Germany

Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen offered investors a rare opportunity to participate in a sizeable Pfandbrief transaction and gain exposure to its credit today (Tuesday), with a Eu750m four year issue duly snapped up by accounts in a market where jumbo Pfandbriefe have been few and far between.

The covered bond market is in good condition and generally open for issuance, syndicate bankers reported today (Monday), but with no new mandates publicly announced since last Thursday a deal from Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo was this morning the most concrete new issue project in the pipeline for the week.

Standard & Poor’s on Friday affirmed at BBB the ratings of five rated members of Hypo Real Estate group following a transfer of assets to run-off entity FMS Wertmanagement. Fitch affirmed Deutsche Pfandbriefbank but cut those of Depfa Bank plc and subsidiaries Depfa ACS Bank and Hypo Public Finance Bank.

Moody’s put the Aa3 rating of public sector covered bonds issued by Depfa ACS Bank on review for downgrade today (Thursday) because of a cut in the issuer’s rating from A3 to Baa3 last Friday.

Supply of sizeable euro covered bonds was this week at its lowest since the benchmark market reopened at the end of August, but activity is expected to pick up again next week, with issuers also said to be preparing for issuance in dollars and niche currencies. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Nykredit Realkredit today (Friday) launched an inaugural euro junior covered bond transaction.

Moody’s has cut the ratings of Depfa plc and Depfa ACS Bank from A3 to Baa3 following a transfer of assets to the Hypo Real Estate’s wind-down entity, FMS Wertmanagement, that the rating agency said is part of a process whereby the Irish entities will be less likely to enjoy support.

Münchener Hypothekenbank sold a Eu1bn three year Pfandbrief yesterday (Tuesday) that the issuer said benefitted from being in jumbo format and enjoyed a high turnout from Asian investors.

Münchener Hypothekenbank attracted strong demand for a Eu1bn three year public sector Pfandbrief launched today (Tuesday) despite it coming at the tightest level for a sizeable new covered bond since August 2008. Meanwhile, the UK’s Abbey National Treasury Services yesterday sold its third and biggest benchmark of the year.

Abbey National Treasury Services today (Monday) launched a seven year covered bond that is the euro benchmark market’s first new issue since fellow UK issuer Lloyds TSB Bank sold a Eu2bn 10 year deal last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Banco Popular Español has completed an exchange offer and the first jumbo Pfandbrief since June is being prepared.

DVB Bank is targeting a Eu250m three year debut ship Pfandbrief, and the issuer told The Cover that it is also considering taking up aircraft covered bonds.

A transparency initiative launched by the Association of German Pfandbrief Banks (vdp) that aims to make it easier for market participants to analyse the cover pools of Pfandbrief issuers has met with approval from covered bond analysts and investors.

A rare one year issue, from Germany’s SEB, was the only live deal this (Monday) morning as the covered bond market got off to a slow start, despite one syndicate banker saying that the market was open for quality supply. Meanwhile, SNS Bank has mandated for a new benchmark.