July 16, 2009

The amount of US Commercial Paper outstanding is shrinking dramatically. Bloomberg reports:

For now, companies are willing to pay higher rates to ensure access to capital after watching credit dry up almost overnight as the subprime mortgage contagion spread in 2007 and 2008 and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. collapsed in September.

More than 60 companies sold bonds this year to repay commercial paper, including Con Edison, Verizon Communications Inc. in New York and Kellogg, the 103-year-old maker of Keebler cookies and Rice Krispies cereal, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Non-financial companies have sold $306 billion of investment-grade bonds this year, a record pace.

“Treasurers aren’t sleeping at night because they don’t know if they can roll over commercial paper,” said Anthony J. Carfang, a partner at Treasury Strategies Inc, a Chicago consulting firm. “They’d rather lock in money for five years and pay a little more.”

Maybe it’s not so much a bad thing. With all the new emphasis on liquidity management and the example of CIT impossible to ignore, maybe these treasurers are wondering ‘What if we’re completely locked out of the capital markets for a year?’

Speaking of CIT …. bondholders are reportedly discussing a debt-for-equity swap:

Pacific Investment Management Co., CIT’s largest bondholder based on regulatory filings, was to host a call, and debt owners are considering hiring financial and legal advisers, said the person, who declined to be identified because the discussions are private. The company hasn’t proposed an exchange offer.

“CIT indicated that it needs at least $2 billion of rescue financing in the next 24 hours or it would likely file,” CreditSights analysts Adam Steer, David Hendler and Pri De Silva wrote in a report. “We believe the figure is in the range of $4 to $6 billion plus, making outside capital sources shy away.”

This would presumably wipe-out the participants in December’s $2.4-billion swap. The company, rather predictably, has issued a press release stating:

that its Board of Directors and management, in consultation with their advisors, are continuing to evaluate alternatives to improve the Company’s liquidity. CIT is in discussions with potential lenders to secure financing.

The Company is continuing to serve customers. CIT appreciates the strong support it has received from many of its 1 million small business and middle market customers, industry associations and dedicated employees.

Another day of strong performance for preferred shares, on continued good volume. I don’t know what happened to the MFC PerpetualDiscounts – their decline was unmatched by the MFC FixedResets and common. Just another one of those pref thingies, I guess…

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 -0.3617 % 1,154.8
FixedFloater 7.25 % 5.46 % 35,501 16.68 1 0.0000 % 2,118.3
Floater 3.30 % 3.89 % 80,930 17.68 3 -0.3617 % 1,442.7
OpRet 4.98 % -2.98 % 130,922 0.09 15 0.0261 % 2,218.5
SplitShare 6.08 % 4.12 % 96,579 4.15 4 0.3799 % 1,927.2
Interest-Bearing 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.0261 % 2,028.6
Perpetual-Premium 0.00 % 0.00 % 0 0.00 0 0.2136 % 1,776.6
Perpetual-Discount 6.24 % 6.26 % 159,835 13.53 71 0.2136 % 1,636.3
FixedReset 5.55 % 4.29 % 569,360 4.28 40 0.2268 % 2,072.2
Performance Highlights
Issue Index Change Notes
MFC.PR.B Perpetual-Discount -3.72 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 18.11
Evaluated at bid price : 18.11
Bid-YTW : 6.51 %
MFC.PR.C Perpetual-Discount -2.95 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 17.43
Evaluated at bid price : 17.43
Bid-YTW : 6.54 %
PWF.PR.L Perpetual-Discount -1.27 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 20.14
Evaluated at bid price : 20.14
Bid-YTW : 6.36 %
BAM.PR.O OpRet -1.03 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Option Certainty
Maturity Date : 2013-06-30
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 23.91
Bid-YTW : 6.37 %
RY.PR.G Perpetual-Discount 1.01 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 19.02
Evaluated at bid price : 19.02
Bid-YTW : 6.02 %
RY.PR.W Perpetual-Discount 1.14 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 20.41
Evaluated at bid price : 20.41
Bid-YTW : 6.11 %
CM.PR.E Perpetual-Discount 1.19 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 21.80
Evaluated at bid price : 22.10
Bid-YTW : 6.35 %
RY.PR.F Perpetual-Discount 1.23 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 19.00
Evaluated at bid price : 19.00
Bid-YTW : 5.96 %
GWO.PR.I Perpetual-Discount 1.27 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 18.28
Evaluated at bid price : 18.28
Bid-YTW : 6.22 %
PWF.PR.J OpRet 1.36 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2009-08-15
Maturity Price : 25.75
Evaluated at bid price : 26.00
Bid-YTW : -9.27 %
POW.PR.D Perpetual-Discount 1.42 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 20.00
Evaluated at bid price : 20.00
Bid-YTW : 6.30 %
POW.PR.A Perpetual-Discount 1.43 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 21.31
Evaluated at bid price : 21.31
Bid-YTW : 6.62 %
BMO.PR.P FixedReset 1.53 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2015-03-27
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.60
Bid-YTW : 4.21 %
BAM.PR.M Perpetual-Discount 1.54 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 15.82
Evaluated at bid price : 15.82
Bid-YTW : 7.60 %
IAG.PR.C FixedReset 1.75 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2014-01-30
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.72
Bid-YTW : 4.60 %
CU.PR.A Perpetual-Discount 1.87 % YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 24.18
Evaluated at bid price : 24.50
Bid-YTW : 6.00 %
BNA.PR.C SplitShare 1.93 % Pro forma asset coverage of 2.6+:1 as of July 8, according to DBRS.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Hard Maturity
Maturity Date : 2019-01-10
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 16.36
Bid-YTW : 10.27 %
Volume Highlights
Issue Index Shares
Traded
Notes
BAM.PR.K Floater 102,100 RBC crossed 98,600 at 10.00.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 10.10
Evaluated at bid price : 10.10
Bid-YTW : 3.92 %
BMO.PR.P FixedReset 73,995 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2015-03-27
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.60
Bid-YTW : 4.21 %
MFC.PR.C Perpetual-Discount 73,975 Scotia crossed 24,500 at 17.75.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 17.43
Evaluated at bid price : 17.43
Bid-YTW : 6.54 %
SLF.PR.C Perpetual-Discount 58,450 RBC crossed 49,800 at 17.10.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 17.07
Evaluated at bid price : 17.07
Bid-YTW : 6.59 %
RY.PR.I FixedReset 48,637 Scotia sold 22,600 to anonymous at 25.56.
YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Limit Maturity
Maturity Date : 2039-07-16
Maturity Price : 25.58
Evaluated at bid price : 25.63
Bid-YTW : 4.46 %
MFC.PR.E FixedReset 46,175 YTW SCENARIO
Maturity Type : Call
Maturity Date : 2014-10-19
Maturity Price : 25.00
Evaluated at bid price : 26.19
Bid-YTW : 4.74 %
There were 59 other index-included issues trading in excess of 10,000 shares.

3 Responses to “July 16, 2009”

  1. GAndreone says:

    Is the Class action lawsuit filed by the cause?

    Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Manulife Financial Corporation
    14 Jul 2009 – BusinessWire

    BENSALEM, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased the securities of Manulife Financial Corporation (“Manulife” or the “Company”) between March 28, 2008 and June 22, 2009, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Manulife trades as “MFC” on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under “945” on the SEHK. The class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

    The Complaint alleges that the defendants violated federal securities laws by issuing material misrepresentations to the market concerning Manulife’s business and prospects, thereby artificially inflating the price of Manulife securities.

    No class has yet been certified in the above action. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. If you purchased Manulife securities between March 28, 2008 and June 22, 2009, you have certain rights, and have until September 8, 2009, to move for Lead Plaintiff status. To be a member of the class you need not take any action at this time, and you may retain counsel of your choice. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this Notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215)638-4847, Toll-Free at (888)638-4847, by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com or visit our website at http://www.howardsmithlaw.com.

    Source: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith

  2. jiHymas says:

    If the drop was due to this, I would expect the losses to apply to all MFC’s capital instruments, particularly the common stock – but that isn’t what happened.

  3. jiHymas says:

    Big volume in MFC.PR.B today (17th), mostly around 18.20. A dealer might have taken the price down on behalf of a seller to where he could find some buying interest in size.

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