The asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) market, which started modestly as a way for banks to move assets off their balance sheet, using special purpose vehicles known as conduits, is today among the most innovative and complex financial sectors, often supporting entirely synthetic transactions. But its very success is arousing concern among some close observers.
The asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) market, which started modestly as a way for banks to move assets off their balance sheet, using special purpose vehicles known as conduits, is today among the most innovative and complex financial sectors, often supporting entirely synthetic transactions.But its very success is arousing concern among some close observers. The market's role in shifting risk, often to exploit anomalies in the regulatory treatment of the banks' capital, looks distinctly uncertain when the rules change in three years time under current proposals.
With multi-billion dollar acquisitions to finance, banks need inexpensive ways to replenish their capital. Tax and cost-effective, preferred shares are the answer to their prayers, but convincing the regulators to count them as Tier One can be challenging. Jules Stewart reports on the twists and turns to keep the issuers and the authorities happy.