CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has announced:

that it intends to seek to have its non-cumulative Class A preferred shares, Series 26, 27 and 29 (the Convertible Preferred Shares) treated as non-viability contingent capital (NVCC) for the purposes of determining regulatory capital under Basel III.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has indicated that it is not aware of a factual basis that would question the compliance of the Convertible Preferred Shares with the principles specified in OSFI’s draft advisory on NVCC published in February 2011 (the NVCC Advisory), provided that:

  • (i) CIBC irrevocably renounces its rights to convert the Convertible Preferred Shares into CIBC common shares by way of a deed poll except in circumstances that would be a “Trigger Event” as described in the NVCC Advisory; and
  • (ii) CIBC provides an undertaking to OSFI that CIBC will immediately exercise its rights to convert each of the Convertible Preferred Shares into CIBC common shares upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event.

OSFI has indicated that certain features of the Convertible Preferred Shares will not be acceptable terms and conditions for future instruments to be considered NVCC.

CIBC intends to seek formal confirmation from OSFI regarding the capital treatment of the Convertible Preferred Shares after OSFI finalizes the NVCC Advisory. These actions do not restrict CIBC’s existing redemption rights under the terms of the Convertible Preferred Shares.

By renouncing CIBC’s conversion rights except upon the occurrence of a Trigger Event, the Convertible Preferred Shares will continue to not be dilutive to earnings per share following the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) commencing November 1, 2012 nor for the portion of the IFRS comparative year ending October 31, 2011 that is subsequent to the renunciation date.

“NVCC Status”, as defined in the OSFI draft advisory, was discussed on PrefBlog in the post OSFI Releases Contingent Capital Draft Advisory. This change, if enacted, will mean these issues will no longer be considered DeemedRetractibles and require a re-think of the issues considered to be members of this group.

This plan is made possible by prospectus language that states, in the case of CM.PR.D:

The Series 26 Shares will not be convertible at the option of CIBC prior to April 30, 2008. On or after this date, CIBC may, subject to the approval, if required, of the stock exchanges upon which any shares of CIBC are listed, convert all, or from time to time any part, of the outstanding Series 26 Shares to be converted into that number of freely-tradeable Common Shares determined (per Series 26 Share) by dividing the then applicable redemption price per Series 26 Share, together with declared and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for conversion, by the greater of $2.00 and 95% of the weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX for the 20 trading days ending on: (i) the fourth day prior to the date specified for conversion, or (ii) if such fourth day is not a trading day, the last trading day prior to such fourth day. Fractional Common Shares will not be issued on any conversion of Series 26 Shares but in lieu thereof CIBC will make cash payments.

Update, 2011-12-17: Other issues with similar prospectus provisions entitling them to make a similar application are ELF.PR.G, ELF.PR.F, RY.PR.W, TD.PR.M and TD.PR.N.

24 Responses to “CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status”

  1. […] PrefBlog Canadian Preferred Shares – Data and Discussion « CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status […]

  2. […] Seeking NVCC status. YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Call Maturity Date : 2012-11-30 Maturity Price : 25.00 Evaluated at bid price : 25.40 Bid-YTW : 4.80 % […]

  3. […] Seeking NVCC status. YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Call Maturity Date : 2014-05-31 Maturity Price : 25.00 Evaluated at bid price : 25.20 Bid-YTW : 5.30 % […]

  4. […] Seeking NVCC status. YTW SCENARIO Maturity Type : Call Maturity Date : 2011-07-02 Maturity Price : 25.25 Evaluated at bid price : 25.50 Bid-YTW : -0.29 % […]

  5. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  6. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  7. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  8. […] announcement that it would seek this status was previously reported on PrefBlog. I discussed the probable rationale for their action in this matter in the June, 2011, edition of […]

  9. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  10. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  11. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  12. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  13. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  14. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  15. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  16. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  17. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  18. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  19. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  20. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  21. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  22. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  23. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

  24. […] to the call schedule explicitly defined. See OSFI Does Not Grandfather Extant Tier 1 Capital, CM.PR.D, CM.PR.E, CM.PR.G: Seeking NVCC Status and the January, February, March and June, 2011, editions of PrefLetter for the rationale behind […]

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