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RBNZ confirms 10% limit on covered bond issuance

Thursday 20th of January 2011

The limit of 10% is on the total assets of an issuing bank and is calculated on the value of assets that is collateralised against the issues.

The RBNZ had issued a consultation document in October where apart from proposing limits on covered bond issuance, it also proposed a regulatory framework to support such issuance.  Announcement on the legislative support will follow later this year, the RBNZ said.

The move to issue a formal limit follows the keen interest that banks have displayed in issuing covered bonds. Bank of New Zealand first issued local covered bonds after the RBNZ indicated its comfort with such bonds back in May. It followed this with a EUR-denominated covered bond issue.

Westpac is the next to follow, announcing earlier this week its plans to issue EUR-denominated covered bonds for up to EUR1 billion. The bank has mandated four investment banks, including Westpac Institutional Bank for this purpose.

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