Standard Bank has further extended its positioning as a global emerging-markets specialist with the conclusion of a sizable, mortgage-backed securitisation transaction in Hong Kong.
Standard Bank Asia, the Asian arm of the Standard Bank Group, has closed a landmark securitisation transaction for Hong Kong-based Pan Asian Mortgage Company, backed by a HK$1,25-billion (about R1,1-billion) portfolio of Hong Kong residential mortgages.
The securitisation division of Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division, based in Johannesburg, structured the deal, the first of its kind in the Hong Kong market. The deal, which was marketed to and placed with Hong Kong investors, was over-subscribed.
Pan Asian, in partnership with two local Hong Kong commercial banks, refinanced mortgages with loan-to-values (LTV) in excess of 100%. This portfolio was originated between 2002 and 2004 and is well diversified with about 750 mortgages.
The transaction, like most residential mortgage-backed securitisations (RMBS), raised funding in the capital markets, secured by the pool of residential home loans.
What makes this transaction unique was the fact that only the 90% to 140% LTV portion of each loan was securitised. The commercial banks funded the remaining portion of each loan.
These types of mortgages are generally referred to as negative-equity loans and are the result of the steep property-value declines in Hong Kong during the Asian financial crises. Pan Asian’s innovative approach enabled it to create a lending product that allowed commercial banks to re-finance home loans beyond the regulatory limitation of 70% LTV.
The transaction offered two classes of Notes, a Class A tranche of HK$221-million and a Class B tranche of HK$36-million. The Class A tranche is expected to have an average life of between 1,5 years and 2,1 years, and the Class B tranche is expected to have an average life of between 5,1 years and 7,5 years.
Says AJ Rothman, director of securitisation at the Corporate and Investment Banking division: “Our experience in the South African securitisation market, especially with SA Home Loans, was a major factor in our securing this deal.
“The fact that we are able to compete globally is a clear vote of confidence in my team’s ability. It is particularly pleasing to be involved in a first-in-kind transaction in a new market.”
Malcolm Wilde, chief executive of Standard Bank Asia, commented: “We are delighted to have led in this unique and innovative transaction for our client, Pan Asian, which also allowed us to meet the growing investor demand of innovative structured products in Hong Kong.”
Pan Asian is a financial-services company involved in the financing, structuring, servicing and securitisation of residential mortgages, credit-card and consumer loan receivables. — I-Net Bridge