Io non ho parole: la preoccupazione del governo irlandese è quella che ijuniorbondholders di BOI vengano penalizzati.
La loro preoccupazione dovrebbe essere quella che BOI venga ricapitalizzata secondo le regole di mercato..
Bondholder issue delays move on BoI
22 May 2011 By Jon Ihle, Markets Correspondent
Fears that bondholders could profit at the expense of taxpayers are delaying the government’s finalisation of a recapitalisation plan for Bank of Ireland, The Sunday Business Post has learned.
Bank of Ireland was widely expected to give an update on its capital raising plan in its interim management statement to the stock market last Thursday, but said it would only be in a position to make an announcement ‘‘in the coming weeks’’.
The uncertainty centres on how much and in what manner investors in subordinated debt should contribute to raising the €5.2 billion the bank needs to meet tough new capital standards set by the Central Bank as part of this year’s stress tests.
Bank of Ireland said last week, citing statements by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, that subordinated bondholders were expected to make a ‘‘significant contribution’’ to its capital requirement.
It is understood the bank wants to convert €2.6 billion of its outstanding junior debt into equity to meet roughly 50 per cent of its capital needs. The rest would come from a subsequent share placing and an issue of new shares, plus a €1 billion ‘‘contingent convertible’’ bond.
But the Department of Finance and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), which manages the state’s 36 per cent shareholding in Bank of Ireland, are understood to be concerned that such a plan could disadvantage taxpayers and potentially hand too much upside to speculative investors. JP Morgan has estimated that a debt-for-equity swap could hand bondholders a 45 per cent stake in the bank while diluting the state to a post-conversion shareholding of below 20 per cent.
Investors started buying Bank of Ireland junior debt in April in a bid to profit from the bank’s reported plan to raise capital in a debt for equity swap, according to market sources. Traders said the buyers were acquiring the bonds at deep discounts with the expectation of being forced or invited by the bank to convert the securities to ordinary shares. They could then sell on the shares or subscribe for more in a subsequent rights issue.
Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher has repeatedly said that he wanted to keep the state’s shareholding below 50 per cent. Brokers report little appetite among private clients for a Bank of Ireland rights issue, and so far no strategic investor has emerged to take an anchor placing in the stock.
The government has committed to providing whatever capital the bank needs, but has also expressed a preference for sourcing capital from the markets where possible.
Informed sources said the priority was to fix the banking system and get a return for the state and taxpayers, if and when possible.
Bondholder issue delays move on BoI | The Post