In 2007, Danish legislation was amended to allow banks to issue covered bonds directly on their balance sheets. In November 2007 the Danish FSA licensed Danske Bank to issue covered bonds. The legislation introduced flexibility, but it is still very strict compared with other covered bond frameworks.
In late 2007, Danske Bank launched a programme to issue covered bonds in accordance with new legislation and its license. The Bank intends to issue all its covered bonds under this programme (except for bonds issued by Realkredit Danmark, the Group's mortgage finance arm).
Covered bonds issued under the programme are backed by loans granted by the Danske Bank Group and secured on real property. The mortgage loans are divided into four pools (cover pools):
Cover Pool D (Domestic) consists of loans established in Denmark
Cover Pool I (International) consists of loans established in Norway and Sweden
Cover Pool C (Combined) also consists of loans established in Norway and Sweden
Cover Pool R (Republic of Ireland) consists of loans established in Ireland
At the end of 2010, the Bank established the Cover Pool C (Combined), which consists of loans secured on both commercial and residential property. The loans were established in Sweden. Later the pool will also include loans secured on real property in Norway.
In 2011, the Bank established Cover Pool R (Republic of Ireland), which consists of loans secured on real property in Ireland.
The first covered bonds were issued from Cover Pool D on 18 December 2007.
The programme gives the Group an opportunity to further diversify its funding.
Depending on market conditions, the covered bonds will have medium- to long-term maturity and will thus strengthen the Group's long-term funding.
See ratings for covered bonds
Last updated on 14 November 2011