Archive for December, 2017

December 29, 2017

Friday, December 29th, 2017

And that’s 2017, done and dusted! Best wishes for the new year, everybody!

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 1.4957 % 2,591.1
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 1.4957 % 4,754.5
Floater 3.55 % 3.71 % 35,550 18.03 4 1.4957 % 2,740.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1324 % 3,152.6
SplitShare 4.66 % 4.08 % 64,503 3.45 5 0.1324 % 3,764.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1324 % 2,937.5
Perpetual-Premium 5.36 % 2.44 % 46,977 0.09 20 0.2244 % 2,853.4
Perpetual-Discount 5.23 % 5.28 % 63,343 14.92 14 0.0123 % 3,009.6
FixedReset 4.23 % 4.33 % 139,639 3.97 98 0.2673 % 2,509.0
Deemed-Retractible 5.07 % 5.19 % 82,135 5.89 30 0.1049 % 2,943.2
FloatingReset 2.83 % 2.73 % 42,418 3.85 8 0.3178 % 2,707.3
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
GWO.PR.N FixedReset -1.03 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.21
Bid-YTW : 7.77 %
TRP.PR.E FixedReset 1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 22.85
Evaluated at bid price : 23.21
Bid-YTW : 4.49 %
RY.PR.J FixedReset 1.22 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-05-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.86
Bid-YTW : 4.02 %
RY.PR.R FixedReset 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-08-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 27.03
Bid-YTW : 3.30 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset 1.52 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 20.10
Evaluated at bid price : 20.10
Bid-YTW : 4.63 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset 1.61 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 20.15
Evaluated at bid price : 20.15
Bid-YTW : 4.88 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 3.34 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 17.96
Evaluated at bid price : 17.96
Bid-YTW : 3.14 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
TD.PF.C FixedReset 17,300 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 22.95
Evaluated at bid price : 23.27
Bid-YTW : 4.38 %
GWO.PR.T Deemed-Retractible 17,123 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.70
Bid-YTW : 5.38 %
RY.PR.I FixedReset 17,000 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2019-02-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.08
Bid-YTW : 3.55 %
NA.PR.S FixedReset 12,119 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 23.30
Evaluated at bid price : 23.75
Bid-YTW : 4.47 %
NA.PR.X FixedReset 10,900 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-05-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 27.05
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %
There were 0 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
BAM.PF.E FixedReset Quote: 23.69 – 24.01
Spot Rate : 0.3200
Average : 0.2109

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-29
Maturity Price : 22.94
Evaluated at bid price : 23.69
Bid-YTW : 4.60 %

POW.PR.G Perpetual-Premium Quote: 25.46 – 25.75
Spot Rate : 0.2900
Average : 0.1873

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-04-15
Maturity Price : 25.25
Evaluated at bid price : 25.46
Bid-YTW : 5.08 %

GWO.PR.G Deemed-Retractible Quote: 24.71 – 25.10
Spot Rate : 0.3900
Average : 0.2930

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.71
Bid-YTW : 5.43 %

GWO.PR.N FixedReset Quote: 18.21 – 18.45
Spot Rate : 0.2400
Average : 0.1597

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.21
Bid-YTW : 7.77 %

CCS.PR.C Deemed-Retractible Quote: 23.65 – 23.96
Spot Rate : 0.3100
Average : 0.2357

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.65
Bid-YTW : 5.98 %

IFC.PR.C FixedReset Quote: 23.28 – 23.64
Spot Rate : 0.3600
Average : 0.2954

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.28
Bid-YTW : 5.04 %

December 28, 2017

Friday, December 29th, 2017
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 0.3227 % 2,552.9
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.3227 % 4,684.5
Floater 3.60 % 3.74 % 34,030 17.97 4 0.3227 % 2,699.7
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 3,148.4
SplitShare 4.66 % 4.17 % 67,150 3.45 5 0.0000 % 3,759.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 2,933.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.37 % 4.83 % 47,213 2.15 20 0.0820 % 2,847.0
Perpetual-Discount 5.23 % 5.30 % 65,871 14.89 14 0.1689 % 3,009.2
FixedReset 4.24 % 4.36 % 142,332 4.16 98 0.0807 % 2,502.4
Deemed-Retractible 5.07 % 5.19 % 85,516 5.89 30 0.1451 % 2,940.1
FloatingReset 2.84 % 2.79 % 43,892 3.85 8 0.1515 % 2,698.7
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
HSE.PR.A FixedReset -1.27 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 17.05
Evaluated at bid price : 17.05
Bid-YTW : 4.94 %
RY.PR.R FixedReset -1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-08-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.68
Bid-YTW : 3.70 %
BAM.PR.R FixedReset 1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 19.83
Evaluated at bid price : 19.83
Bid-YTW : 4.96 %
BAM.PR.Z FixedReset 1.07 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 23.32
Evaluated at bid price : 24.56
Bid-YTW : 4.83 %
TRP.PR.F FloatingReset 1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 19.35
Evaluated at bid price : 19.35
Bid-YTW : 3.77 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
W.PR.K FixedReset 50,600 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-01-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.00
Bid-YTW : 3.79 %
RY.PR.M FixedReset 19,100 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 23.21
Evaluated at bid price : 24.50
Bid-YTW : 4.37 %
PVS.PR.F SplitShare 18,000 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2024-09-30
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.50
Bid-YTW : 4.53 %
There were 0 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 Quote: 24.58 – 24.99
Spot Rate : 0.4100
Average : 0.2611

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-12-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.58
Bid-YTW : 4.40 %

TRP.PR.E FixedReset Quote: 23.25 – 23.64
Spot Rate : 0.3900
Average : 0.2515

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 22.89
Evaluated at bid price : 23.25
Bid-YTW : 4.55 %

VNR.PR.A FixedReset Quote: 24.95 – 25.46
Spot Rate : 0.5100
Average : 0.3777

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 23.16
Evaluated at bid price : 24.95
Bid-YTW : 4.62 %

W.PR.H Perpetual-Premium Quote: 24.80 – 25.25
Spot Rate : 0.4500
Average : 0.3255

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-28
Maturity Price : 24.55
Evaluated at bid price : 24.80
Bid-YTW : 5.55 %

MFC.PR.C Deemed-Retractible Quote: 21.68 – 22.00
Spot Rate : 0.3200
Average : 0.2074

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.68
Bid-YTW : 6.96 %

RY.PR.R FixedReset Quote: 26.68 – 26.97
Spot Rate : 0.2900
Average : 0.1905

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-08-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.68
Bid-YTW : 3.70 %

December 27, 2017

Thursday, December 28th, 2017

Well, that’s the last day of tax-loss selling, which I believe has played a role in December’s softness. Thanks to two-day settlement, tax-loss season lasted until after Christmas this year!

PerpetualDiscounts now yield 5.31%, equivalent to 6.90% interest at the standard equivalency factor of 1.3x. Long corporates now yield a little over 3.70%, so the pre-tax interest-equivalent spread (in this context, the “Seniority Spread”) is now about 320bp, a significant widening from the 310bp reported December 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 2.3955 % 2,544.7
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 2.3955 % 4,669.4
Floater 3.61 % 3.76 % 35,392 17.94 4 2.3955 % 2,691.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1326 % 3,148.4
SplitShare 4.66 % 4.18 % 69,912 3.46 5 0.1326 % 3,759.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.1326 % 2,933.6
Perpetual-Premium 5.36 % 4.80 % 49,161 2.15 20 0.1239 % 2,844.6
Perpetual-Discount 5.24 % 5.31 % 66,883 14.89 14 -0.0675 % 3,004.1
FixedReset 4.24 % 4.34 % 145,240 3.98 98 -0.0009 % 2,500.3
Deemed-Retractible 5.08 % 5.29 % 89,028 5.90 30 0.0041 % 2,935.8
FloatingReset 2.84 % 2.80 % 43,974 3.85 8 0.0433 % 2,694.6
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
NA.PR.C FixedReset -1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-11-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.61
Bid-YTW : 4.03 %
HSE.PR.A FixedReset 1.17 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 17.27
Evaluated at bid price : 17.27
Bid-YTW : 4.88 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 1.94 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 17.38
Evaluated at bid price : 17.38
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %
BAM.PR.B Floater 2.05 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 14.90
Evaluated at bid price : 14.90
Bid-YTW : 3.76 %
BAM.PR.K Floater 2.49 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 14.80
Evaluated at bid price : 14.80
Bid-YTW : 3.78 %
BAM.PR.C Floater 3.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 14.90
Evaluated at bid price : 14.90
Bid-YTW : 3.76 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
RY.PR.N Perpetual-Premium 40,915 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2024-11-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.30
Bid-YTW : 4.80 %
BAM.PR.K Floater 27,100 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 14.80
Evaluated at bid price : 14.80
Bid-YTW : 3.78 %
PVS.PR.E SplitShare 19,141 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2018-01-26
Maturity Price : 26.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.70
Bid-YTW : -22.23 %
TRP.PR.A FixedReset 15,950 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 19.70
Evaluated at bid price : 19.70
Bid-YTW : 4.72 %
RY.PR.M FixedReset 15,500 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 23.19
Evaluated at bid price : 24.45
Bid-YTW : 4.38 %
BMO.PR.Y FixedReset 15,427 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-08-25
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.79
Bid-YTW : 4.29 %
There were 7 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
BMO.PR.M FixedReset Quote: 25.01 – 32.95
Spot Rate : 7.9400
Average : 4.2449

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.01
Bid-YTW : 3.55 %

PWF.PR.A Floater Quote: 17.38 – 18.25
Spot Rate : 0.8700
Average : 0.5453

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 17.38
Evaluated at bid price : 17.38
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %

NA.PR.C FixedReset Quote: 25.61 – 25.95
Spot Rate : 0.3400
Average : 0.1987

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-11-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.61
Bid-YTW : 4.03 %

BAM.PR.Z FixedReset Quote: 24.30 – 24.71
Spot Rate : 0.4100
Average : 0.2774

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 22.90
Evaluated at bid price : 24.30
Bid-YTW : 4.87 %

TRP.PR.F FloatingReset Quote: 19.12 – 19.54
Spot Rate : 0.4200
Average : 0.3134

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-27
Maturity Price : 19.12
Evaluated at bid price : 19.12
Bid-YTW : 3.82 %

MFC.PR.B Deemed-Retractible Quote: 22.40 – 22.70
Spot Rate : 0.3000
Average : 0.2033

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.40
Bid-YTW : 6.56 %

December 22, 2017

Friday, December 22nd, 2017

Manulife has announced a 2.9-billion hit for 17Q4. Management must be distraught that such an important development had to be announced after the market closed for the Christmas holiday – with no time to publish a press release on their website, darn it! It only made it to Newswire – so I’ll help them out by passing along the word:

Manulife Financial Corp. is preparing to take two charges worth $2.9-billion in its fourth quarter as U.S. tax reforms and a new investment strategy reshapes the business.

The Toronto-based insurer said Friday evening that it would move to sell some private market assets, resulting in a one-time $1-billion hit to profits as the company aims to put capital toward investments that can offer higher returns.

At the same time, Manulife said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s overhaul of the U.S. tax code would result in a second $1.9-billion charge as a result of some accounting changes, but that the move would be beneficial to the company’s business south of the border over time. Both charges will be included in Manulife’s fourth-quarter results, which are set to be released on Feb. 7.

Over the next year and a half, Manulife plans to sell some of its alternative assets, which are long-term holdings in sectors such as timberland, farmland, infrastructure and energy. Many of these assets are located in the U.S.

As the alternative assets are sold, about $2-billion in regulatory capital will be freed up at Manulife. But the move will also mean that the company’s core earnings, a metric that strips out some accounting volatility, will be reduced by up to $60-million per year after tax until Manulife is able to put about $1-billion in capital to work in businesses that yield higher returns.

The second non-cash charge of $1.9-billion is an upfront hit related to major tax changes in the U.S. that are also expected to impact banks and other insurers. About one-third of Manulife’s business is in insurance and wealth-management operations in the U.S.

Readers of PrefLetter will be familiar with my long-standing qualms about Manulife’s focus on alternative assets. With respect to the $1.9-billion accounting charge, they have plenty of company:

Hours after the bill signing, announcements started to roll in from some of the world’s biggest companies — with some spectacular numbers. While the bill benefits most companies through a lower rate, it also requires them to recalculate some of the tax positions they may have been holding on their books for years.

Biotechnology company Amgen Inc. said it would take a $6 billion to $6.5 billion charge. Bank of America Corp. plans to take a $3 billion hit, and Credit Suisse Group AG will take a writedown of 2.3 billion Swiss francs ($2.32 billion).

The one-time changes are related mostly to what are known as deferred tax assets that accumulate on balance sheets when companies overpay taxes or take tax losses. On the other side of the ledger, deferred tax liabilities pile up when they’ve underpaid taxes on depreciated assets.

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 -0.8680 % 2,485.2
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.8680 % 4,560.1
Floater 3.70 % 3.83 % 32,731 17.78 4 -0.8680 % 2,628.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 3,144.3
SplitShare 4.67 % 4.16 % 72,787 3.47 5 0.0000 % 3,754.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 2,929.8
Perpetual-Premium 5.37 % 4.84 % 48,829 2.17 20 -0.0315 % 2,841.1
Perpetual-Discount 5.24 % 5.29 % 69,445 14.91 14 -0.0061 % 3,006.1
FixedReset 4.24 % 4.25 % 148,091 4.13 98 0.0668 % 2,500.4
Deemed-Retractible 5.08 % 5.27 % 88,550 5.91 30 -0.0856 % 2,935.7
FloatingReset 2.78 % 2.72 % 44,614 3.87 8 0.0325 % 2,693.5
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
BAM.PR.C Floater -1.97 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 14.44
Evaluated at bid price : 14.44
Bid-YTW : 3.88 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset 1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.40
Bid-YTW : 4.88 %
CM.PR.Q FixedReset 1.06 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-07-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.71
Bid-YTW : 4.31 %
TRP.PR.B FixedReset 1.18 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 16.24
Evaluated at bid price : 16.24
Bid-YTW : 4.42 %
CM.PR.O FixedReset 1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 23.44
Evaluated at bid price : 23.84
Bid-YTW : 4.22 %
IAG.PR.A Deemed-Retractible 1.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.54
Bid-YTW : 6.36 %
CU.PR.I FixedReset 1.39 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-12-01
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.17
Bid-YTW : 2.94 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
BMO.PR.B FixedReset 125,240 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-02-25
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.23
Bid-YTW : 3.68 %
RY.PR.Q FixedReset 71,403 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-05-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.94
Bid-YTW : 3.23 %
RY.PR.J FixedReset 56,650 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-05-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.80
Bid-YTW : 4.09 %
BIP.PR.B FixedReset 37,800 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-12-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.75
Bid-YTW : 4.41 %
BIP.PR.D FixedReset 33,418 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-03-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.35
Bid-YTW : 4.63 %
CM.PR.R FixedReset 14,960 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-07-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.55
Bid-YTW : 4.05 %
There were 5 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
BAM.PR.K Floater Quote: 14.44 – 15.21
Spot Rate : 0.7700
Average : 0.5435

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 14.44
Evaluated at bid price : 14.44
Bid-YTW : 3.88 %

BAM.PR.C Floater Quote: 14.44 – 14.92
Spot Rate : 0.4800
Average : 0.3118

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 14.44
Evaluated at bid price : 14.44
Bid-YTW : 3.88 %

W.PR.M FixedReset Quote: 26.36 – 26.80
Spot Rate : 0.4400
Average : 0.2926

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-10-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.36
Bid-YTW : 3.95 %

IFC.PR.E Deemed-Retractible Quote: 24.91 – 25.35
Spot Rate : 0.4400
Average : 0.2990

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.91
Bid-YTW : 5.27 %

PWF.PR.R Perpetual-Premium Quote: 25.65 – 25.99
Spot Rate : 0.3400
Average : 0.2225

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-04-30
Maturity Price : 25.25
Evaluated at bid price : 25.65
Bid-YTW : 5.10 %

PWF.PR.T FixedReset Quote: 24.36 – 24.69
Spot Rate : 0.3300
Average : 0.2388

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-22
Maturity Price : 23.90
Evaluated at bid price : 24.36
Bid-YTW : 4.20 %

ENB Preferreds Downgraded to Ba2 by Moody’s

Thursday, December 21st, 2017

Moody’s Investor Service has announced:

today downgraded the senior unsecured ratings of Enbridge Inc. (ENB) to Baa3 from Baa2. In addition, Moody’s changed the short term commercial paper rating for Enbridge (US) Inc. to P-3 from P-2 and the subordinate ratings to Ba2 from Ba1. At the same time, Moody’s changed the rating outlook for Enbridge to stable from negative.

The downgrade reflects ongoing high leverage at Enbridge Inc. For example, Moody’s calculates a ratio of debt to EBITDA at 6.4x for the twelve months ended September 2017. Attaining a ratio below 5.5x, for a sustained period of time, is an important threshold to maintain the Baa2 rating. On a prospective basis, taking into consideration the actions announced, the ratio could fall to the 5.3x — 5.5x range, but Moody’s views the execution risks associated with Enbridge’s stated actions to be sufficiently high that achieving those levels in 2018 would be challenging.

Outlook

The change in rating outlook to stable from negative reflects Enbridge’s predictable cash flow generation and large, low business risk asset base. The stable outlook reflects an expectation that Enbridge will follow through on its announced strategic plans, which include some non-core asset divestitures and financing plans that encompasses a balanced mix of both debt and equity. The stable outlook also incorporates a view that Enbridge’s key financial credit metrics, including a ratio of debt to EBITDA, will decline towards 5.5x during 2018, setting a path for further improvements to financial metrics in 2019 and 2020.

Factors that Could Lead to an Upgrade

  • • Moody’s adjusted debt to EBITDA is sustained comfortably below 5.5x.
  • • A large reduction in its organizational complexity and structural subordination

Factors that Could Lead to a Downgrade

  • • Moody’s adjusted debt to EBITDA is sustained well above 6x.
  • • Increases in structural subordination, more aggressive financial policies or a material change in the company’s business risk could also lead to a downgrade.


Pref. Stock Preferred Stock, Downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1

The story attracted notice from the Globe & Mail.

Affected issues are (deep breath) ENB.PF.A, ENB.PF.C, ENB.PF.E, ENB.PF.G, ENB.PF.I, ENB.PF.K, ENB.PR.A, ENB.PR.B, ENB.PR.C, ENB.PR.D, ENB.PR.F, ENB.PR.H, ENB.PR.J, ENB.PR.N, ENB.PR.P, ENB.PR.T and ENB.PR.Y

December 21, 2017

Thursday, December 21st, 2017

Hey, how ’bout that bond market, eh?:

Benchmark bond yields are headed for the biggest weekly advance since September as investors contemplate prospects for continued economic growth and reduced central bank stimulus.

The yield on 10-year Treasuries slid 2 basis points Thursday, to 2.48 percent. That’s up from 2.35 percent at the end of last week.

…and Bloomberg supplies a chart of the generic 10-year Treasury yield:

10yrtreasury_171221
Click for Big

In Canada, the five-year is at 1.86% and the 3-Month Bill has breeched the point at 1.03%.

… and the BoC supplies a chart of GOC-5:

goc5_171221
Click for Big
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 0.0000 % 2,506.9
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0000 % 4,600.1
Floater 3.67 % 3.80 % 32,548 17.86 4 0.0000 % 2,651.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.1168 % 3,144.3
SplitShare 4.67 % 4.06 % 71,489 3.47 5 -0.1168 % 3,754.9
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 -0.1168 % 2,929.8
Perpetual-Premium 5.37 % 4.84 % 49,707 2.17 20 0.0386 % 2,842.0
Perpetual-Discount 5.24 % 5.28 % 68,451 14.93 14 -0.0146 % 3,006.3
FixedReset 4.24 % 4.23 % 148,898 4.14 98 0.4456 % 2,498.7
Deemed-Retractible 5.07 % 5.32 % 88,845 5.92 30 -0.1985 % 2,938.2
FloatingReset 2.78 % 2.77 % 44,595 3.88 8 0.1789 % 2,692.6
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
IAG.PR.A Deemed-Retractible -1.85 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.23
Bid-YTW : 6.59 %
BAM.PF.A FixedReset 1.02 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 24.14
Evaluated at bid price : 24.65
Bid-YTW : 4.64 %
NA.PR.C FixedReset 1.09 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-11-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.90
Bid-YTW : 3.76 %
TD.PF.D FixedReset 1.10 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-07-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.86
Bid-YTW : 4.05 %
IFC.PR.C FixedReset 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.16
Bid-YTW : 5.04 %
BMO.PR.Y FixedReset 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-08-25
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.83
Bid-YTW : 4.20 %
TD.PF.A FixedReset 1.16 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 23.17
Evaluated at bid price : 23.53
Bid-YTW : 4.20 %
MFC.PR.H FixedReset 1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-03-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.30
Bid-YTW : 4.53 %
MFC.PR.L FixedReset 1.26 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.53
Bid-YTW : 5.59 %
BMO.PR.T FixedReset 1.27 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 22.71
Evaluated at bid price : 23.10
Bid-YTW : 4.26 %
MFC.PR.M FixedReset 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.21
Bid-YTW : 5.26 %
TRP.PR.C FixedReset 1.53 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 17.25
Evaluated at bid price : 17.25
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %
NA.PR.W FixedReset 1.55 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 22.69
Evaluated at bid price : 23.00
Bid-YTW : 4.30 %
IFC.PR.A FixedReset 1.57 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.06
Bid-YTW : 7.00 %
MFC.PR.N FixedReset 1.67 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.18
Bid-YTW : 5.19 %
SLF.PR.I FixedReset 1.74 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-12-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.50
Bid-YTW : 4.34 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
NA.PR.A FixedReset 210,180 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-08-15
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.65
Bid-YTW : 3.64 %
TRP.PR.J FixedReset 119,680 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-05-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.53
Bid-YTW : 3.71 %
CM.PR.R FixedReset 117,694 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-07-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.75
Bid-YTW : 3.86 %
TD.PR.Z FloatingReset 100,400 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.81
Bid-YTW : 2.77 %
RY.PR.Q FixedReset 95,045 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-05-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 27.00
Bid-YTW : 3.16 %
TD.PF.H FixedReset 92,772 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-10-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.22
Bid-YTW : 3.69 %
There were 41 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
SLF.PR.G FixedReset Quote: 18.11 – 18.75
Spot Rate : 0.6400
Average : 0.3913

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.11
Bid-YTW : 7.94 %

IAG.PR.A Deemed-Retractible Quote: 22.23 – 22.75
Spot Rate : 0.5200
Average : 0.3363

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 22.23
Bid-YTW : 6.59 %

SLF.PR.H FixedReset Quote: 21.36 – 21.79
Spot Rate : 0.4300
Average : 0.2633

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 21.36
Bid-YTW : 5.83 %

BAM.PR.K Floater Quote: 14.56 – 15.00
Spot Rate : 0.4400
Average : 0.2952

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 14.56
Evaluated at bid price : 14.56
Bid-YTW : 3.84 %

CU.PR.I FixedReset Quote: 25.81 – 26.25
Spot Rate : 0.4400
Average : 0.3196

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2020-12-01
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.81
Bid-YTW : 3.44 %

CM.PR.Q FixedReset Quote: 24.45 – 24.77
Spot Rate : 0.3200
Average : 0.2136

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-21
Maturity Price : 23.24
Evaluated at bid price : 24.45
Bid-YTW : 4.42 %

FFH Upgraded to Pfd-3(high) by DBRS

Thursday, December 21st, 2017

DBRS has announced that it:

upgraded Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited’s (Fairfax or the Company) Issuer Rating to BBB (high) from BBB, its Senior Unsecured Debt rating to BBB (high) from BBB and its Preferred Shares rating to Pfd-3 (high) from Pfd-3.

The upgrade of Fairfax’s ratings primarily reflects the application of the “Global Insurance Methodology” and the assignment of an FSR of “A” to its operating insurance companies. As the parent holding company, Fairfax’s Issuer Rating of BBB (high) is positioned two notches below this FSR.

In upgrading the Issuer Rating to BBB (high), DBRS takes into account Fairfax’s good franchise strength and risk profile, including its good net earnings, liquidity and capitalization. DBRS also considered the successful completion of the acquisition of Allied World (AWAC), which enhances the Company’s global market share, product offering and geographic reach while strengthening Fairfax’s position in the U.S. Excess & Surplus insurance market, increasing the Company’s rank to within the top five.

Fairfax has eliminated all of its equity index hedges, sold the majority of its long-dated bonds and reduced the duration of its fixed-income portfolios. This is expected to result in more stable investment income and net earnings going forward. Indicative of its franchise strength, the Company is the third-largest commercial property and casualty (P&C) insurer in Canada in terms of market share based on 2016 direct written premiums, and it is one of the top 15 global non-life reinsurers after the acquisition of AWAC.

The Company’s value-based investment strategy, though effective and historically successful, tends to yield volatile results. Consequently, despite historically stable and profitable underwriting results, the earnings volatility from investment income and past hedging activities are affecting fixed-charge coverage ratios that are averaging 3.0 times (x) lower than desired levels for an “A”-rated company. Fairfax’s high cash balances and the subsidiaries’ dividend capacity alleviate concerns about Fairfax’s meeting its capital servicing requirements.

The Stable trend considers the Company’s improving fundamentals, including its expanding global operations and strengthening franchise as well as its ability to adapt to the current challenging operating environment.

RATING DRIVERS

Positive ratings pressure could arise if the Company demonstrates a sustained improvement in profitability through consistently high returns on equity accompanied by well-managed risk exposures with continuous protection of capital, evidenced by strong regulatory capital ratios, along with material reduction in leverage, significantly improved fixed-charge coverage ratios and a material reduction in investment income volatility. Negative ratings pressure could arise through the inadequate monitoring and oversight of assumed risks, resulting in a material deterioration in underwriting results, a sustained material decline in the regulatory capital ratios of the operating subsidiaries, a material reduction in holdco liquidity levels or a sustained significant deterioration in investment income.

Affected issues are FFH.PR.C, FFH.PR.D, FFH.PR.E, FFH.PR.F, FFH.PR.G, FFH.PR.H, FFH.PR.I, FFH.PR.J, FFH.PR.K and FFH.PR.M.

Note that Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is not regulated by OSFI although Northbridge, its P&C subsidiary, is:

In Canada, property and casualty companies are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions on the basis of a minimum supervisory target of 150% of a minimum capital test (‘‘MCT’’) formula. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 Northbridge’s subsidiaries had a weighted average MCT ratio in excess of the 150% minimum supervisory target.

Therefore, I do not consider FFH issues to be subject to the potential DeemedRetraction of insurers.

December 20, 2017

Thursday, December 21st, 2017

PerpetualDiscounts now yield 5.29%, equivalent to 6.88% interest at the standard equivalency factor of 1.3x. Long corporates now yield a little over 3.75%, so the pre-tax interest-equivalent spread (in this context, the “Seniority Spread”) is now about 310bp, a significant narrowing from the 320bp reported December 13.

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 1.0760 % 2,506.9
FixedFloater 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 1.0760 % 4,600.1
Floater 3.67 % 3.80 % 32,515 17.86 4 1.0760 % 2,651.0
OpRet 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0779 % 3,148.0
SplitShare 4.66 % 3.94 % 66,179 3.48 5 0.0779 % 3,759.3
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0779 % 2,933.2
Perpetual-Premium 5.35 % 4.78 % 50,404 2.14 20 0.0432 % 2,840.9
Perpetual-Discount 5.23 % 5.29 % 69,155 14.91 14 0.1227 % 3,006.8
FixedReset 4.26 % 4.30 % 149,022 4.38 98 0.1696 % 2,487.6
Deemed-Retractible 5.06 % 5.21 % 89,758 5.92 30 0.2100 % 2,944.1
FloatingReset 2.78 % 2.80 % 44,480 3.88 8 0.1358 % 2,687.8
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
SLF.PR.I FixedReset -1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.08
Bid-YTW : 4.68 %
SLF.PR.G FixedReset -1.04 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.01
Bid-YTW : 8.03 %
PWF.PR.A Floater 1.13 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 17.00
Evaluated at bid price : 17.00
Bid-YTW : 3.32 %
HSE.PR.A FixedReset 1.13 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 16.99
Evaluated at bid price : 16.99
Bid-YTW : 4.79 %
PWF.PR.P FixedReset 1.15 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 17.60
Evaluated at bid price : 17.60
Bid-YTW : 4.50 %
HSE.PR.C FixedReset 1.20 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 23.34
Evaluated at bid price : 24.40
Bid-YTW : 4.86 %
BAM.PR.B Floater 1.31 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 14.73
Evaluated at bid price : 14.73
Bid-YTW : 3.80 %
BAM.PR.C Floater 1.45 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 14.72
Evaluated at bid price : 14.72
Bid-YTW : 3.80 %
SLF.PR.B Deemed-Retractible 1.51 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.55
Bid-YTW : 5.82 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
RY.PR.I FixedReset 299,875 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2019-02-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.10
Bid-YTW : 3.41 %
RY.PR.L FixedReset 250,870 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2019-02-24
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.37
Bid-YTW : 3.25 %
BMO.PR.B FixedReset 226,519 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2022-02-25
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.10
Bid-YTW : 3.81 %
TD.PF.H FixedReset 187,539 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2021-10-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.22
Bid-YTW : 3.69 %
GWO.PR.T Deemed-Retractible 128,300 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.65
Bid-YTW : 5.40 %
BNS.PR.B FloatingReset 100,060 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2022-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.78
Bid-YTW : 2.82 %
There were 37 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.
Wide Spread Highlights
Issue Index Quote Data and Yield Notes
PVS.PR.E SplitShare Quote: 26.50 – 27.01
Spot Rate : 0.5100
Average : 0.3517

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2018-01-19
Maturity Price : 26.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.50
Bid-YTW : -15.04 %

GWO.PR.M Deemed-Retractible Quote: 25.75 – 26.17
Spot Rate : 0.4200
Average : 0.2647

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2018-01-19
Maturity Price : 25.50
Evaluated at bid price : 25.75
Bid-YTW : -8.12 %

SLF.PR.I FixedReset Quote: 24.08 – 24.45
Spot Rate : 0.3700
Average : 0.2433

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 24.08
Bid-YTW : 4.68 %

VNR.PR.A FixedReset Quote: 24.60 – 24.90
Spot Rate : 0.3000
Average : 0.1749

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2047-12-20
Maturity Price : 23.03
Evaluated at bid price : 24.60
Bid-YTW : 4.58 %

RY.PR.D Deemed-Retractible Quote: 25.36 – 25.68
Spot Rate : 0.3200
Average : 0.1952

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2018-01-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 25.36
Bid-YTW : -8.83 %

GWO.PR.N FixedReset Quote: 18.18 – 18.45
Spot Rate : 0.2700
Average : 0.1761

YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2025-01-31
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 18.18
Bid-YTW : 7.67 %

LB : CreditWatch Negative, says S&P

Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

S&P Global Ratings has announced:

  • •Montreal-based Laurentian Bank of Canada recently disclosed mortgage documentation and client representation issues, with a sample of mortgage loans sold to third-party purchasers, that have generated some concern, on our part, with respect to the rigor of the company’s underwriting procedures and risk control functions.
  • •While there is currently no evidence of weakened asset quality in the sample or overall mortgage portfolio, we believe aggressive residential loan growth as well as the bank’s exposure to the nonprime residential mortgage segment of the Canadian mortgage market has increased the near-term downside to the risk profile for Laurentian Bank.
  • •We are therefore placing our ratings on Laurentian Bank of Canada on CreditWatch with negative implications.


The CreditWatch placement reflects our view that the bank’s aggressive loan growth could have negative repercussions for LBC’s creditworthiness. Although the bank’s asset-quality metrics remain strong, we believe the recent disclosures around lapses in mortgage documentation based on a sample of mortgages sold to a third-party purchaser (TPP) and inadvertent inclusion of ineligible loans in another third-party transaction suggest the company’s underwriting procedures and risk control functions may be weaker than the assumptions our current ratings incorporate.

As noted in our June 16 report on the bank, we believe that LBC’s ambitious transformation plan, largely focused on growth in commercial lending and increased use of the B2B (via brokers and third-party financial advisers) channel, may negatively affect the bank’s asset-quality profile. In 2017, LBC’s residential mortgage loans were up 10% from last year, reflecting organic growth through independent brokers and advisors.

Specifically, we could lower our ratings on LBC if we see:

  • •Further findings regarding mortgage document falsification that show the problem to be deeper than initially described;
  • •Weakening funding and liquidity profile, such that our stable funding ratio and broad liquid assets as a proportion of short-term wholesale funding for Laurentian Bank meaningfully weaken;
  • •Deterioration in loan performance and asset quality metrics owing to the aforementioned documentation issues or otherwise; or
  • •Legal or regulatory actions affecting the company’s financials or reputation.

We could affirm the ratings, and revise the outlook to negative, if we observe receding near-term risks, including:

  • •The mortgage document falsification proves to be small in impact and largely contained to a minor segment of the portfolio.

Affected issues are LB.PR.H and LB.PR.J.

This move follows coverage by Canadian media:

Laurentian Bank of Canada is trying to calm jittery investors, suggesting shareholders overreacted when they sent its share price tumbling after the bank disclosed problems with some mortgages it issued.

The Montreal-based bank played down documentation gaps and misrepresentation affecting up to $300-million in mortgages as largely a paperwork issue, even as it admitted staff had failed to get necessary documents to verify some loans, while a lesser number of clients had embellished their means to qualify.

Executives at the lender have stressed that it has ample excess cash to repurchase $180-million in problematic loans in the near term, and more if necessary. Audits turned up no evidence that staff did anything intentionally wrong, and found no notable concentration of improper loans coming from any particular mortgage brokers, the bank said. And so far, the loans at issue have performed well.

NPI.PR.C : No Conversion to FloatingReset

Tuesday, December 19th, 2017

Northland Power Inc. has announced:

that as fewer than one million of its Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series 3 (“Series 3 Shares”) were tendered for conversion into Cumulative Floating Rate Preferred Shares, Series 4 (the “Series 4 Shares”), no Series 3 Shares will be converted into Series 4 Shares. Consequently, effective December 31, 2017, Northland will continue to have 4,800,000 Series 3 Shares and no Series 4 Shares issued and outstanding.

The fixed quarterly dividends on the Series 3 Shares for the period from January 2, 2018 until December 31, 2022 will be paid at an annual rate of 5.08% (Cdn. $0.3175 per share per quarter).

The Series 3 Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “NPI.PR.C”.

It will be recalled that NPI.PR.C will reset to 5.08% effective January 1 and I recommended against conversion.

NPI.PR.C is a FixedReset, 5.00%+346, that commenced trading 2012-5-24 after being announced 2012-5-14. It is tracked by HIMIPref™ but relegated to the Scraps index on credit concerns.