Category: Issue Comments

Issue Comments

BAM.PR.X to Reset at 4.606%

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. has announced:

that it has determined the fixed dividend rate on its Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 28 (“Series 28 Shares”) (TSX: BAM.PR.X) for the five years commencing July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2027.

If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series 28 Shares during the five years commencing July 1, 2022 will be paid at an annual rate of 4.606% ($0.287875 per share per quarter).

Holders of Series 28 Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 15, 2022, to convert all or part of their Series 28 Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Cumulative Class A Preference Shares, Series 29 (the “Series 29 Shares”), effective June 30, 2022. The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series 29 Shares will be paid at an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 1.80% over the annual yield on the three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend rate in respect of the July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 dividend period for the Series 29 Shares will be 0.82598% (3.277% on an annualized basis) and the dividend, if declared, for such dividend period will be $0.2065 per share, payable on September 30, 2022.

Holders of Series 28 Shares are not required to elect to convert all or any part of their Series 28 Shares into Series 29 Shares.

As provided in the share conditions of the Series 28 Shares, (i) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 28 Shares outstanding after June 30, 2022, all remaining Series 28 Shares will be automatically converted into Series 29 Shares on a one-for-one basis effective June 30, 2022; and (ii) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series 29 Shares outstanding after June 30, 2022, no Series 28 Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series 29 Shares. There are currently 9,233,927 Series 28 Shares outstanding.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has conditionally approved the listing of the Series 29 Shares effective upon conversion. Listing of the Series 29 Shares is subject to Brookfield fulfilling all the listing requirements of the TSX.

BAM.PR.X was issued as a FixedReset, 4.60%+180, that commenced trading 2011-2-8 after being announced 2011-1-19. It reset at 2.727% in 2017. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion.It is included in the FixedReset (Discount) subindex.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader CanSiamCyp for ensuring I was aware of this!

Issue Comments

TA.PR.F to Reset to 5.854%

TransAlta Corporation has announced:

that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem all or any part of the currently outstanding cumulative redeemable rate reset first preferred shares Series C (“Series C Shares”) (TSX: TA.PR.F) on June 30, 2022 (the “Conversion Date”).

As a result and subject to certain conditions set out in the prospectus supplement dated November 23, 2011 relating to the issuance of the Series C Shares, the holders of the Series C Shares will have the right to convert all or any of their Series C Shares into cumulative redeemable floating rate first preferred shares Series D of the Company (“Series D Shares”) on the basis of one Series D Share for each Series C Share on the Conversion Date.

With respect to any Series C Shares that remain outstanding after June 30, 2022, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly fixed cumulative preferential cash dividends, if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TransAlta. The annual dividend rate for the Series C Shares for the five-year period from and including June 30, 2022 to but excluding June 30, 2027, will be 5.85400%, being equal to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield of 2.75400% determined as of today plus 3.10000%, in accordance with the terms of the Series C Shares.

With respect to any Series D Shares that may be issued on June 30, 2022, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly floating rate cumulative preferential cash dividends, if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of TransAlta. The annual dividend rate for the 3-month floating rate period from and including June 30, 2022 to but excluding September 30, 2022 will be 4.57700%, being equal to the annual rate for the most recent auction of 90-day Government of Canada Treasury Bills of 1.47700% plus 3.10000%, in accordance with the terms of the Series D Shares (the “Floating Quarterly Dividend Rate”). The Floating Quarterly Dividend Rate will be reset every quarter.

As provided in the terms of the Series C Shares, if TransAlta determines after reviewing all Series C Shares tendered for conversion into Series D Shares that: (i) there would remain outstanding on June 30, 2022, less than 1,000,000 Series C Shares, all remaining Series C Shares shall be converted automatically into Series D Shares on a one-for one basis effective June 30, 2022; or (ii) there would remain outstanding after June 30, 2022, less than 1,000,000 Series D Shares, the holders of Series C Shares shall not be entitled to convert their shares into Series D Shares effective June 30, 2022. There are currently 11,000,000 Series C Shares outstanding.

The Series C Shares are issued in “book entry only” form and must be purchased or transferred through a participant in the CDS depository service (“CDS Participant”). All rights of holders of Series C Shares must be exercised through CDS or the CDS Participant through which the Series C Shares are held. The deadline for the registered shareholder to provide notice of exercise of the right to convert Series C Shares into Series D Shares is 3:00 p.m. (MST) / 5:00 p.m. (EST) on June 15, 2022. Any notices received after this deadline will not be valid. As such, holders of Series C Shares who wish to exercise their right to convert their shares should contact their broker or other intermediary for more information and it is recommended that this be done well in advance of the deadline in order to provide the broker or other intermediary with time to complete the necessary steps.

If TransAlta does not receive an election notice from a holder of Series C Shares during the time fixed therefor, then the Series C Shares shall be deemed not to have been converted (except in the case of an automatic conversion). Holders of the Series C Shares and the Series D Shares will have the opportunity to convert their shares again on June 30, 2027, and every five years thereafter as long as the shares remain outstanding.

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

TA.PR.F was issued as a FixedReset, 4.60%+310, that commenced trading 2011-11-30 after being announced 2011-11-22. It reset to 4.027% in 2017; there was no conversion. It has been relegated to the Scraps subindex since inception on credit concerns.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader skeptical for ensuring I was aware of this!

Issue Comments

BPO.PR.G to Reset to 6.546%

Brookfield Office Properties Inc., a subsidiary of Brookfield Property Partners L.P., has announced:

the reset dividend rate on its Class AAA Preference Shares, Series GG (“Series GG Shares”) (TSX: BPO.PR.G).

If declared, the fixed quarterly dividends on the Series GG Shares for the five years commencing July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2027 will be paid at an annual rate of 6.546% ($0.409125 per share per quarter).

Holders of Series GG Shares have the right, at their option, exercisable not later than 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 15, 2022, to convert all or part of their Series GG Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Class AAA Preference Shares, Series HH (“Series HH Shares”), effective June 30, 2022.

The quarterly floating rate dividends on the Series HH Shares have an annual rate, calculated for each quarter, of 3.74% over the annual yield on three-month Government of Canada treasury bills. The actual quarterly dividend rate for the July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022 dividend period for the Series HH Shares will be 1.31573% (5.22% on an annualized basis) and the dividend, if declared, for such dividend period will be $0.328933 per share, payable on September 30, 2022.

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

As provided in the share conditions of the Series GG Shares, (i) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series GG Shares outstanding after June 30, 2022, all remaining Series GG Shares will be automatically converted into Series HH Shares on a one-for-one basis effective June 30, 2022; and (ii) if Brookfield determines that there would be fewer than 1,000,000 Series HH Shares outstanding after June 30, 2022, no Series GG Shares will be permitted to be converted into Series HH Shares. There are currently 11,000,000 Series GG Shares outstanding.

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

BPO.PR.G was issued as a FixedReset, 4.85%+374M485, that commenced trading 2017-5-4 after being announced 2017-04-26. It has been tracked by HIMIPref™ but relegated to the Scraps index on credit concerns.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader CanSiamCyp for ensuring I was aware of this.

Issue Comments

CF.PR.C To Reset To 6.837%

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. has announced (bolding from original):

y the applicable dividend rates for its Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series C (the “Series C Preferred Shares”) and its Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Shares”), further to its press release dated May 24, 2022 announcing that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem all or any part of the currently outstanding Series C Preferred Shares and, as a result of which, subject to certain conditions, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares have the right to convert all or any part of their Series C Preferred Shares into Series D Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis.

With respect to any Series C Preferred Shares that remain outstanding after June 30, 2022, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly fixed, cumulative, preferential cash dividends, if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The dividend rate for the five-year period commencing on July 1, 2022 and ending on and including June 30, 2027 will be 6.837% per annum, being equal to the sum of the five-year Government of Canada bond yield determined as of today, plus 4.03%, in accordance with the terms of the Series C Preferred Shares.

With respect to any Series D Preferred Shares that may be issued on June 30, 2022, holders thereof will be entitled to receive quarterly floating rate, cumulative, preferential cash dividends, if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act(British Columbia). The dividend rate for the three-month period commencing on July 1, 2022 and ending on and including September 30, 2022 will be 5.507% per annum, being equal to the sum of the three-month Government of Canada Treasury Bill yield determined as of today, plus 4.03% (calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed during such quarterly period divided by 365), in accordance with the terms of the Series D Preferred Shares. The quarterly floating dividend rate will be reset every quarter.

Beneficial owners of Series C Preferred Shares who wish to exercise their conversion right should communicate as soon as possible with their broker or other nominee to ensure their instructions are followed for exercising such right on or prior to the deadline for exercise, which is 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on June 15, 2022

CF.PR.C was issued as a FixedReset, 5.75%+403, that commenced trading 2012-4-10 after being announced 2012-3-22. In 2017, it reset at 4.993%. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion. The extension in 2022 was previously announced. The issue has been relegated to the Scraps subindex since inception on credit concerns.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader Yomgui for ensuring I was aware of this!

Issue Comments

ENB.PR.B / ENB.PR.C : Forced Conversion to FixedReset

Enbridge Inc. has announced (on May 19):

that, after taking into account all election notices received prior to 5:00 p.m. (EST) on May 17, 2022, 107,904 of its 18,269,812 Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series B (Series B Shares) were tendered for conversion, on a one-for-one basis, into Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series C of Enbridge (Series C Shares) and 1,188,789 of its 1,730,188 Series C Shares were tendered for conversion, on a one-for-one basis, into Series B Shares of Enbridge, effective on June 1, 2022.

Enbridge, after taking into account all Series B Shares and all Series C Shares tendered for conversion, has determined that there will be less than 1,000,000 Series C Shares outstanding after June 1, 2022. Consequently, all remaining Series C Shares will automatically be converted into Series B Shares on a one-for-one basis on June 1, 2022, and no Series B Shares will be converted into Series C Shares. The Series B Shares and the Series C Shares are currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols ENB. PR.B. and ENB.PR.C, respectively.

ENB.PR.B was issued as a FixedReset, 4.00%+240, that commenced trading 2011-9-30 after being announced 2011-9-21. It reset to 3.415% in 2017; I recommended against conversion; but there was an 8% conversion to the FloatingReset, ENB.PR.C, anyway. ENB.PR.B reset to 5.202% in 2022.

ENB.PR.C is a FloatingReset, 3-Month Bills+240, that arose via partial conversion from ENB.PR.B in 2017.

Issue Comments

CU.PR.C : No Conversion to FloatingReset

Canadian Utilities Limited has announced (on May 24):

that after having taken into account all election notices following the conversion deadline for the Cumulative Redeemable Second Preferred Shares Series Y (“Series Y Preferred Shares”) tendered for conversion into Cumulative Redeemable Second Preferred Shares Series Z (“Series Z Preferred Shares”), the holders of Series Y Preferred Shares are not entitled to convert their Series Y Preferred Shares into Series Z Preferred Shares. There were approximately 21,400 Series Y Preferred Shares tendered for conversion, which is less than the two million shares required to give effect to conversions into Series Z Preferred Shares.

The Series Y Preferred Shares will continue to pay on a quarterly basis, for the five-year period from and including June 1, 2022 to but excluding June 1, 2027, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of Canadian Utilities Limited, a fixed dividend based on an annual dividend rate of 5.20%

For more information on the terms of, and risks associated with an investment in, the Series Y Preferred Shares, please see Canadian Utilities Limited’s prospectus supplement dated September 15, 2011, which can be found under Canadian Utilities Limited’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

CU.PR.C was issued as a FixedReset, 4.00%+240, that commenced trading 2011-9-21 after being announced 2011-9-13. It reset to 3.40% in 2017; I recommended against conversion; and there was no conversion. The issue reset to 5.20% in 2022.

Issue Comments

CF.PR.C To Be Extended

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. has announced:

that it does not intend to exercise its right to redeem all or any part of the currently outstanding Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset First Preferred Shares, Series C of the Company (the “Series C Preferred Shares”) on June 30, 2022 (the “Conversion Date”). There are currently 4,000,000 Series C Preferred Shares outstanding.

As a result, and subject to certain conditions set out in the short form prospectus dated April 2, 2012, relating to the issuance of the Series C Preferred Shares, the holders of the Series C Preferred Shares have the right, at their option, to convert all or any of their Series C Preferred Shares, on a one-for-one basis, into Cumulative Floating Rate First Preferred Shares, Series D of the Company (the “Series D Preferred Shares”) on the Conversion Date (the “Conversion Privilege”). A formal notice of the Conversion Privilege will be sent to the registered holder of the Series C Preferred Shares.

Holders who do not exercise their right to convert their Series C Preferred Shares into Series D Preferred Shares will continue to hold their Series C Preferred Shares and will have the opportunity to convert their shares again on June 30, 2027, and every five years thereafter as long as the shares remain outstanding.

The foregoing Conversion Privilege is subject to the following conditions: (i) if the Company determines that there would be less than 1,000,000Series D Preferred Shares outstanding on the Conversion Date, then holders of Series C Preferred Shares will not be entitled to convert their shares into Series D Preferred Shares; and (ii) alternatively, if the Company determines that there would remain outstanding less than 1,000,000 Series C Preferred Shares on the Conversion Date, then all remaining Series C Preferred Shares will automatically be converted into Series D Preferred Shares on a one-for-one basis on the Conversion Date. In either case, the Company will give written notice to that effect to any registered holders affected by the preceding conditions of the Series C Preferred Shares no later than June 23, 2022.

The dividend rate applicable to the Series C Preferred Shares for the five-year period commencing on July 1, 2022, and ending on and including June 30, 2027, and the dividend rate applicable to the Series D Preferred Shares for the three-month period commencing on July 1, 2022, and ending on and including September 30, 2022 will be determined and announced by way of a press release on June 1, 2022.

Beneficial owners of Series C Preferred Shares who wish to exercise their Conversion Privilege should communicate as soon as possible with their broker or other nominee to obtain instructions for exercising such right during the conversion period, which runs from May 31, 2022 until 5:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2022.

CF.PR.C was issued as a FixedReset, 5.75%+403, that commenced trading 2012-4-10 after being announced 2012-3-22. In 2017, it reset at 4.993%. I recommended against conversion and there was no conversion.The has been relegated to the Scraps subindex since inception on credit concerns.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader Philip169382 for bringing this to my attention!

Issue Comments

IAF.PR.G To Be Redeemed

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. has announced:

that it has sent today to all shareholders of its Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series G (the “Series G Preferred Shares”) a formal notice and instructions for the redemption of the Series G Preferred Shares outstanding as of today. Upon the Series G Redemption scheduled for June 30, 2022, iA Insurance will pay to the holders of the Series G Preferred Shares the redemption price of $25 less any taxes required to be withheld or deducted. There are 10,000,000 Series G Preferred Shares outstanding as of today.

Separately from the redemption price, the final quarterly dividend of $0.2360625 per Series G Preferred Share will be paid in the usual manner on June 30, 2022 to shareholders of record on May 27, 2022. After the Series G Preferred Shares are redeemed, holders of Series G Preferred Shares will cease to be entitled to distributions of dividends and will not be entitled to exercise any rights as holders other than to receive the redemption price and the final quarterly dividend described above.

IAF.PR.G arose via ticker change from IAG.PR.G in January 2019. IAG.PR.G was issued as a FixedReset, 4.30%+285, that commenced trading 2012-6-1 after being announced 2012-5-24. Unusually, the issue was re-opened shortly afterwards. IAG.PR.G reset at 3.777% in 2017; I recommended against conversion; and there was no conversion, although getting official confirmation of this was like pulling teeth.

The issue has been tracked by HIMIPref™ and assigned to the FixedReset (Discount) subindex.

The redemption notice came as a surprise to the markets; the issue traded up $1.03 to 25.18, which isn’t a bad day’s work; its sister issue, IAF.PR.I, was up a similar amount; this follows similar jumps on the ENB.PR.U redemption announcement. The Straight Perpetual, IAF.PR.B, was up only about 1.10% today, though, so the market’s largesse was not indiscriminate!

Thanks to Assiduous Reader niagara for bringing this to my attention!

Issue Comments

EFN.PR.I To Be Redeemed

Element Fleet Management Corp. has announced (but not yet on their website):

Preferred Share Redemption

The Company also announced today its intention to redeem – in accordance with the terms of the Cumulative 5-Year Minimum Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series I (the “Series I Shares”) as set out in the Company’s articles – all of its 6,000,000 issued and outstanding Series I Shares on June 30, 2022 (the “Redemption Date”) for a redemption price equal to $25.00 per Series I Share, 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 the Company.

The Company’s Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.3593750 per Series I Share payable on the Redemption Date to holders of record as of the close of business on June 15, 2022. This will be the final quarterly dividend on the Series I Shares, although holders will receive on redemption of the Series I Shares all accrued and unpaid dividends up to but excluding the Redemption Date.

The Company has provided notice today of the Redemption Price and the Redemption Date to the sole registered holder of the Series I Shares in accordance with the terms of the Series I Shares as set out in the Company’s articles. Non-registered holders of Series I Shares should contact their broker or other intermediary for information regarding the redemption process for the Series I Shares in which they hold a beneficial interest.

The Company’s transfer agent for the Series I Shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc. Questions regarding the redemption process may be directed to Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 or by email to corporateactions@computershare.com.

EFN.PR.I is a FixedReset, 5.75%+464M575, that commenced trading 2017-5-5 after being announced 2017-4-26. It has been tracked by HIMIPref™ but is relegated to the Scraps index on credit concerns.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader CanSiamCyp for bringing this to my attention!

Issue Comments

ENB.PR.U To Be Redeemed

Enbridge Inc. has announced:

that it has exercised its right to redeem all of its outstanding Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares, Series J (“Series J Shares”) (TSX: ENB.PR.U) on June 1, 2022 at a price of US$25.00 per Series J Share, together with all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any.

Beneficial holders who are not directly the registered holders of the Series J Shares should contact the financial institution, broker or other intermediary through which they hold their Series J Shares to confirm how they will receive their redemption proceeds. Inquiries from registered shareholders should be directed to Enbridge’s Registrar and Transfer Agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., at 1-800-564-6253 (Canada and United States) or 1-514-982-7555 (Outside North America).

ENB.PR.U is a FixedReset, 4.00%+305, US-Pay, that commenced trading 2012-4-19 after being announced 2012-4-10. The issue reset to 4.89% in 2017.

Thanks to Assiduous Reader skeptical for ensuring I was aware of this redemption.

The market was certainly not expecting this, as ENB.PR.U was up 13.65% on the day to close at 25.23 and related issues – denominated in USD – performed similarly well: ENB.PR.V up 9.48% to 24.26; ENB.PF.U up 10.79% to 24.54; and ENB.PF.V up 9.88% to 22.80; all hitting new 52-week highs on the day.