ME Bank downplays guarantee removal following deal
ME Bank (BBB/A2) completed an A$500 million (US$437.5 million) government guaranteed medium term note (MTN) deal on February 10, with the issuer downplaying the significance of the recent announcement of the guarantee's impending withdrawal. Buoyed by its recent success in the residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) market, ME Bank says its funding position is secure and the latest deal was part of its wider strategy rather than a move to secure guaranteed funds while available.RMBS deal further eases BOQ's need for guaranteed funding
The latest re-entrant to the Australian residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) market, Bank of Queensland (BOQ), says it is under no pressure to source additional government guaranteed funding before the withdrawal of federal support on March 31. With A$850 million (US$737.04 million) in hand from the February 9 RMBS and only one maturity in 2010, while BOQ says it is in a position to choose its funding options on their merits.
World Bank highlights strategic importance of AUD
In the wake of its return as a Kangaroo and Kauri issuer, the World Bank (AAA/Aaa/AAA) has reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the growing Australian market and expressed satisfaction at the development of opportunities in New Zealand. On February 3 the World Bank sold a A$1.5 billion (US$1.3 billion) Kangaroo and a NZ$300 million (US$205.95 million) Kauri in its first Australasian transactions of 2010.New Zealand domestic market powers ahead with three deals
A trio of transactions from issuers in New Zealand's power sector illustrates an awakening in the country's power infrastructure spending, lead managers say. Retail deals from TrustPower (unrated) and Meridian Energy (Meridian) (BBB+) have both closed in the past two weeks, having raised a combined NZ$340 million (US$233.75 million), while Mighty River Power (Mighty River) (BBB+) added NZ$100 million in a rare institutional-only transaction settling on February 11.Guaranteed era over for Australian banks with states to follow
The Australian government is confident that the country's smaller banks will be able to fund themselves subsequent to the withdrawal of the guarantee on bank funding, which federal treasurer, Wayne Swan, said will occur on March 31. While the domestic big four banks have already moved away from guaranteed funding, the market for unguaranteed paper from lower-rated Australian financial-institutions (FI) has yet to reopen.