PrefBlog

Sun Life Financial Inc. has announced (on 2021-8-4):

On September 29, 2021, we intend to redeem all of the $400 million Class A Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares Series 1 and all of the $325 million Class A Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares Series 2. The redemptions are subject to regulatory approval and will be funded from existing cash and other liquid assets in SLF Inc. The redemptions will result in a reduction in SLF Inc.’s LICAT ratio and financial leverage ratio of approximately three and two percentage points, respectively. Sun Life Assurance’s LICAT ratio will not be impacted.

This follows an earlier announcement (on 2021-6-23):

that it intends to issue in Canada $1 billion principal amount of 3.60% Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 2021-1 (Subordinated Indebtedness) (the “Notes”). The offering is expected to close on June 30, 2021. The net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes of the Company, which may include investments in subsidiaries, repayment of indebtedness and other strategic investments.

The Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.60% annually, payable semi-annually, for the initial period ending on, but excluding, 2026. Thereafter, the interest rate on the Notes will reset every five years at a rate equal to the prevailing 5-year Government of Canada Yield plus 2.604%. The Notes mature on June 30, 2081.

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company will issue 1 million Class A Non-Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares Series 14 (the “Series 14 Shares”) to be held by Computershare Trust Company of Canada as trustee of a newly formed trust (the “Limited Recourse Trust”). In case of non-payment of interest on or principal of the Notes when due, the recourse of each noteholder will be limited to that holder’s proportionate share of the Limited Recourse Trust’s assets, which will consist of Series 14 Shares except in limited circumstances.

Subject to prior regulatory approval, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part on not less than 15 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice by the Company, on June 30, 2026 and every five years thereafter during the period from May 31 to and including June 30, commencing in 2031, at a redemption price equal to par, together with accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

Additional details of the offering will be set out in a prospectus supplement that the Company intends to issue pursuant to its short form base shelf prospectus dated March 19, 2021, both of which are or will be available on the SEDAR website for Sun Life Financial Inc. at www.sedar.com. The Notes will be sold on a best efforts agency basis by a syndicate co-led by RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and TD Securities. The proceeds from this offering are expected to qualify for Tier 1 capital.

SLF.PR.A and SLF.PR.B were both PerpetualDiscounts, paying 4.75% and 4.80% respectively, that were issued in 2005.

Update, 2021-8-13: DBRS has finalized the LRCN rating:

DBRS Limited (DBRS Morningstar) finalized its provisional rating of A (low) with a Stable trend on Great-West Lifeco Inc.’s (Great-West or the Company) Limited Recourse Capital Notes Series 1 (Subordinated Indebtedness). DBRS Morningstar assigned the rating equal to the Company’s Issuer Rating of A (high) less two rating notches, which is consistent with DBRS Morningstar’s notching approach for debt instruments issued by insurance holding companies. This is two notches below the rating of Great-West’s Debentures.

Great-West expects to issue $1.5 billion of the Limited Recourse Capital Notes on August 16, 2021, with a maturity date of December 31, 2081. The Limited Recourse Capital Notes will have an initial five-year fixed rate of 3.60%.

RATING DRIVERS
An upgrade is unlikely in the intermediate term given the increase in financial leverage and integration risk following two large acquisitions. However, over the long term, a material improvement in financial leverage together with the successful integration of recent acquisitions, while maintaining strong earnings and regulatory capital levels, would result in an upgrade.

Conversely, the ratings would be downgraded if the Company experiences further sustained deterioration of its financial leverage, combined with weaker profitability and coverage ratios. Moreover, an adverse event causing regulatory capital to decline substantially or significant operational missteps with recent acquisitions, would result in a downgrade.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 at 2:57 pm and is filed under Issue Comments. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.