Securitisation the bank funding sleeper in 2014
The Australian securitisation market is expected to be boosted by several large new asset-backed issues, according to one team of bank analysts."With Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Suncorp and the CBA all having reported their FY14 results this week and out of their respective blackout periods, we expect we will see a pick-up in the domestic primary markets shortly," wrote Ken Hanton, director, asset transformation, product and markets, at National Australia Bank, in his weekly bulletin.The reason for this quiet confidence at NAB is that August 2013 (A$4.7 billion) and September ($4.2 billion) were the second and third largest months for RMBS issuance last year. On 16 August CBA's $3.2 billion Medallion transaction was priced. ING Direct went to investors a week later, pricing its $1 billion IDOL deal on 23 August. September 2013's heavy volume was on account of Macquarie's PUMA printing at $1.25 billion on 6 September and Westpac following Medallion up with a $2.25 billion deal on 27 September, according to information held by its banker. So with nothing done so far in August this year, we are probably going to have to see one of the three abovementioned banks come into the market if the 2014 new issuance run rate is going to keep up with last year's."Looking at the CBA with a securitisation interest, the result was supportive in that CBA's Retail Banking Services home loan arrears are steady to slightly better and its key mortgage portfolio metrics appear pretty steady as well. This is consistent with what we have been reporting from APRA's quarterly housing loan data," wrote NAB's analysts.The reduced percentage of borrowers ahead of their scheduled payments is a little surprising given the low level of mortgage rates.Looking at Bendigo and Adelaide bank, from a securitisation perspective, residential asset quality "continues to look ok" with arrears down slightly from their FY13 levels and well secured 90 days past due (excluding commercial arrangement loans).NAB's analysts observed that Bendigo has indicated that it will issue an RMBS later this year.