if declared, for such dividend period will be $0.3358275 per share, payable on June 30, 2025.

Holders of Series 38 Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series 38 Shares into Series 39 Shares.

As provided in the share conditions of the Series 38 Shares, (i) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 38 Shares outstanding after March 31, 2025, all remaining Series 38 Shares will be automatically converted into Series 39 Shares on a one-for-one basis effective March 31, 2025; and (ii) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 39 Shares outstanding after March 31, 2025, no Series 38 Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series 39 Shares. There are currently 7,906,132 Series 38 Shares outstanding.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series 39 Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series 39 Shares is subject to Brookfield fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX.

They later announced:

that after having taken into account all election notices received by the deadline for the conversion of its Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 38 (the “Series 38 Shares”) (TSX: BN.PF.E) into Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 39 (the “Series 39 Shares”), there were 42,035 Series 38 Shares tendered for conversion, which is less than the one million shares required to give effect to conversion into Series 39 Shares. Accordingly, there will be no conversion of Series 38 Shares into Series 39 Shares and holders of Series 38 Shares will retain their Series 38 Shares.

BN.PF.E was issued as BAM.PF.E, a FixedReset, 4.40%+255, that commenced trading 2014-3-13 after being announced 2014-3-6. It reset to 3.568% effective 2020-4-1. I made a preliminatry recommendation not to convert and there was no conversion. The ticker changed to BN.PF.E in late 2022. The issue is tracked by HIMIPref™ and is assigned to the FixedReset (Discount) subindex.

Issue Comments

AIM.PR.A To Reset To 6.281%; No Conversion Allowed

Aimia Inc. announced (on 2025-2-26):

y that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem its currently outstanding Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares (“Series 1 Shares”) (TSX: AIM.PR.A) on March 31, 2025.

The Company also announced that due to the results of its Substantial Issuer Bid completed on January 30, 2025, where an aggregate of 4,528,157 Series 1 Shares were tendered in consideration for 9.75% senior unsecured notes, there are currently 606,658 Series 1 Shares outstanding. In accordance with the terms of the Series 1 Shares, as there are less than 1,000,000 Series 1 Shares outstanding, none of the Series 1 Shares will be eligible for conversion into Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares, Series 2 (“Series 2 Shares”) on March 31, 2025 (since any such conversion would result in less than 1,000,000 Series 2 Shares being outstanding).

As a result of the foregoing, the quarterly dividend rate for Series 1 shares will be reset for the 5-year period from March 31, 2025 to March 30, 2030 based on the sum of the 5-year Government of Canada bond yield on the 30th day prior to start of the fixed rate period plus 3.75%.

The reset dividend rate applicable to the Series 1 Shares will be announced by a news release on or about
March 3, 2025.

Holders of Series 1 Shares are entitled to receive quarterly fixed cumulative preferential cash dividends as
and when declared by Aimia’s Board of Directors.

On 2025-3-3, they announced:

the applicable dividend rates for its Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series 1 (the “Series 1 Shares”) further to its February 26, 2025 notice and announcement that it will not exercise its right to redeem all or any part of the outstanding Series 1 Shares.

As announced in the Company’s press release dated February 26, 2025, none of the Series 1 Shares will be eligible for conversion into Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares, Series 2 (“Series 2 Shares”) on March 31, 2025, as there are less than 1,000,000 Series 1 Shares outstanding (since any such conversion would result in less than 1,000,000 Series 2 Shares being outstanding).

Holders of the Series 1 Shares will be entitled to receive fixed, cumulative, preferential cash dividends, payable quarterly, as and when declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. The annual dividend rate for the five-year period from and including March 31, 2025 to, but excluding, March 31, 2030 will be 6.281% being equal to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield of 2.531% plus 3.75%, as determined in accordance with the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Series 1 Shares.

Holders of Series 1 Shares as of the applicable record date remain eligible to receive dividends on their Series 1 Shares, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Aimia, for the period from and including December 31, 2024 to, but excluding, March 31, 2025 at the current annual dividend rate of 4.802%.

Aimia recently completed a substantial issuer bid to purchase for cancellation 7,889,931 preferred shares, of which 4,528,157 were Series 1 preferred shares, in consideration for 9.75% senior unsecured notes (“2030 Notes”). Based on the number of Preferred Shares validly tendered and 2030 Notes issued in consideration, Aimia will generate approximately $6.4 million in annual cash savings when comparing the annual preferred dividends and Part VI.1 tax to the annual cash coupon interest payments. Under IFRS, Aimia expects to record a $53.7 million gain on the transaction, based on the exchange value of the 2030 Notes and the carrying value of the Preferred Shares exchanged.

AIM.PR.A is a FixedReset, 4.50%+375, assigned to the Scraps-FixedReset (Discount) subindex. It commenced trading as AER.PR.A with an initial dividend rate of 6.50% on 2010-1-20 after being announced 2010-1-12. AIM.PR.A changed its ticker from AER.PR.A in October, 2011. The first extension was reported on PrefBlog and the reset to 4.50% was announced 2015-3-2. I recommended against conversion. There was a 43% conversion to the FloatingReset, AIM.PR.B in 2015. The 2020 extension was announced 2020-2-25. AIM.PR.A will reset to 4.802% effective 2020-3-31; at that time I opined that a decision on whether to convert or hold should be made according to each investor’s circumstances. There was a complete conversion to the FixedReset.

Issue Comments

FFH.PR.E / FFH.PR.F and FFH.PR.M To Be Redeemed

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited has announced:

its intention to redeem (i) all of its 5,440,132 outstanding Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series E (the “Series E Shares”), (ii) all of its 2,099,046 outstanding Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares, Series F (the “Series F Shares”), and (iii) all of its 9,200,000 outstanding Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series M (the “Series M Shares” and, collectively with the Series E Shares and the Series F Shares, the “Preferred Shares”) on March 31, 2025 (the “Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to C$25.00 per share, for an aggregate total amount of approximately C$420.5 million, together with all accrued and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the Redemption Date (the “Redemption Price”), less any tax required to be deducted and withheld by Fairfax.

Formal notice will be delivered to the sole registered holder of the Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares of the applicable series as set out in Fairfax’s articles.

Separately from the Redemption Price, (i) the final quarterly dividend of C$0.198938 per Series E Share will be paid in the usual manner to holders of Series E Shares on March 31, 2025, (ii) the final quarterly dividend of C$0.34773 per Series F Share will be paid in the usual manner to holders of Series F Shares on March 28, 2025, and (iii) the final quarterly dividend of C$0.312688 per Series M Share will be paid in the usual manner to holders of Series M Shares on March 31, 2025, in each case to shareholders of record on March 14, 2025.

Non-registered holders of Preferred Shares should contact their broker or other intermediary for information regarding the redemption process for the series of Preferred Shares in which they hold a beneficial interest. Fairfax’s transfer agent for the Preferred Shares is Computershare Trust Company of Canada (“Computershare”). Questions regarding the redemption process may be directed to Computershare at 1-800-564-6253 or by email to corporateactions@computershare.com.

Following the redemption on March 31, 2025, the Series E Shares, the Series F Shares and the Series M Shares will be delisted from and no longer trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”).

Fairfax is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management.

FFH.PR.E commenced trading 2010-2-1 as a FixedReset, 4.75%+216, after being announced 2010-1-21. It reset in 2015 to 2.91% and I recommended against conversion; there was a 31% conversion to the FloatingReset, FFH.PR.F, anyway. The issue reset to 3.183% in 2020.

FFH.PR.F commenced trading in 2015 as a result of the 31% conversion from FFH.PR.E noted above.

FFH.PR.M is a FixedReset, 4.75%+398, that commenced trading 2015-3-3 after being announced 2015-2-20. It reset to 5.003% in 2020.

These issues have been tracked by HIMIPref™ but were originally relegated to the Scraps-FixedReset (Discount) subindex on credit concerns. DBRS upgraded the credit rating to Pfd-2(low) in 2023 and the issues were moved to the regular indices.

Issue Comments

CVE.PR.E To Be Redeemed

Cenovus Energy Inc. has announced:

it will exercise its right to redeem the Company’s 4.591% Series 5 Preferred Shares (the “Series 5 Preferred Shares”) on March 31, 2025 (the “Redemption”). All 8 million Series 5 Preferred Shares outstanding will be redeemed at the price of $25.00 per share, for an aggregate amount payable to holders of $200 million, less required withholdings, if any, funded primarily from cash on hand.

As previously announced, the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.28694 per Series 5 Preferred Share payable on March 31, 2025, to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2025. This will be the final dividend paid on the Series 5 Preferred Shares.

Inquiries from registered holders of Series 5 Preferred Shares should be directed to Cenovus’s Registrar and Transfer Agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-866-332-8898 or (514) 982-8717 outside North America. Beneficial holders, who are not directly registered holders of Series 5 Preferred Shares, should contact the financial institution, broker, or other intermediary through which they hold these shares to confirm how they will receive their redemption proceeds.

CVE.PR.E was issued as HSE.PR.E, a FixedReset, 4.50%+357, that commenced trading 2015-3-12 after being announced 2015-3-4. It reset at 4.591% effective 2020-3-31. I made a preliminary recommendation not to convert. The ticker changed to CVE.PR.E in early 2021.

The issue is tracked by HIMIPref™ and has been assigned to the FixedReset (Discount) subindex. DBRS upgraded the issue to Pfd-3(high) in late 2022 (which I later thought I had not reported.

Issue Comments

MFC.PR.N To Reset To 5.169%

Manulife Financial Corporation announced (on 2025-1-29, but not on their website as of 2025-6-25 as far as I can see):

that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem all or any of its currently outstanding 10,000,000 Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class 1 Shares Series 19 (the “Series 19 Preferred Shares”) (TSX: MFC.PR.N) on March 19, 2025. As a result, subject to certain conditions described in the prospectus supplement dated November 26, 2014 relating to the issuance of the Series 19 Preferred Shares (the “Prospectus”), the holders of the Series 19 Preferred Shares have the right, at their option, to convert all or part of their Series 19 Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class 1 Shares Series 20 of Manulife (the “Series 20 Preferred Shares”) on March 19, 2025. A formal notice of the right to convert Series 19 Preferred Shares into Series 20 Preferred Shares will be sent to the registered holders of the Series 19 Preferred Shares in accordance with the share conditions of the Series 19 Preferred Shares. Holders of Series 19 Preferred Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series 19 Preferred Shares into Series 20 Preferred Shares. Holders who do not exercise their right to convert their Series 19 Preferred Shares into Series 20 Preferred Shares on such date will retain their Series 19 Preferred Shares, unless automatically converted in accordance with the conditions below.

The foregoing conversion right is subject to the conditions that: (i) if, after March 4, 2025, Manulife determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series 19 Preferred Shares outstanding on March 19, 2025, then all remaining Series 19 Preferred Shares will automatically be converted into an equal number of Series 20 Preferred Shares on March 19, 2025, and (ii) alternatively, if, after March 4, 2025, Manulife determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series 20 Preferred Shares outstanding on March 19, 2025, then no Series 19 Preferred Shares will be converted into Series 20 Preferred Shares. In either case, Manulife will give written notice to that effect to any registered holders of Series 19 Preferred Shares affected by the preceding minimums on or before March 12, 2025.

The dividend rate applicable to the Series 19 Preferred Shares for the 5-year period commencing on March 20, 2025, and ending on March 19, 2030, and the dividend rate applicable to the Series 20 Preferred Shares for the 3-month period commencing on March 20, 2025, and ending on June 19, 2025, will be determined and announced by way of a news release on February 18, 2025. Manulife will also give written notice of these dividend rates to the registered holders of Series 19 Preferred Shares.

Beneficial owners of Series 19 Preferred Shares who wish to exercise their right of conversion should instruct their broker or other nominee to exercise such right before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on March 4, 2025. Conversion inquiries should be directed to Manulife’s Registrar and Transfer Agent, TSX Trust Company, at 1‑800-783-9495.

Subject to certain conditions described in the Prospectus, Manulife may redeem the Series 19 Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, on March 19, 2030 and on March 19 every five years thereafter and may redeem the Series 20 Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, after March 19, 2025.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series 20 Preferred Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series 20 Preferred Shares is subject to Manulife fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX and, upon approval, the Series 20 Preferred Shares will be listed on the TSX under the trading symbol “MFC.PR.S”.

On 2025-2-18, they announced (again, not on their website as of 2025-6-25):

the applicable dividend rates for its Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class 1 Shares Series 19 (the “Series 19 Preferred Shares”) (TSX: MFC.PR.N) and Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class 1 Shares Series 20 (the “Series 20 Preferred Shares”).

With respect to any Series 19 Preferred Shares that remain outstanding after March 19, 2025, holders thereof will be entitled to receive fixed rate non-cumulative preferential cash dividends on a quarterly basis, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Manulife and subject to the provisions of the Insurance Companies Act (Canada). The dividend rate for the five-year period commencing on March 20, 2025, and ending on March 19, 2030, will be 5.16900% per annum or $0.323063 per share per quarter, being equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield as at February 18, 2025, plus 2.30%, as determined in accordance with the terms of the Series 19 Preferred Shares.

With respect to any Series 20 Preferred Shares that may be issued in connection with the conversion of the Series 19 Preferred Shares into the Series 20 Preferred Shares, holders thereof will be entitled to receive floating rate non-cumulative preferential cash dividends on a quarterly basis, calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in each quarterly floating rate period divided by 365, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Manulife and subject to the provisions of the Insurance Companies Act (Canada). The dividend rate for the three-month period commencing on March 20, 2025, and ending on June 19, 2025, will be 1.29430% (5.13500% on an annualized basis) or $0.323575 per share, being equal to the sum of the three-month Government of Canada Treasury bill yield as at February 18, 2025, plus 2.30%, as determined in accordance with the terms of the Series 20 Preferred Shares.

Beneficial owners of Series 19 Preferred Shares who wish to exercise their right of conversion should instruct their broker or other nominee to exercise such right before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on March 4, 2025. Conversion inquiries should be directed to Manulife’s Registrar and Transfer Agent, TSX Trust Company, at 1‑800‑783‑9495.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series 20 Preferred Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series 20 Preferred Shares is subject to Manulife fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX and, upon approval, the Series 20 Preferred Shares will be listed on the TSX under the trading symbol “MFC.PR.S”.

MFC.PR.N was issued as a FixedReset, 3.80%+230, that commenced trading 2014-12-3 after being announced 2014-11-26. The company provided notice of extension 2020-2-3. The issue reset at 3.675% effective 2020-3-20 and there was no conversion. It is tracked by HIMIPref™ and is assigned to the FixedReset – Insurance non-NVCC subindex.

Update as of 2025-3-5: They announced (not on website!):

that after having taken into account all election notices received by the March 4, 2025 deadline for conversion of its currently outstanding 10,000,000 Non-cumulative Rate Reset Class 1 Shares Series 19 (the “Series 19 Preferred Shares”) (TSX: MFC.PR.N) into Non-cumulative Floating Rate Class 1 Shares Series 20 of Manulife (the “Series 20 Preferred Shares”), the holders of Series 19 Preferred Shares are not entitled to convert their Series 19 Preferred Shares into Series 20 Preferred Shares. There were 3,700 Series 19 Preferred Shares elected for conversion, which is less than the minimum one million shares required to give effect to conversions into Series 20 Preferred Shares.

As announced by Manulife on February 18, 2025, after March 19, 2025, holders of Series 19 Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive fixed rate non-cumulative preferential cash dividends on a quarterly basis, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Manulife and subject to the provisions of the Insurance Companies Act (Canada). The dividend rate for the five-year period commencing on March 20, 2025, and ending on March 19, 2030, will be 5.16900% per annum or $0.323063 per share per quarter, being equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield as at February 18, 2025, plus 2.30%, as determined in accordance with the terms of the Series 19 Preferred Shares.

Subject to certain conditions described in the prospectus supplement dated November 26, 2014 relating to the issuance of the Series 19 Preferred Shares, Manulife may redeem the Series 19 Preferred Shares, in whole or in part, on March 19, 2030 and on March 19 every five years thereafter.

Issue Comments

ENB.PF.C To Reset To 5.477%

Enbridge Inc. has announced:

that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem its currently outstanding Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series 11 (Series 11 Shares) (TSX: ENB.PF.C) on March 1, 2025. As a result, subject to certain conditions, the holders of the Series 11 Shares have the right to convert all or part of their Series 11 Shares on a one-for-one basis into Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series 12 of Enbridge (Series 12 Shares) on March 1, 2025. Holders who do not exercise their right to convert their Series 11 Shares into Series 12 Shares will retain their Series 11 Shares.

The foregoing conversion right is subject to the conditions that: (i) if Enbridge determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series 11 Shares outstanding after March 1, 2025, then all remaining Series 11 Shares will automatically be converted into Series 12 Shares on a one-for-one basis on March 1, 2025; and (ii) alternatively, if Enbridge determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series 12 Shares outstanding after March 1, 2025, no Series 11 Shares will be converted into Series 12 Shares. There are currently 20,000,000 Series 11 Shares outstanding.

With respect to any Series 11 Shares that remain outstanding after March 1, 2025, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly fixed cumulative preferential cash dividends, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Enbridge. The new annual dividend rate applicable to the Series 11 Shares for the five-year period commencing on March 1, 2025 to, but excluding, March 1, 2030 will be 5.477 percent, being equal to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield of 2.837 percent determined as of today plus 2.64 percent in accordance with the terms of the Series 11 Shares.

With respect to any Series 12 Shares that may be issued on March 1, 2025, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly floating rate cumulative preferential cash dividends, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Enbridge. The dividend rate applicable to the Series 12 Shares for the three-month floating rate period commencing on March 1, 2025 to, but excluding, June 1, 2025 will be 1.41151 percent, based on the annual rate on three month Government of Canada treasury bills for the most recent treasury bills auction of 2.96 percent plus 2.64 percent in accordance with the terms of the Series 12 Shares (the Floating Quarterly Dividend Rate). The Floating Quarterly Dividend Rate will be reset every quarter.

Beneficial holders of Series 11 Shares who wish to exercise their right of conversion during the conversion period, which runs from January 30, 2025 until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on February 14, 2025, should communicate as soon as possible with their broker or other intermediary for more information. It is recommended that this be done well in advance of the deadline in order to provide the broker or other intermediary time to complete the necessary steps. Any notices received after this deadline will not be valid.

ENB.PF.C was issued a FixedReset, 4.40%+264, that commenced trading 2014-5-22 after being announced 2014-5-12. ENB.PF.C will reset at 3.938% effective March 1, 2020. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion. The issue is tracked by HIMIPref™ but was originally relegated to the Scraps – FixedReset – Discount subindex on credit concerns; it was upgraded to Pfd-2(low) by DBRS in mid-2024.

Update, 2025-02-14: Enbridge has announced:

that none of its outstanding Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series 11 (Series 11 Shares) will be converted into Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series 12 (Series 12 Shares) on March 1, 2025.

After taking into account all conversion notices received from holders of its outstanding Series 11 Shares by the February 14, 2025 deadline for the conversion of the Series 11 Shares into Series 12 Shares, less than the 1,000,000 Series 11 Shares required to give effect to conversions into Series 12 Shares were tendered for conversion.

Issue Comments

EMA.PR.F To Reset To 5.749%

Emera Incorporated announced (on 2025-1-8):

that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem all or any part of the currently outstanding Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series F of the Company (the “Series F Shares”) on February 15, 2025. There are currently 8,000,000 Series F Shares outstanding.

Subject to certain conditions set out in the prospectus supplement of the Company dated June 2, 2014, to the short form base shelf prospectus dated May 2, 2013, relating to the issuance of the Series F Shares (collectively, the “Prospectus”), the holders of the Series F Shares have the right, at their option, to convert all or any of their Series F Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series G of the Company (the “Series G Shares”) on February 15, 2025 (the “Conversion Date”).

On such date, holders who do not exercise their right to convert their Series F Shares into Series G Shares will continue to hold their Series F Shares.

The foregoing conversion right is subject to the following:

if the Company determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series G Shares outstanding on the Conversion Date, then holders of Series F Shares will not be entitled to convert their shares into Series G Shares, and
alternatively, if the Company determines that there would remain outstanding less than 1,000,000 Series F Shares on the Conversion Date, then all remaining Series F Shares will automatically be converted into Series G Shares on a one-for-one basis on the Conversion Date.
In either case, Emera will give written notice to that effect to holders of Series F Shares at least seven days prior to the Conversion Date, subject to the terms set out in the Prospectus.

The dividend rate applicable for the Series F Shares for the five-year period commencing on February 15, 2025 and ending on (and inclusive of) February 14, 2030, and the dividend rate applicable to the Series G Shares for the 3-month period commencing on February 15, 2025 and ending on (and inclusive of) May 14, 2025, will be determined on January 16, 2025 and notice of such dividend rates shall be provided to the holders of the Series F Shares on that day.

Holders of Series F Shares who wish to exercise their conversion right should communicate with their broker or other nominee to obtain instructions for exercising such right during the conversion period, which runs from January 16, 2025 until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on January 31, 2025. Any notices received after this deadline will not be valid. As such, it is recommended that this be done well in advance of the deadline in order to provide their broker or other nominee with adequate time to complete the necessary steps.

Holders of Series F Shares who do not provide notice or communicate with their broker or other nominee by the deadline will retain their Series F Shares and receive the new annual fixed dividend rate applicable to the Series F Shares, subject to the conditions stated above. Holders of Series F Shares will have the opportunity to convert their shares again on February 15, 2030 and every five years thereafter as long as the shares remain outstanding. For more information on the terms of, and risks associated with, an investment in Series F Shares and Series G Shares, please see the Company’s Prospectus, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

They further announced (on 2025-01-16):

the applicable dividend rates for its Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series F (the “Series F Shares”) and Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series G (the “Series G Shares”), in each case, payable if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of the Company:

5.749% per annum on the Series F Shares ($0.35931 per Series F Share per quarter), being equal to the sum of the Government of Canada bond yield as at January 16, 2025, plus 2.63%, payable quarterly on the 15th of February, May, August and November of each year during the five-year period commencing on February 15, 2025 and ending on (and inclusive of) February 14, 2030; and

5.764% on the Series G Shares for the three-month period commencing on February 15, 2025 and ending on (and inclusive of) May 14, 2025 ($0.35137 per Series G Share for the quarter), being equal to the sum of the three-month Government of Canada treasury bill yield rate as at January 16, 2025, plus 2.63% (calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed during the quarter divided by 365), payable on the 15th of May, 2025. The quarterly floating dividend rate will be reset every quarter.
Subject to certain conditions set out in the prospectus supplement of the Company dated June 2, 2014, to the short form base shelf prospectus dated May 2, 2013, relating to the issuance of the Series F Shares (collectively, the “Prospectus”), holders of the Series F Shares have the right, at their option, to convert all or any of their Series F Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Series G Shares on February 15, 2025 (the “Conversion Date”). On such date, holders who do not exercise their right to convert their Series F Shares into Series G Shares will continue to hold their Series F Shares. The foregoing conversion right is subject to the following:

if the Company determines that there would be less than 1,000,000 Series G Shares outstanding on the Conversion Date, then holders of Series F Shares will not be entitled to convert their shares into Series G Shares, and

alternatively, if the Company determines that there would remain outstanding less than 1,000,000 Series F Shares on the Conversion Date, then all remaining Series F Shares will automatically be converted into Series G Shares on a one-for-one basis on the Conversion Date.
Holders of Series F Shares who wish to exercise their conversion right should communicate with their broker or other nominee to obtain instructions for exercising such right during the conversion period, which runs from January 16, 2025 until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on January 31, 2025. Any notices received after this deadline will not be valid. Holders of Series F Shares who wish to exercise their conversion right must carefully follow the procedures and instructions received from their broker or other nominee and contact their broker or other nominee if they need assistance. Such broker or other nominee may set deadlines for the return of instructions that are well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. (EST) deadline on January 31, 2025. As such, it is recommended that holders of Series F Shares communicate instructions to their broker or other nominee well in advance of the deadline in order to provide their broker or other nominee with adequate time to complete the necessary steps prior to the deadline.

Holders of Series F Shares who do not provide notice or communicate with their broker or other nominee by the deadline will retain their Series F Shares and receive the new annual fixed dividend rate applicable to the Series F Shares, subject to the conditions stated above. Holders of Series F Shares will have the opportunity to convert their shares again on February 15, 2030 and every five years thereafter as long as the shares remain outstanding. For more information on the terms of, and risks associated with, an investment in Series F Shares and Series G Shares, please see the Company’s Prospectus, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

EMA.PR.F was issued as a FixedReset, 4.25%+263, that commenced trading 2014-6-9 after being being announced 2014-5-29. The company announced the extension on 2020-1-7. EMA.PR.F will reset at 4.202% effective February 15, 2020. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion. EMA.PR.F is tracked by HIMIPref™ and assigned to the FixedReset Discount subindex.

Update, 2025-02-06: They have announced:

that after having taken into account all conversion notices received from holders of its outstanding Cumulative Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series F (the “Series F Shares”) by the January 31, 2025 deadline for conversion notices, less than the 1,000,000 Series F Shares required to give effect to conversions into Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series G (the “Series G Shares”) were tendered for conversion. As a result, none of Emera’s outstanding Series F Shares will be converted into Series G Shares on February 15, 2025. The Series F Shares will continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol EMA.PR.F.

Issue Comments

TD.PF.C To Be Redeemed

The Toronto-Dominion Bank has announced:

that it will exercise its right to redeem all of its 20,000,000 outstanding Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Class A First Preferred Shares, Series 5 (Non-Viability Contingent Capital) (the “Series 5 Shares”) on January 31, 2025 at the price of $25.00 per Series 5 Share for an aggregate total of approximately $500 million. The redemption has been approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.

On December 5, 2024, TD announced that dividends of $0.24225 per Series 5 Share had been declared. These will be the final dividends on the Series 5 Shares, and will be paid in the usual manner on January 31, 2025 to shareholders of record on January 10, 2025, as previously announced. After January 31, 2025, the Series 5 Shares will cease to be entitled to dividends and the only remaining rights of holders of such shares will be to receive payment of the redemption amount.

Beneficial holders who are not directly the registered holder of Series 5 Shares should contact the financial institution, broker or other intermediary through which they hold these shares to confirm how they will receive their redemption proceeds. Inquiries should be directed to our Registrar and Transfer Agent, TSX Trust Company, at 1-800-387-0825 (or in Toronto 416-682-3860).

TD.PF.C is a FixedReset, 3.75%+225, that commenced trading 2014-12-16 after being announced 2014-12-5. Notice of extension was reported in December, 2019. TD.PF.C will reset at 3.876% effective January 31, 2020. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion. TD.PF.C is tracked by HIMIPref™ and is assigned to the FixedReset-Discount subindex.